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Heartland - Central Region
Jordan Lake State Recreation Area
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Jordan Lake State Recreation Area © Gerry Dincher / CC BY-SA 2.0
Jordan Lake State Recreation Area © Gerry Dincher / CC BY-SA 2.0
Jordan Lake State Recreation Area © Gerry Dincher / CC BY-SA 2.0
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JORDAN LAKE STATE RECREATION AREA
JORDAN LAKE STATE RECREATION AREA
280 State Park Road
Apex, North Carolina   27523
(lat:35.7234 lon:-79.0107) map location

Phone: 919-362-0586
Jordan Lake State Recreation Area is a collective of nine access areas scattered around the shoreline of this undeveloped, 14,000-acre reservoir. More than 1,000 campsites among five of the access areas offer a range of outdoor experience from RV hookups to primitive tent camping and group camps. There are seven swim beaches in the recreation area and a number of boating ramps, with some swim areas and ramps reserved for campers.
Nature of the Area
Jordan Lake State Recreation Area is one of the largest summertime homes of the bald eagle, the symbol of the United States for more than 200 years. The population of eagles in the Jordan Lake area has increased dramatically since the flooding of the reservoir in 1983.
History of the Area
Following a disastrous hurricane, which struck the Cape Fear River Basin in 1945, Congress directed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to undertake a comprehensive study of water resource needs in the area. The project, then known as New Hope Lake, was authorized in 1963 and construction began in 1967. In 1973, the name of the project was changed to B. Everett Jordan Dam and Lake in honor of the former senator from North Carolina.

Jordan Lake's 46,768 acres are not only a popular source of recreation. They also provide the water supply for surrounding cities, flood and water quality control, and fish and wildlife conservation.


Location
Jordan Lake State Recreation Area is located near Angier, Apex and Carrboro

Trails
Ebenezer Church Trail - Ebenezer Church Recreation Area. The trailhead is at the southeast corner of the beach parking lot. The trail passes the site of the historic Ebenezer Church for which the area was named. An interpretive display marks the location. Parts of the path follow an abandoned roadbed and traverse a large farm pond.

Jordan Lake Track Trail/Seaforth Pond Trail - Seaforth access area. The Pond Trail is an easy 1.25 mile trail. The path is nearly a loop, it begins at the display case on the western side of the beach parking lot and ends near the picnic shelter 9. Hikers will enjoy glimpses of the lake while walking thru Loblolly Pine forests, hardwood forests, an old field and past 3 ponds.

New Hope Trail - New Hope Overlook. The trail begins near the bathrooms at the boat ramp. The trail is comprised of two loops. The red loop is 5.4 miles and the blue loop is 2.7 miles in length. This is the most challenging trail with several steep hills.

Poplar Point Campground Trail - Poplar Point Campground Trail. The trail winds its way from loop B to loop J and can be accessed from each camping loop.

Vista Point Blue Trail - The parking area next to the entrance station. The Blue Trail is a 1 mile loop trail that begins near the entrance gate. Hikers will pass by an old tobacco barn. Summer hikers can look for Cardinal flowers in the wet area near the boardwalk.

Vista Point Red Trail - Across from group sites by the restrooms. The Red Trail is an easy 3 mile hike that begins near the shower house. It is nearly a loop trail, but requires walking along the road about 100 yards to end up back at the shower house. Hikers can rest on a bench along a quiet lake cove and then continue their trek thru beautiful pine and mixed hardwood forests.

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North Carolina State Parks

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