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Raven Rock State Park is named after the beautiful rock that faces the Cape Fear River. Photo by David Freeze

Looking up at the oldest longleaf pine in the world. Photo by David Freeze

The world’s oldest living longleaf pine in Weymouth Woods State Park. Research has shown the tree to be 476 years old. Photo by David Freeze

One of the hiking trails between large longleaf pines in Weymouth Woods State Park near Southern Pines. Photo by David Freeze

A small pond in Carvers State Park recently visited by otters. Photo by David Freeze

The mill pond at Long Valley Farm in Carvers State Park. Photo by David Freeze

The Rockefeller retreat, Long Valley Farm, is the centerpiece of Carvers State Park. Photo by David Freeze

The Raven Rock State Park Visitor Center has an extensive display of Native American artifacts. Photo by David Freeze

Raven Rock stretches about a quarter mile along the Cape Fear River. Photo by David Freeze

Editor’s note: David Freeze is a runner, running coach and long-distance cyclist from China Grove in Rowan County. He visits all 42 state parks in North Carolina. Contact him at [email protected].

By David Freeze

On August 18, I headed east to visit three parks that are closer together than any other group in the state. The first stop was Raven Rock State Park, known for a large rock that looks out toward the Cape Fear River. The rocks stretch for more than a mile and are up to 150 feet high, and have been sculpted and eroded by water over millions of years. Ravens used to nest in the rocks, but they no longer do. According to Native American legend, a Tuscarora Indian named Raven was captured by another tribe and imprisoned on the high ledge. He was only able to survive because the Indian woman White Fawn provided him with food. They were later allowed to marry.

The park is closest to Lillington and is 4,810 acres. Early Sunday, the park was packed with hikers, many on the same 2.6-mile Raven Rock Loop Trail I used. The Raven Rock site is more spectacular than I expected. Trails in the park total 11 miles, most of which are easy and moderate, with the exception of the long stairways down to the river. Equestrian trails total eight miles, and mountain bike trails add another 32 miles.

Interesting fish caught in the park’s waters include such curiosities as the longnose pickerel, American eel, chub, shiner, darter and pirate bass. There are campsites for backpackers and paddle boats, camping cabins and 15 campsites for tents and trailers and nine for RVs. There is also a world-class motion-activated exhibit hall and a Native American exhibit. This is a wonderful park with lots to see and do and one of the busiest I have seen on an early morning.

Carvers Creek State Park is one of the newest state parks and is currently sparsely developed. The park is 4,530 acres in size and is closest to Spring Lake. The access road is adjacent to Fort Liberty, formerly Fort Bragg, and the sound of gunfire, large and small, was a constant during my stay. The park’s landmark, however, is Long Valley Farm, which was once the retreat of James S. Rockefeller. The 1,240-acre farm site includes a large mill pond where fishing is permitted. The two hiking trails in the park include an easy, level walk from the park welcome center to the farm, the Rockefeller Loop Trail. The other hiking trail is the Cypress Point Loop Trail, which provides a close-up view of the large mill pond, which is actually located in front of the Rockefeller house.

The house is fenced off pending work, as is part of the property behind it. There is a spring house, another old house, a grist mill, and a small shed on the property. A sign notes that Long View Farm was an early adopter of scientific farming methods. The Rockefeller family bought the farm in 1927, and the house was built in 1938. The 100-acre mill pond was created around 1850. The livestock and crops fed many tenant farmers and their families. The farm was donated to the Nature Conservancy of North Carolina and then shown to all when it opened in 2013 as part of Carvers Creek State Park. There are plans to eventually convert the house into the park office and meeting center. The park plans to buy more land and add camping and other recreational facilities.

Weymouth Woods State Park and Sandhills Nature Reserve encompasses 915 acres and is the closest to Southern Pines. Most of the park, once the Weymouth Estate, was donated to the park by the Boyd family in 1963. The park’s focus is on the stands of tall longleaf pines throughout the park. Many of these trees are 250 to 400 years old.

The visitor centre offers many interesting activities for school and family groups. There are eight walking trails in the three sections of the park with a total length of 7.5 km and one bridle trail with a length of 4.1 km. All walking trails are considered easy.

My guidebook and park map tout the oldest living swamp pine in the world. When I stopped at the visitor center, I asked about the tree and how to find it. The visitor center is on the Weymouth Woods Track with its pine trees and hiking trails. The receptionist told me to just put the Boyd Tract into my GPS, so I did. I found Den Road to be a dirt road with large houses and showjumping farms. I parked in an open space next to the Round Timber Trail. It was very sandy and obviously frequented by horses. I saw that the oldest tree would be to the left of the trail. I saw huge pine trees, but could not find my tree. I turned around and went back downhill to look again.

There was my tree. I had missed the famous tree on the way past, but this time I noticed that a narrow path had been trodden to and around it. The huge tree was exactly as the keeper had described it, especially the oddly shaped trunk. The top has unusual, small and bent branches and a strangely deformed trunk. The tree’s age was estimated at 476 years and for many years it remained second only to a swamp pine in Florida that lived to be 499 years old before dying.

Now that I’ve visited 22 state parks, I’ll soon be tackling 19 more.