Finding Birds in Guilford County © 2018 Dennis Burnette
IV-C5. Haw River State Park
Park Office: 339 Conference Center Drive, Browns Summit, NC 27214
336-342-6163
https://www.ncparks.gov/haw-river-state-park
Administrator: NC Division of Parks & Recreation
919-707-9300
https://www.ncparks.gov
Hours of operation: The Iron Ore Belt Access is open at 8:00 a.m. seven days a week except closed on Christmas Day. It closes at 6:00 p.m. November – February; 8”00 p.m. March – May and September – October; and 9:00 p.m. June – August. The Summit Environmental Education and Conference Center is open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and some weekends when activities are scheduled. Call the park office to determine which weekends the conference center area is open. The staff asks that visitors check in at the park office in the conference center upon arrival.
336-342-6163
https://www.ncparks.gov/haw-river-state-park
Administrator: NC Division of Parks & Recreation
919-707-9300
https://www.ncparks.gov
Hours of operation: The Iron Ore Belt Access is open at 8:00 a.m. seven days a week except closed on Christmas Day. It closes at 6:00 p.m. November – February; 8”00 p.m. March – May and September – October; and 9:00 p.m. June – August. The Summit Environmental Education and Conference Center is open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and some weekends when activities are scheduled. Call the park office to determine which weekends the conference center area is open. The staff asks that visitors check in at the park office in the conference center upon arrival.
Directions
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GPS coordinates:
36°14’08.27” 79°46’58.20” (Iron Ore Belt Access) 36°15’03.09” 79°45’23.00” (Summit conference center) The park straddles the county line between northern Guilford County and southern Rockingham County. TheIron Ore Belt Access section of the park is entered at 6064 N. Church Street,Greensboro, NC 27455. To reach this part of the park, go north from Wendover Avenue in Greensboro 10.7 miles on N. Church Street. The sign and entrance will be on the right (east) side of the road. To reach the Summit Environmental Education and Conference Center, go north on US 29 to the Brown Summit exit (NC 150) and go east to Spearman Rd. Turn right (north) and go 1.5 miles to the park. |
Description
Haw River State Park is located near the headwaters of its namesake river, which is the size of a creek in the park. It is one of the newest state parks, having officially become a park in 2005. The core of the park was a 210-acre church conference center called The Summit. Additional property brought the size up to 1425 acres. Recently, the Iron Ore Belt Access section was opened.
TheIron Ore Belt Access features the Great Blue Heron Loop trail that is about 3.5 miles in length from the parking lot. There are permanent pit toilets and picnic tables. It is mostly wooded with some wetlands, meadows, and a power line right-of-way that is mowed periodically and may be used as a trail. At the time of this writing, this section hasn’t been visited a lot by birders but it shows great potential because of the varied habitats.
Birders also may use the Summit Environmental Education and Conference Center area with permission. Visitors should be aware that groups, including school classes, use this section. Check in at the office in the conference center building to learn of any restrictions.This section may be closed on some weekends. That being said, the park often is open to visitors who are not part of a group.
TheIron Ore Belt Access features the Great Blue Heron Loop trail that is about 3.5 miles in length from the parking lot. There are permanent pit toilets and picnic tables. It is mostly wooded with some wetlands, meadows, and a power line right-of-way that is mowed periodically and may be used as a trail. At the time of this writing, this section hasn’t been visited a lot by birders but it shows great potential because of the varied habitats.
Birders also may use the Summit Environmental Education and Conference Center area with permission. Visitors should be aware that groups, including school classes, use this section. Check in at the office in the conference center building to learn of any restrictions.This section may be closed on some weekends. That being said, the park often is open to visitors who are not part of a group.
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Click the image to open a site map in a new window.
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There are several trails near the conference center that go through a variety of habitats. Currently about 6 miles of trails allow the birder to see most of the common upper Piedmont species. A map of the trails is available at the park office. A boardwalk off the Piedmont Loop Trail north of the conference center goes through a marsh to the stream-sized Haw River. This is one of the few places in the area where Prothonotary Warblers have been observed nesting. The dead trees off the boardwalk attract woodpeckers, and Great-crested Flycatchers seem attracted to this spot in summer.
Finding Birds in Guilford County © 2018 Dennis Burnette
Finding Birds in Guilford County © 2018 Dennis Burnette