Jordan Lake: the best of both worlds

Sophomore Heather Frederick said Jordan Lake is
a must-see for every UNC student. Photo courtesy
of Laralee Lynch.

It has miles of hiking trails, swimming, fishing, boating, bald eagles and bobcats. It's visited by around one million people every year. It's number 68 on the Daily Tar Heel's UNC Bucket List.

It's Jordan Lake.

"It’s just one of those things you hear about at UNC," said Heather Frederick, a sophomore from Lumberton. "Everybody’s been there. You have to go before you graduate."

Jordan Lake, a reservoir surrounded by nine different recreation areas, is on the bucket list for a reason. With both beaches and hiking trails, it's the ultimate slice of North Carolina. And it's only a half hour drive from campus.

"If you're looking for a social activity, Jordan Lake's beach is the place to be. If you're looking for solitude, we have hiking trails," said Steve McMurray, who has been a ranger with the park for five years.

"I like that you can find your own little area," Frederick said. "We found a trail with two or three beaches that nobody had been to in a while."

Students said they appreciate the beaches just as much as the hiking trails.

"It's a nice beach close to campus," said Kei Kurosu, a sophomore from Wilmington. She spent her birthday at Jordan Lake last August.

Matthew Karas, also a sophomore from Wilmington, said he likes to go to Jordan Lake because it reminds him of home.

"I personally miss the beach a lot and a pool’s just not the same," he said. "Sometimes I just want to lie out and have a breeze and sun and swimming."

The close distance was also appealing to Nneka Ndubisi, a sophomore from Maryland.

"You can get there really easily," she said, "and there are lots of things to do there."

Matthew Karas launches from a swing at a Jordan Lake
playground in the Seaforth recreation area. Photo courtesy of
Elsie Murray.

Ranger McMurray said his favorite of all the recreation areas is Ebeneezer.

"I like it because it has a nice panoramic view," he said.

He recommends New Hope for the more outdoorsy folks.

"New Hope has a great hiking trail that's in a hardwood forest," he said. "It's the longest and most difficult trail in the park." The trail is about almost six miles, he said.

Despite the variety of activities available, both the students and McMurray said planning ahead is essential.

McMurray said that the park does not sell food. Devices for the water, like kayaks, must also be found elsewhere. He pointed out that there are several nearby companies that rent boats, like the new Crosswinds Boating Center.

"For us that would be a concession," McMurray said. "I don't know if we have the staff to do that."

The students recommended treating a trip down there like a trip to the beach.

"Plan like you were going to the beach and hiking at same time," Kurosu said, adding that bug spray is also a necessity.

"I got bitten by ants between my fingers," she remembered. But that, she said, was the only downside of her day.

Sophomores Steve Duncan, Laralee Lynch
and Matthew Karas hike through trails after
going swimming at the Seaforth recreation area.
Photo courtesy of Elsie Murray.

In addition to the beaches and hiking trails, Jordan Lake offers educational programs, a wide variety of wildlife and campsites.

Several times a month, a ranger will host an educational program that is free and open to the public. The next one is a spring wildflower hike at 1 p.m. April 1 along the Haw River. A full list of events can be found here.

In the morning, the lake is a popular spot for bird-watchers like Laralee Lynch, a sophomore from Marion. Her avian biology class took a trip to the lake on a Sunday morning in January and saw sea gulls and bald eagles, among other birds.

"The bald eagle is the most unique thing we have," McMurray said.

This past winter, he said, there were seven active nests containing about 30 eagles. He said that number usually triples in the summer.

The park has even partnered with North Carolina State University to start a live feed of one of these nests that can be seen here.

Most visitors during day hours are unlikely to see much wildlife, McMurray said. Dawn and dusk are the best times for catching a glimpse of foxes, otters, turtles, bobcats and much more.

He said that visitors rarely encounter dangerous animals like bobcats, who are nocturnal. The only major incident with an animal last year was a bite from a Copperhead, the park's only poisonous species of snake.

Lynch, who said she did not see much more than birds, still recommends a morning on the lake for animal-lovers.

"It was pretty cold," she said, "but there was a lot of wildlife.

"I still prefer Jordan Lake in the afternoon, but if you're willing to get up," she said, "it’s beautiful to see the sunrise over the water."

Thousands of sea gulls who call Jordan Lake home skim the
surface early morning in January. Photo courtesy of Laralee Lynch.

McMurray, who is one of 17 rangers, said he loves the park and has found his dream job.

"There's not one aspect of this job I don't like," he said. "I love it all."

McMurray said he not only loves working in the park, but he also loves living in it. Every night he and his family, along with anyone on the park's premises, are locked in.

He said the rangers do not mind staying at night, but some of the campers do not realize how serious the locked-gate policy is.

"People will say just about anything to get out of the gate," he said, adding another warning to bring food to the lake, especially if you are camping overnight.

There are 1,062 campsites at Jordan Lake, all of which can be rented online. On March 21, the park started using a new system for reservations. McMurray said this system is easier to use than the previous one.

For the less adventurous "day-cation" types, the park is open every day except Christmas. From May to August, it is open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. During September, October, March and April, it is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. From November to February it is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

On weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the price of admission is $6 per car. All other times it is free. A season pass can be bought for $50.

The biggest complaint that the students had was that it is hard to find. Because there are so many different entrances, it can be difficult to navigate. They suggested deciding which area you want to visit and looking at a map to see which side of Highway 64 it is on.

Whether you are staying for the day or a few nights, plan ahead and plan on a good time.

"Getting there isn’t the easiest thing," Karas said, "but once you get there, it’s really fun."

Sophomore Logan Smeallie on a hiking trail
in Seaforth recreation center. Photo courtesy
of Kei Kurosu.