Falls Lake State Recreation Area

Activity Overview

Falls Lake State Recreation Area is a large state-owned recreation area that is located just 20 miles north of Raleigh, North Carolina. It features over 26,000 acres of woodlands and a gorgeous 12,000-acre lake that is used for fishing, boating, and swimming. It also has several hiking and cycling trails, picnic areas complete with grills and tables, and hundreds of campsites. If your family loves spending time in the great outdoors, you can explore Falls Lake State Recreation Area on your own or attend one of its many events, from fishing tournaments to nature hikes.

Things to Do

• In the summertime, cool off by swimming in Falls Lake at one of its three sandy beaches.
• Spend the morning fishing on Falls Lake, which is stocked with bass, bluegill, catfish, and crappie.
• Explore the lake in a boat - there are several boat-launching ramps located throughout the park.
• Go on a family hike! The Falls Lake Trail will take you along the lake shore, while the Mountains-to-Sea Trail is a popular attraction with both casual hikers and avid backpackers.
• Try out one of the three different loop trails designed for mountain bikers of all skill levels, which cover a total of 13 miles of terrain.

Falls Lake State Recreation Area Insider Tips

• Bring along a picnic lunch to eat by the lake! Drinking water is provided at the recreation area, as are picnic tables and grills you can use for a fun family barbecue.
• Visit their Events page to see the schedule of family-friendly events in the recreation area, including nature lectures, hikes, tournaments, fishing lessons for kids, and more.
• Go camping - there are over 300 family campsites for tents and RVs at Falls Lake! Amenities at the sites include water and electric hookups, showers, restrooms, and dump stations.