NC Science Trail's Bounds

All public Bounds by NC Science Trail

Located in the heart of Wake County and the Research Triangle, you can escape the city at William B. Umstead State Park in Raleigh. With north and south accesses in different parts of the city, explore hiking, biking, and multiuse trails, and three manmade lakes and their tributaries--all perfect for fishing. This is also the best picnicking spot around! What else will you find here?

Located in Wayne County 15 miles southeast of Goldsboro, Cliffs of the Neuse State Park sits on 90-foot bluffs overlooking the Neuse River. Layers of sand, clay, seashells, shale, and gravel create a spectrum of colors on the face of the cliff. Completing the landscape are longleaf pine restoration areas and creeks that were once used to make moonshine and cornmeal, but now offer quiet fishing spots. An 11-acre lake complements the river in providing opportunities for water recreation. Come join...

Located in Camden County abutting the state's northeast border with Virginia, Dismal Swamp State Park provides access to the Great Dismal Swamp, the largest remaining swamp in the eastern United States. This area features unique and abundant plant life and wildlife, as well as a rich cultural history that intertwines with George Washington, the Underground Railroad, and Prohibition. The 22-mile Dismal Swamp Canal is a popular paddling destination and hosts the annual Paddle for the Border event....

Follow the trail to discover trees in our area and learn the science behind why they look the way they do and what they do for the environment around them. Look for trees with placards along the trail. These signs will help you solve each clue. Using the Actionbound App, please take photos where requested and submit your answers.

Travel along the Palmetto Boardwalk Trail and explore the wetlands of North Carolina’s Coastal Plain. This scavenger hunt highlights cypress swamps and palmetto wetlands where water plays a key role in shaping the ecosystem. Visitors will learn how wetland plants and animals are adapted to life in flooded, low-oxygen environments. Along the way, you’ll discover how wetlands clean water, support wildlife, and reduce flooding. These unique ecosystems make Goose Creek State Park a truly special...

Join the North Carolina Science Trail during Science Festival at Fort Fisher State Recreation Area for an exciting digital scavenger hunt! Explore the four habitats of Fort Fisher SRA - ocean, sand dunes, maritime forest, and salt marsh to learn about science and nature in one North Carolina’s most beloved coastal parks. Start your adventure at the Visitor Center and scan the QR code in the Actionbound app. What incredible things will you find here?

Embark on the Curious Minds Adventure Scavenger Hunt at Lake James State Park! Located in Burke and McDowell counties 50 miles northeast of Asheville, Lake James State Park includes two areas to access this picturesque lake that are perfect for boating, swimming, and fishing. Campsites at both Catawba River and Paddy's Creek accesses provide an opportunity to spend the night by the lake, with some sites accessible only by paddling. Trails include bike trails at Paddy's Creek, the kid-friendly...

Located in Avery, Caldwell, and Watauga counties 13 miles southwest of Boone, Grandfather Mountain State Park showcases a stunning mountain known for severe weather and challenging terrain. It also boasts an unmatched ecological diversity that has been recognized as a United Nations International Biosphere Reserve. The State Park land sits between privately owned Grandfather Mountain attraction and trails managed by the National Park Service. On this Curious Minds Adventure you'll follow the...

Located in Watauga County, Elk Knob State Park was established in 2003 to protect the mountains and headwaters of the North Fork of the New River. On this Curious Minds Adventure you'll, journey through northern hardwood forest, follow winding mountain trails, and explore the unique ecosystems of this high-elevation park. Keep your eyes open—what signs of wildlife or weather-shaped landscapes will you uncover? Look for unique plants and animals that make Elk Knob a very special place in Western...

Located in Iredell County 40 miles north of Charlotte, Lake Norman State Park boasts the region's popular mountain biking trail system, the Itusi Trail, offering nearly 31 miles of single-track trail. The namesake lake is the largest manmade lake within the state, and the park covers about 17 miles of its northern shoreline. Park Lake, set off from the larger Lake Norman by a dam, offers quiet fishing spots and paddling. Heron rookeries on two islands shelter over 25 great blue heron nests.