Ten Reasons to visit Lumber River State Park

4 min readJul 6, 2022

written by Caleb Laney

Paddle this unique Blackwater river or hike the trails along its banks!

Photo courtesy of Kids In Parks. All rights go to their respective owners.

1. Lumber River State Park is home to one of the only blackwater rivers in the state!

Lumber River State Park is home to a unique Blackwater river. This type of river are only found in two many places on our planet: the Southeastern United States and the Amazon River Basin. Being able to see this type of river with your own eyes truly is a marvelous sight to see!

2. The river spans 115 miles.

Whether you want to fish, kayak, or just feast your eyes upon the river— there is plenty of river space to take advantage of.

Photo courtesy of AllTrails. All rights go to their respective owners.

3. If you like canoeing, this is a great place for you!

Along the 115 miles that this blackwater river spans, there are 24 boat launches, meaning there are plenty of places for you to start and stop your canoeing (or any other type of boating) journey!

Photo courtesy of Lumberton Visitors Bureau. All rights go to their respective owners.

4. Multiple trails with multiple lengths.

Lumber River State Park is home to three trails. For beginning hikers, the Lumber River Track Trail is 0.5 miles in length. For the intermediate hikers, the Princess Ann Trail is 1.5 miles in length. For the more experienced hikers, the Chalk Banks Trail is 3 miles in length. So no matter your level of stamina, there is a trail at this park to take advantage of.

5. Plenty of room for camping!

There are an astonishing 27 campsites and tent-friendly campgrounds for people to take advantage of!

6. The river runs through four different counties.

While the park office is located in Robeson County, Lumber River actually runs through three additional counties: Columbus, Hoke and Scotland. There are plenty of ways to see the river from different locations!

Photo courtesy of Take A Hike! All rights go to their respective owners.

7. It’s a fishing paradise!

Many types of fish are present in the river, such as the largemouth bass, redbreast sunfish, and catfish. Be sure to follow all the regulations of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, and have a state fishing license if you’re an angler!

Photo of the Redbreast Sunfish courtesy of Panfish Nation. All rights go to their respective owners.

8. Plenty of picnicking and shelter sites.

Whether you’re looking to get some fresh air, spend time with friends and family, or even take that special someone out for a picnic, Lumber River State Park has space and opportunity for that and then some. If you’re looking to have a larger outdoor gathering, there are picnic shelters that can hold around 100 people that you can reserve too!

9. There’s much flora and fauna to see.

There are so many plants and animals you will be able to see at Lumber River State Park. The plant life includes the Carolina Bog Mint and the Spider Lily. The animal life includes the River Otter, Redbreast Sunfish, and the Swallow-tailed Kite.