Oak Hill Community Park & Forest
Opened to the public October 14, 2023
Park Gate is Open (Updated: Monay 4/22/2024)
Trail Conditions: Dry
Park Gate is Open (Updated: Monay 4/22/2024) Trail Conditions: Dry
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Oak Hill Community Park and Forest is a free public resource for the citizens of Burke County, NC, and beyond, meant to develop and support opportunities for outdoor recreation by building and maintaining trails and promoting responsible trail use, while also engaging natural resource protection and restoration.
Oak Hill Community Park and Forest will be a destination-quality regional park that provides opportunities for outdoor recreation, nature-based education, forest restoration and stewardship, archeological and historical exploration, and agriculture.
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Open Daily. Park gates automatically open at 5:30 a.m., and automatically close at 7:30 p.m.
FCNC maintains the right to close the park for hazardous/severe weather, private events, maintenance / management, or for any other reason. Trails may be closed due to weather or trail maintenance and work. Trail closures will be announced to the public through FCNC’s social media outlets and website.
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820 NC 126
Morganton, NC 28655
The entrance to the park is approximately 1.5 miles west/northwest of the intersection between Independence Boulevard and NC Highway 126.
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Oak Hill Community Park and Forest is owned and operated by Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina.
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The park will be open daily from dawn to dusk. Automatic gate opening and closure may fluctuate with changes in daylight.
The park is closed during periods of hazardous weather to protect recreational and natural resources.
Park vehicles in designated areas only. No parking along the park access road. No overnight parking or camping.
Park trails are designed for use by hikers and bikers. Trails shall only be used for their designated purpose.
Trail users should remain only on designated trails. Trail users shall not stray from designated trails or go onto any adjacent private properties.
Trail users should abide by all posted trail closures that will be determined by park management.
Hiking is allowed on all trails. Carry route maps and be familiar with relevant park information. Be aware and respectful of other trail users.
Biking is allowed on specific trails. Carry route maps and be familiar with relevant park information. Ensure you wear proper bicycle safety equipment. Obey all trail rules, observe stop signs and speed limits. Pay attention to vehicle traffic and other users of the trails.
Electric bicycles (E-bikes) are allowed in the park.
Use of motorized vehicles (motorcycles, ATV’s, etc.) on pedestrian and bike trails is prohibited unless for maintenance or emergency service access.
No trails shall be repaired or constructed without authorization and approval from Foothills Conservancy of NC.
Park users may walk or bike the gravel roads, but vehicular use is prohibited.
Access on unimproved roads / old logging roads is not permitted.
Do not block gates.
Littering is illegal. Pick up and remove your own trash (and a little extra!). Burying trash is prohibited.
No fires shall be built except as designated and under the direction of the park management.
No alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs or smoking / vaping.
Firearms and other weapons are prohibited except for individuals with a proper permit for a concealed handgun. Discharging of firearms is prohibited.
Fireworks, cap pistols, air guns, bow and arrows, slingshots and lethal projectiles or missiles of any kind are prohibited.
Hunting or trapping of any animal is prohibited on park property.
Contact us about the park by emailing oakhillpark@foothillsconservancy.org
In 2020, thanks to funding from private donors, foundations and small businesses, Foothills Conservancy purchased 652 acres to become the Oak Hill Community Park and Forest.
Located 10 minutes from downtown Morganton, the park will be a hub for outdoor recreation, education, agriculture and archaeological exploration for Morganton residents and visitors.
Thank you to our generous project donors!
Individuals & Groups
Tim & Margaret Andrews
Aram & Linda Attarian
Joe Avery
Ellis & Barbara Aycock
Julian & Sylvia Bajorek
Patricia Bell
Barbara Beier
Bob & Donna Benner
Tom & Beth Blanton
Blue Ridge Healthcare Hospitals Medical Staff
Debbie Bradley
Roby Braswell & Julie Dickison
Keith & Karen Breedlove
Martha Bumgarner
Frances Burke-Urr
David & Loralie Clark
Larry & Patricia Clark
Ann & George Costello
Deborah Davis
Hal Davis
Sonni & Sandy Dyer
Al Fischer
Deborah & Charles Fisher
Mary Ann Flood
Jimmy & Mary Lou Furr
Grace Glenn
Margaret Gordon
Jim & Janice Gravely
Glenn Grossman
Margaret & Peter Hampson
Ann Henderson
Bruce & Lynn Henderson
Sarah & Dan Hoyle
Clara Hunt
Deborah Johnson
Frances Jones
Kim & Kathleen Jurell
L. H. Kirksey
W. Carl Kirksey
Dominic Lepore
Matthew & Katherine Lindsay
Randy & Lea Loftis
Clinton Lytle
Jeff & Carol MacKinney
Nikki & Phil Malatin
John & Terri Martino
David M. McCall
Dennis McGill
Members of Quaker Meadows Presbyterian Church
Denise Michaud
Wallace & Ann Moncrief
Jeff Morgan
Courtney Mull
Charles Nantz & the Oak Hill UMC Sunday School Class
Don & Regina Nesbitt
Betty Orders
Rod & Wanda Orders
Overmountain Cycles
Richard & Shara Owensby
Joyce Pharr
Bercie Price
Nancy Puckett
Kurt Reid
Karen Ricker
Denise Ritz & Robert Leming
Nick Roberto
George & Jane Ronan
Tom & Leslie Ruckdeschel
TR & Anna Russ
Barbara & Steven Russell
Randy & Mary Charlotte Safford
Steve & Cheri Sawyer
Steven Shaber
Calvin Sossoman
Glenn & Joann Tanzer
Michael Thomas
Doug & Gwen Veazey
Linda Wall
Martha & Chip Whitfield
William & Shirley Winston
Grantors
Camp Lake James Stewardship Fund
Catawba-Wateree Water Management Group
Community Foundation of Burke County
Conservation Trust for North Carolina
Duke Energy Foundation - Powerful Communities Program
Glass Foundation
Grace Episcopal Church Foundation
Huffman-Cornwell Foundation
Jefferies-Kendall Foundation, Inc.
N.C. DOJ Environmental Enhancement Grant Program
North Carolina Land & Water Fund
J. Alex and Vivian G. Mull Foundation
Rostan Family Foundation
Unifour Foundation
USDA Forest Service Community Forest Program