Jordan Lake NC: Fishing, Boating, Hiking, Camping, and More!
Jordan Lake
Jordan Lake is one of the many treasures surrounding the Raleigh/Triangle.
When I first moved here, I commuted to Sanford every day from Holly Springs. I saw the exit sign for Jordan Lake, but I had no idea how large this lake was, or how beautiful!
There are almost 14,000 acres of water. But I have a hard time picturing how much water that is.
How about this: It's about 12 miles from the northern tip to the southern reaches.
The northern tip of Jordan Lake touches the Durham/Chatham County line, and the southern tip nearly reaches the Harnett/Chatham County line. Between the various outlets and fingers, the widest stretch of lake is nearly 6 miles across!
Jordan Lake State Recreation Area
There are a total of NINE different recreation areas at Jordan Lake!
There's so much to see at Jordan Lake, that in this article I'm just going to focus on the Seaforth and Parker's Creek recreation areas, both right off of Hwy 64, about halfway between Apex and Pittsboro.
Seaforth Recreation Area
The Seaforth Recreation Area is basically a finger of land extending south into Jordan Lake, accessible from Hwy 64.
Directly north, across Hwy 64, is the Parker's Creek Recreation Area
Looking to Put the Boat To Good Use Near Raleigh?
The Seaforth Recreation Area has a large boat launching area with three separate boat ramps. Since Jordan Lake is barely 30 minutes from Raleigh, this is a pretty popular place to take the boat on a nice day.
Drive by on a Saturday morning, and you can see dozens of boats on Jordan Lake, with fishermen and women bundled in flannel shirts and hats, poles in the water.
Jordan Lake is so large that it easily accomodates plenty of boats and is quite popular with local fishers.
What About Camping Near Raleigh?
If you love to camp, but don't want to drive 6 hours after work on Friday afternoon, you'll love living in Raleigh. The Jordan Lake State Recreation Area is just one of several great places to camp, within 30 minutes to an hour of Raleigh.
Parker's Creek Recreation Area has 256 camping spaces, with everything that makes camping all that more comfortable - if you want to take advantage of the facilities!
There are showers, and sites with electric hookups. A beach with a swimming area gets pretty popular, and the playground and children's trail are great for parents. Picnic tables and grills are at every campsite.
Want to Take A Hike Near Raleigh?
Above, you can see the Seaforth Recreation Area hiking trail at Jordan Lake.
The Pond Trail is an easy 1.5 mile trail.
You'll catch views of Jordan Lake through pine and hardwood forests.
There's a long boardwalk along wetlands, and this little outlet has three ponds in addition to huge Jordan Lake!
Are there other Hiking Trails?
There are a total of 10 different trails at the various recreation areas around Jordan Lake.
New Hope Overlook offers the longest trail, at 5.4 miles.
There are several steep hills, but it's worth it for the sweeping views, creek crossings, and wildflowers and meadows.
Other hikes vary, starting at just a half mile.
Jordan Lake - Swimming
If you like lake swimming, you'll enjoy the four different sandy beaches open for swimming.
It's a bit nippy in early spring, but when summer comes, the parking lot fills pretty quickly.
And if you're camping, there's probably a "campers only" beach available.
If you're coming to visit in the summer, do bring some cash or a check. Admission is free from October to March, but is charged daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and on the weekends in the spring and fall.
- Car --- $5.00/day
- Senior Citizen (62 or older) --- $3/day
- Bus or Van --- $10/day
- Annual Pass (valid anytime within the calendar year) --- $40
Find out more about this terrific attraction: Jordan Lake State Recreation Area
Jordan Lake is just one of the many things that makes Chatham County a wonderful place to live, or a great place to spend the day.
Click on the map to find out how to get to Jordan Lake!
View Larger Map Raleigh and the Triangle Area
Whether you're looking at relocating to Raleigh to start your career, to find a friendly place to raise a family, or retiring in a terrific climate, Raleigh and the Research Park Triangle has something to offer you. Great schools, Forbes rated #1 in 2007 for Businesses and Careers, lots of lakes and golf courses, top-rated cultural centers, universities, and hospitals - and all only two hours to the ocean and three hours to the mountains - it's no wonder that Raleigh is a "Best Place to Live"!
If you're interested in moving to Jordan Lake and Chatham County, you may also be interested in these articles:
Raleigh and the Triangle Area, NC Relocation Package - April 2008 Edition
What is Silk Hope, NC? Find Out More About This Beautiful Chatham County Community
Chatham County Property Taxes - How Much Am I Gonna Pay? Here's How to Figure it Out for Chatham County/Pittsboro/Siler City!
The Preserve at Jordan Lake - Homes and Communities in Chatham County - Chatham County Relocation/Raleigh Relocation
New Custom Homes at Cattail Creek - Homes on Acreage in Chatham County
Chatham County Relocation Package - Considering a Move to Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Pittsboro, or Chatham County?
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