Harris Lake County Park

Harris Lake County Park Harris Lake County Park

The 680-acre park is situated on a peninsula near the Shearon Harris Reservoir in New Hill, N.C. – and is convenient to Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Holly Springs and Fuquay-Varina.

Do you know what happens to a tree when it is struck by lightning? The same thing that happens to everything else! 🌲🌩️We...
09/14/2026

Do you know what happens to a tree when it is struck by lightning? The same thing that happens to everything else! 🌲🌩️
Well, maybe not exactly the same! This Loblolly Pine shows the telltale sign of a lightning strike. As the lightning bolt travels through the trunk of the tree and into the ground, it boils sap and explodes cells, causing this long, straight split. About 50% of lightning struck trees die soon after, but some are able to adapt and survive despite the damage. Hopefully this tree will continue to live a long and productive life despite its new scar!

Photo Credit: Steve McMurray

IT'S PARTY TIME!!!🌲🥳🎉Our Longleaf Ramble event is TODAY, Saturday, September 12th, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.! We look fo...
09/12/2026

IT'S PARTY TIME!!!🌲🥳🎉
Our Longleaf Ramble event is TODAY, Saturday, September 12th, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.! We look forward to seeing you all for a day of fun, learning, and celebration! The event will be located at our Loblolly Shelter. For the full list of today's activities and special guests, please visit: wake.gov/longleaf.

🎉 EVENT REMINDER 🎉Our Longleaf Ramble event is TOMORROW! Join us Saturday from 10 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. for a day of fun,...
09/11/2026

🎉 EVENT REMINDER 🎉
Our Longleaf Ramble event is TOMORROW! Join us Saturday from 10 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. for a day of fun, learning, and celebration of all things Longleaf Pine! There's something for everyone at this free, family friendly event:

🐍 See reptiles and amphibians up close and touch a snake!
🧺 Watch a Longleaf Pine needle weaving demonstration (and try it yourself)!
🖌️ Enjoy Longleaf-themed games and crafts!
🥤 Grab a sweet treat from Kona Ice of Western Wake!
🔍 See a turpentine still display and artifacts from the naval stores industry!
🌱 Pick up a free longleaf seedling while supplies last!
📖 Visit with the Wake County Public Libraries' Bookmobile!
🧑‍🚒 Try on firefighting gear and operate a water pump!
🛞 Take a scenic wagon ride through our Longleaf Forest (pre-registration required)!

For our full list of activities and partner organizations, or to register for one of our wagon rides, visit: wake.gov/longleaf. We hope to see you at the Longleaf Ramble!

The Monarchs are migrating and the Bidens are blooming! 🦋💛You may notice that roadsides in our area are a sea of yellow ...
09/09/2026

The Monarchs are migrating and the Bidens are blooming! 🦋💛

You may notice that roadsides in our area are a sea of yellow this time of year, thanks to Tickseed Sunflower (Bidens aristosa, also known as Bearded Beggarticks). Staff were particularly excited to see several Monarchs in different parts of the park this past week as they journey south to their overwintering grounds in central Mexico. A variety of other pollinators (and grasshoppers galore) are attracted to large patches of this flower, so look closely. These particular Tickseed Sunflowers are in the large field near the Womble homesite, accessible via our Peninsula Trail.

📢CLOSING TIME CHANGE📢Beginning today, Tuesday, September 8, Harris Lake County Park will close at 8:00 p.m. Please make ...
09/08/2026

📢CLOSING TIME CHANGE📢
Beginning today, Tuesday, September 8, Harris Lake County Park will close at 8:00 p.m. Please make your way off of all trails 15 minutes before park closing time. The next time change will be on September 21. Thank you!

Happy Labor Day! Harris Lake County Park will be open during regular hours (8:00 a.m. until 8:30 p.m.) today, Monday, Se...
09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day! Harris Lake County Park will be open during regular hours (8:00 a.m. until 8:30 p.m.) today, Monday, September 7th. Please follow all park rules during your visit including:
🚫 No swimming or wading.
🚫 No alcoholic beverages.
🐶 Pets must be restrained on a 6-foot leash.
⚠️ Speed limit is 20 mph.

Please visit our website for the full list of park rules:
https://www.wake.gov/departments-government/parks-recreation-open-space/all-parks-trails/harris-lake-county-park/harris-lake-visitor-information

BIG NEWS! Our new and improved Cartop Boat Launch is complete and OPEN to the public beginning today, Saturday, Septembe...
09/05/2026

BIG NEWS! Our new and improved Cartop Boat Launch is complete and OPEN to the public beginning today, Saturday, September 5th! Park staff tested the new accessible launch and its features and had a lot of fun doing it! We hope our visitors will enjoy this new area and resource as much as we did. If you love to kayak, canoe, or paddleboard, come spend your holiday weekend here with us at Harris Lake County Park!

Funding for these improvements comes from the voter-approved 2018 Parks, Greenways, Recreation and Open Space bond. For more information on the Bond Improvement Projects, please visit our website: https://www.wake.gov/departments-government/parks-recreation-open-space/park-projects.

In honor of our upcoming Longleaf Ramble, our September StoryWalk® will feature “The Story of Pinus Palustris”, written ...
09/04/2026

In honor of our upcoming Longleaf Ramble, our September StoryWalk® will feature “The Story of Pinus Palustris”, written by Margarete Shearin Cumberland and illustrated by Lizzie Tucker. Follow along with the story of two best buds, Pal and Ari, as they face the challenges of growing up together. How will each of them change, and will their friendship stand the test of time? This StoryWalk® is available from September 5th - 27th and follows the paved trail starting at the traditional playground.

Congratulations to Instagram's for being chosen the winner of the August Instagram Contest for this hummingbird close u...
09/03/2026

Congratulations to Instagram's for being chosen the winner of the August Instagram Contest for this hummingbird close up taken at County Park!

Want to enter the contest in 2026? Just tag your photo with the tag and you are in the running for a feature and a great prize.

A very happy Wildlife Wednesday to this Broad-Winged Katydid (Microcentrum rhombifolium)! Katydids are close relatives o...
09/02/2026

A very happy Wildlife Wednesday to this Broad-Winged Katydid (Microcentrum rhombifolium)! Katydids are close relatives of crickets and grasshoppers and, like their cousins, katydids have long, strong back legs that allow them to make powerful leaps. The Broad-Winged Katydid is often called a "leaf bug" because of its close resemblance to its favorite food: leaves! This amazing adaptation helps the insect avoid being eaten by predators like lizards and birds while it climbs through bushes and trees in search of a snack.

While you may not always be able to see this katydid, at the right time of year (late summer to early fall) you can certainly hear them! The male katydid's chirping song, "katy-did katy-didn't", is used to attract nearby females. The sound is created by the insect rubbing the edge of one wing across a comb-like structure on the other, almost like a person playing the fiddle. Appalachian Folklore says that the first frost of autumn will occur 90 days after you've heard the first katydid sing!

Address

2112 County Park Drive
New Hill, NC
27562

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 8pm
Tuesday 8am - 8pm
Wednesday 8am - 8pm
Thursday 8am - 8pm
Friday 8am - 8pm
Saturday 8am - 8pm
Sunday 8am - 8pm

Telephone

+19193874342

Website

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