Lake James State Park in the Time of Coronavirus

Acknowledging that the Summer of 2020 will be unlike any other is the first step in making the most of the COVID-19 version of Lake James State Park.

From the complete park closure that lasted more than a month during early Spring, to the limited re-opening of facilities in the weeks that followed, the staff at Lake James and all other state parks in North Carolina has continued to try to provide visitors a healthy environment to enjoy the outdoors.

Admittedly, the results haven’t been perfect. At the time of this writing the swim beach at the Paddy’s Creek Area remains closed, as well as boat rentals and concessions. Combined, these three services represent the most popular visitor activities at the park. Not having them available has been an understandable disappointment to so many Lake James users and has dramatically changed the way people interact with the park.

For starters, “Stay At Home” and “Safer At Home” orders from state government have lead to a tremendous increase in the amount of boat traffic on Lake James and the public access areas, including the ramps at Canal Bridge and Hidden Cove. During weekends it is normal for the Hidden Cove Access Area to run out of parking spots before noon. Similarly, vehicles with boat trailers quickly spill outside the guardrails at Canal Bridge when the weather is nice.

It seems a great many people in WNC have recently acquired or rediscovered the joys of paddle sports. Canoeists, kayakers and paddleboarders are flocking to Lake James in record numbers, contributing to the stiff competition for weekend parking spaces at area boat ramps. Paddlers are reminded that the day use areas at Lake James State Park are excellent alternatives for putting in their boats and enjoying the water. The law enforcement boat ramp at the Paddy’s Creek Area is now temporarily available for public access, though the gate remains closed and the dock is off limits to fishing and swimming. Private vehicles must not block the gate and anyone using the ramp must be aware that first responders receive priority in the execution of their routine patrols and emergency responses.

The camping areas are operating at full capacity, with very few openings to make reservations even during the middle of the week when normally there would be a selection of unoccupied sites for walk-in campers and vacationers. At the time of this writing, all campers must have a reservation to occupy a site and protocols have changed to allow folks to make a reservation up to 9 p.m. on the day of their stay. It is hoped these provisions will keep the amount of close contact between campers and campground hosts to a minimum so that everyone can practice social distancing.

Similarly, the picnic areas at both the Catawba River and Paddy’s Creek areas are open, including the picnic shelters, but some tables have been moved to create safe space for unaffiliated groups to occupy. The shoreline picnic sites at the Paddy’s Creek Area remain closed to discourage unlawful use of the sandy lakefront between the East and West shelters.

Happily, hiking and mountain biking trails remain unaffected by the social distancing measures required to combat the spread of COVID-19. As state leaders and health officials monitor the virus, it is likely these guidelines for parks will evolve to meet the challenges presented by it. In time, we hope to remove restrictions on how visitors utilize the park and a return to normalcy happens soon. We also remain vigilant and flexible to the possibilities of implementing future COVID-19-related measures, depending on trends in testing and active cases across the region.

Thank you to the thousands of Lake James State Park supporters for your understanding and cooperation these past few months. Together, we will succeed in finding a path toward a future filled with the outdoor activities we all enjoy and love so well.