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Lake Norman State Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 4,112 Google reviews · Running trail in Troutman, North Carolina · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Lake Norman State Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
State park next to NC's largest man-made lake, with fishing, boating, camping, hiking & more.
What runners say about Lake Norman State Park
“The trails are well maintained, the lake views are stunning, and it’s a perfect spot for hiking, kayaking, or just spending a peaceful day outdoors.”
“My husband and I camped at lake Norman in October with our three dogs and it was absolutely gorgeous!”
“There was a small parking lot with ample shade along the trail, providing a pleasant and comfortable experience for hikers.”
“The trails are well maintained, the lake views are stunning, and it’s a perfect spot for hiking, kayaking, or just spending a peaceful day outdoors.”
“It was very flat, making it accessible to people of all ages.”
My husband and I camped at lake Norman in October with our three dogs and it was absolutely gorgeous! The campsites are really nice and the hiking trails are so pretty. You could see the lake right from the campsite and it was really close to the water. It was extremely peaceful. We felt nice and secluded.
Lake Shore Trail hiking today was GLORIOUS. This is an amazing park that has lake views and access for boats, biking, camping, swimming and activities for youth. Fishing, paddle boats and kayak a small area - great for beginners. Sandy beaches and a swimming beach too.
Lake Norman State Park is a beautiful place to enjoy nature and relax by the water. The trails are well maintained, the lake views are stunning, and it’s a perfect spot for hiking, kayaking, or just spending a peaceful day outdoors. A great escape from the city and definitely worth the visit!
Great camping ground, clean, safe, beautiful, nice people. Bathpuse best I have seen. Walking paths have lovely views of the water
Trail conditions & character
“This is an amazing park that has lake views and access for boats, biking, camping, swimming and activities for youth.”
“The trails are well maintained, the lake views are stunning, and it’s a perfect spot for hiking, kayaking, or just spending a peaceful day outdoors.”
“There was a small parking lot with ample shade along the trail, providing a pleasant and comfortable experience for hikers.”
“There was a small parking lot with ample shade along the trail, providing a pleasant and comfortable experience for hikers.”
“For hiking the trails are well maintained and they do have public restrooms.”
“Each fits 2 vehicles, 2 tents, one gravel pad, one picnic table, and one concrete pad firepit.”
“My husband and I camped at lake Norman in October with our three dogs and it was absolutely gorgeous!”
Plan your run at Lake Norman State Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitencparks.gov
- Phone+1 704-528-6350
Hours
| Monday | 7 am–9 pm |
| Tuesday | 7 am–9 pm |
| Wednesday | 7 am–9 pm |
| Thursday | 7 am–9 pm |
| Friday | 7 am–9 pm |
| Saturday | 7 am–9 pm |
| Sunday | 7 am–9 pm |
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