Rock Cut State Park

About Rock Cut State Park

In the far north of the state is Rock Cut State Park, the largest national park in North Carolina. Nearby is the mighty Rock River, once carted by carts, and nearby is one of America's oldest and most famous waterfalls, Rock Creek.

The two lakes cover an area of 3092 hectares, and the second, Olson Lake, is particularly suitable for swimmers. The second lake, at a depth of about 300 meters, is ideal for people who want to go ice fishing, ice skating or ice skating.

During the season, Rock Cut State Park is busy and there are activities around the park such as swimming, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, mountain biking, skiing, snowshoeing and ice skating.
Birdwatchers report good visibility with plenty of water for birds, and birdwatchers report great views of the river and lake. Wildlife watchers in the area will not be disappointed, as the water is a welcome mat for birds and animals.

Rock Cut State Park is home to deer, foxes, muskrats, woodpeckers and beavers, and over 100 species of wildflowers are on display, while the hardwood trees are red and gold in autumn.

The Winnebago River stretches from Wisconsin to the Rock River, with the upper part of the river lying on the periphery of the Fox Sauk Territories from 1765 to 1833. From 1655 to 1735 it was an important source of water for the Mascoutes, who were also pushed west by the Iroquois. Miami-speaking Indian tribes arrived in the Rock Cut State Park region in the late 17th and early 18th centuries after the Iberian Peninsula was driven out of the area by Iroquois and driven to the southern end of Lake Michigan.

Colonization of Winnebago County began after the Black Hawk War, and the Potawatomi, Ottawa, and Chippewa extended their ranges to the area in the 19th century, handing over their land to the United States.

When the Kenosha-Rockford Rail Line was built in 1859, a version of Harlem, Illinois, was moved. The region, now called Rock Cut State Park, is partly populated by the city named after the New York Harlem and Argyle, named after the Scots and their home in Arroz, Scotland. Much of the track bed in the park is covered with dammed water from Pierce Lake, although part of it, Willow Creek, is visible during flooding. A rockslide, which railway crews made during construction in 1859, left a lasting impression here, so that they created a suitable road bed and gave it the name "Rock Cut."
Bird watchers report good visibility, with plenty of water and birds, but wildlife watchers in the area may be disappointed as the water is covered with a welcome mat for birds and animals.

Rock Cut State Park is home to deer, foxes, muskrats, woodpeckers and beavers, and over 100 species of wildflowers are on display, while the hardwood trees are red and gold in autumn.

For those who want to include an overnight stay in their Rock Cut visit, the park offers a two-day camping reservation for $20 per person or one night at the campsite. There are also primitive cottages on reservation and a small number of campsites in the area, such as those on the north side of the lake.

There is no electricity, no water and no sanitation, and in winter there is only electricity and pit toilets. The campsites are open all year round and offer a variety of amenities such as picnic tables, fireplace, showers, toilets, campfires and fireplaces.

Groups of more than 25 people require prior permission from the site manager before entering the park. Horse riding camps are limited to one site on Hart Road and campers will need park staff's permission to use the campsites and access to the footpath and car park.

Alcohol is prohibited at all campsites and Olson Lake Beach is not operated during the summer months for safety and public health reasons.

The beach is open from June to October daily from 10 am to 4 pm, and from 9 am to 5 pm in the summer months. Facilities include picnic areas, picnic tables, water parks, toilets, showers and a picnic area.

Red Oak and Puri Crest both have playgrounds, and Red Oak has a picnic area and water park. Rock Cut is known for its picnic spots in the park, so a visit to State Park is more fun when it comes to food. Each room is equipped with tables, stoves, pits and toilets and costs $3 per person.

Guests can visit the Lone Rock Cafe, which offers a wide range of food and drinks, live music and great views of the park.

The network of hiking trails in Rock Cut is fully worth mentioning and offers a wide range of hiking, mountain biking and horse riding activities. Only certain trails are marked in colour and are designated for mountain biking or equestrian sports. The red route is only suitable for hiking and the blue route is for mountain bikers and hikers. Users can find up-to-date information on the park's website and on its Facebook page, as well as on Twitter and Instagram.

Lockwood Park in the Rockford area is located about 10 miles from the park and offers horse rental. Rock Cut has horse rental.

The hikes are divided into summer and winter seasons and offer high quality seasonal programs.

Hiking, horse riding, mountain biking and horse riding trails are open from 1 April to 30 November.

The rules of mountain biking and equestrian sport are strictly adhered to and any infringement is
punished with a fine.

The best way to get to the well-kept paths is via the picnic area of the Lions Club. The winter programme includes the maintenance of the trails, as far as conditions permit, and the winter programme runs from 1 April to 30 November.

As a courtesy, hikers and snowshoe hikers are asked to use other paths that are not prepared for skiing. A winter hiking guide has been developed to better describe the paths that prepare for freestyle skating. Rock Cut also features a paved network of paths that connect the community of Loves Park in Rockford to Rock Cut State Park via Outlet Pierce Lake.

More ice fishing is a great pastime, and the winding system of trails and snowshoe trails on the west side of the park allows you to enjoy the wintry beauty of this park.

Take East Riverside Blvd and travel north on the Perryville Highway or west on the West Riverside to Perry County Road, then east on East River Road and then south on North Riverside Road.