 | Raven Rock State Park is divided into Northern and Southern sections by the Cape Fear River. The park covers 4667 acres in total, a sizable nature preserve in the North Carolina Sandhills. The picture at left is the entrance to the Southern Part of Raven Rock State Park in Harnett County, NC. The Southern Part of Raven Rock State Park is located in Harnett County off of US 421 between Lillington and Broadway. There are lots of activities to do in this part of the park including picnicking, hiking, backpacking, primitive camping, canoeing, and fishing. |
| There is a nice picnic area in Raven Rock State park in Harnett County. The picnic area is accessible from the parking lot. The tables at right are handicap accessible. Many other tables are scattered among the trees in the open forest in this area. There are dozens of types of trees including oaks, pines, and beeches. The shade provides a relaxing place to enjoy a lunch. |  |
 | This is the Raven Rock Loop Trail after it descends from the picnic area. The trail goes up and down but generally descends as it follows a small creek toward the cliffs the park is named for. Large trees, Rhododendrons, Mountain Laurel, wildflowers, and ferns line the edge of the trail along the way. This is one of eight hiking trails in the Southern part of the park that is in Harnett County NC. |
| The trail winds across Little Creek several times. This small creek flows slowly as it winds its way downward toward the Cape Fear River. The area along this creek is full of Mountain Laurel bushes that are covered in blooms in early to mid May most years. |  |
 | This is a closeup of one of the Mountain Laurel blooms along the Little Creek Loop Trail in Raven Rock State Park. Mountain Laurel grows in thickets which are sometimes called "Laurel slicks". The blooms range from white to pink with many blooms being a mixture of both colors. Mountain Laurel is in the heath family along with Rhododendrons. |
Little Creek Loop Trail continues to drop as Little Creek flows toward the Cape Fear River. There are several small waterfalls along the way. The slow moving creek is home to salamanders, crayfish, minnows, and many small creatures.
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 | There are 5 group campsites at Raven Rock State Park in Harnett County, NC. These campsites require pre-registration. The sites are located about 2 miles from the parking lot and everything must be packed in, including water. A vault toilet and fire rings are available but the sites are otherwise primitive. The Cape Fear River is nearby, allowing the sites to be accessed by canoe as well. Raven Rock State Park also has a separate Canoe campground available. |
| The Little Creek Loop Trail loops back around and joins the Raven Rock Loop Trail just before the access point to the cliffs. These cliffs along the Cape Fear river are what Raven Rock State Park is named after. The cliffs got their name from the Ravens that were seen nesting along the ledges. As the signs warn, climbing on the ledges is not a good idea. |  |
 | A set of stairs have been placed into the side of the cliffs, leading down to the Cape Fear River at the base of the cliffs. As shown in the photo at right, there are a lot of steps. Try not to look down if you have a fear of heights.
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| The cliffs are at the base of the stairs. The Cape Fear River in Harnett County passes through what is known as the "Fall Line". The "Fall Line" runs from Patterson, New Jersey to Tuscaloosa, Alabama. This is where the rocky terrain of the Foothills of the Appalachian Mountains gives way to the coastal plain. Areas closer to the ocean have sandy soil while those closer to the mountains have rocky soil. As the river crosses this point, the water undercuts the sandy soil, exposing the rocky cliffs. |  |
 | The image at left is another view of the cliffs. It is said that Native Americans knew of the cliffs, and early settlers used them as a landmark when traveling up and down the Cape Fear River. The cliffs rise up to the bluffs above. |
| These Beech trees are located along the base of the cliffs at Raven Rock. The exposed roots form an interesting pattern as they cling to the soil which is worn away by the thousands of visitors to the park. |  |
 | The rocks at left are wedged in place between the cliff and a larger rock on the right. As the river floods the base of the cliffs, it under cuts the bluff. This, combined with freeze thaw cycles causes rock from the bluff above to break off and fall to the base of the cliff, below. |
| After exploring the base of the cliffs, it is time to climb back up to the bluffs above. If you thought there were a lot of stairs on the way down, it is even harder going back up! Again, don't look down if you are afraid of heights. |  |
 | Following the Raven Rock Loop Trail to the right at the top of the stairs leads to this overlook. The view is really panoramic and on a clear day you can see for miles up and down the Cape Fear River. |
| This is a view West up the Cape Fear River from the overlook on the Raven Rock Loop Trail. The radio tower in the photo is 5-6 miles away in Lee County. |  |
 | This is a view to the north from the Raven Rock Loop Trail overlook. This view is of Northern Harnett County, which is still largely undeveloped. |
| This is a view to the East from the Raven Rock Loop Trail overlook. The Cape Fear River flows through the Coastal Plain as it finds its way Southeast to the Atlantic Ocean and Wilmington. |  |
For more information on Raven Rock State Park, look at the Raven Rock State Park website by the NC Division of Parks and Recreation.
For more information on homes in Harnett County, visit the Harnett County Information or Harnett County Neighborhoods pages on my website.
Rita Taylor
ERA Ammons RealtySanford NC Real Estate "Taylored" For You!
