Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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Day Trippin’ to Raven Rock by CAREY CLARK visit www.joylikesjuiceplus.com and discover how to bridge your family’s nutritional gap with 17 fruits & veggies! According to Park Ranger David Brown, Raven Rock boasts 11 miles of hiking trails, nine in all, on the south side of the park. With gas prices and unemployment at record highs, many are feeling the pinch come summer. The dream of the ideal vacation some place remote evaporates with a hard look at budget and savings. Sometimes, however, the “ideal” summer has more to do with quality time and a change in scenery than fancy theme parks. Nestled in the heart of Harnett County, just 40 miles from Fayetteville is a gem waiting to be discovered. Raven Rock State Park offers hiking trails, picnic areas, campsites and amazing views. Located between Sanford and Lillington, off U.S. Hwy 421, this state park is a great way to spend a few hours or even a few days. Famous for its 150-foot-tall rock outcropping stretching more than a mile along the Cape Fear River, Raven Rock has been fascinating visitors since before European settlers arrived in the mid-1700s. According to Park Ranger David Brown, Raven Rock boasts 11 miles of hiking trails, nine in all, on the south side of the park. The longest trail is the Campbell Creek Loop, which is 5 miles long, or 6 miles if you opt to take the spur as well. Says Kelly Fisher, Harnett County teacher and mother of three, “ I like the walking trail behind the Welcome Center. It is stroller friendly, and you can still experience the wonder of God’s creation.” Brown cautions that most of the trails require a jogging or bike wheel Kick off those “work shoes” and kick up your heels! Come enjoy this month’s entertainment, with music, food and fun for all. Opening acts kick off the evening, followed by Suicide Blonde (on stage at 7:00 pm). FREE ADMISSION • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Corn Hole Tournament • 50/50 Raffle • Giveaways Prizes • Food & Beverage • Vendors • Kids’ Activities Festival Park (downtown Fayetteville) • Gates open at 5:00 pm No outside food or beverages are allowed within the park. This event serves as a fundraiser for the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival faydogwoodfestival.com stroller due to the natural rock and gravel bars. The trails also have timbers at intervals to aid hikers with slopes. “From the parking lot to the overlook, the trails are fairly even though,” says Brown. If your goal is to hike to Raven Rock itself, you will have to navigate 100 stairs to get all the way down to the river area. Accessible from the separate entrance off Hwy 401 N, there are two horse trails on the north side of the river. While hikers are welcome, the trails are maintained for horse riding and hikers are urged to leave room in the small parking lot for horse trailers. The park also has a number of “primitive” camping sites at a nominal daily fee. A primitive or backpack campsite consists of a fi re pit and either a composting or vault toilet nearby. “We get a fair amount of campers in the spring and early summer,” says Brown. This year the park has seen an increase in the number of campers due to the early good weather. Brown says that the number of campers usually drop off as the weather gets hot. Fishing is also a popular sport at Raven Rock. Visitors are limited to fi shing during operating hours, but campers are welcome to fi sh at any time. All fi shermen are required to hold the appropriate fi shing license. For more information, or to sign up for Raven Rock’s free mobile app, be sure to visit the Raven Rock State Park website: www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/ raro/main.php. CAREY CLARK, Contributing Writer. COMMENTS? editor@upandcomingweekly.com 8 UCW AUGUST 10-16, 2011 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM