Jones Lake State Park
Elizabethtown, North Carolina · on Jones Lake · Jones Lake State Park
Verified · 5 independent sources
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- Yes, see below
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Jones Lake State Park
Jones Lake State Park in Bladen County, NC, near Elizabethtown, centers on Jones Lake, a Carolina bay lake with a designated swim beach and bathhouse. The park has offered lake swimming as one of its principal activities since its 1939 founding as a Civilian Conservation Corps recreational demonstration project, making this Carolina bay swimming hole one of the longest-established places to swim in the region.
Jones Lake is a Carolina bay, a relict thermokarst lake formed thousands of years ago, set within a 2,208-acre state park in the coastal plain of Bladen County. The lake is fed largely by rainfall and groundwater, giving the water a dark, tea-like tint from tannins and peat, and the park surrounds it with pine woods, campsites, and trails including the roughly 4-mile Bay Lake Trail.
Swimming at Jones Lake State Park
Swimming takes place at a designated beach access area near the picnic grounds, supported by an on-site bathhouse. The lake's tea-colored water conceals its shallow depth, which reaches only about 8 feet at its deepest, making it a mellow, family-oriented swim spot rather than a deep-water destination.
How to get to this swimming hole
The park is located at 4117 NC Highway 242 N., Elizabethtown, NC 28337, about 40 miles southeast of Fayetteville, NC.
The hike in
The park's trails (4-mile Bay Trail loop around the lake, 1-mile Cedar Loop, and the 1-mile Salters Lake spur) are separate recreational hikes through Carolina-bay habitat; none of the official trail descriptions identify the swim beach as a trail destination. The designated beach/bathhouse sits at the park's developed day-use area and is reached directly from the parking area, not via any of these trails.
Drive-up access: park at the day-use area near the picnic grounds and bathhouse and walk a short distance to the beach; no hike is needed to reach the water.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
The swim beach has a designated, developed access area (not a wild scramble), but the lake's tea-colored, tannin-stained water hides the bottom even in shallow spots, and NC State Parks' general rules do not mention lifeguards at Jones Lake. Max depth is only about 8 ft, so it's a mellow lake overall, but parents should watch kids closely since depth isn't visible.
Parking
Free
No day-use fee is charged to enter the park or use the swim beach (confirmed on ncparks.gov); the park page did not specify whether beach parking is a dedicated lot or roadside, nor lot capacity.
Restrooms
Yes
On-site bathhouse serving the swim beach/picnic area (confirmed on the official park page); exact building location relative to the parking lot was not specified in sourced material.
Water clarity
Often murky
Jones Lake is a Carolina bay fed by rainfall/groundwater; its naturally high-acidity, tea-tinted (tannin-stained) water is described by the official park page as hiding the lake's shallow bottom, meaning visibility is poor even though the water itself is clean/blackwater rather than sediment-turbid.
Hours
Seasonal, gate-to-gate: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. (Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec); 8 a.m.-8 p.m. (Mar-May, Sep-Oct); 8 a.m.-9 p.m. (Jun-Aug). Closed only on Christmas Day. Visitor center staffed Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
On the water
Restrictions: NC State Parks system-wide rules (ncparks.gov/park-rules) state that boats, rafts, surfboards, personal watercraft, and canoes are prohibited inside designated swimming areas, and watercraft may only be launched at public boat ramps or designated launch sites; motor horsepower/type may be restricted on lakes contained entirely within a park (Jones Lake sits fully within the park boundary), though the exact horsepower or electric-only limit specific to Jones Lake was not found in sourced material.
The park's own boathouse rents canoes and paddleboats seasonally (per ncparks.gov and Wikipedia); no mention was found of visitor-owned kayak, paddleboard, or motorboat/jet-ski launching being permitted, and given the small, enclosed nature of the lake, larger motorized craft do not appear to be a park activity.
Rentals nearby
Canoe and paddleboat rentals (seasonal, on-site at the park's boathouse)
At the park's boathouse on Jones Lake, within the day-use/picnic area, 4117 NC Highway 242 N., Elizabethtown, NC · Seasonal; specific rental hours/season dates were not published on the pages checked
Backstory
The lake was originally called Woodward Lake and was later renamed for Isaac Jones, a local landowner who donated land for Elizabethtown's founding in 1773. The state park was established in 1939 as a recreational demonstration project built with Civilian Conservation Corps labor, and it holds historic significance as one of the first North Carolina state parks to permit Black Americans to recreate there during the segregation era.
Jones Lake State Park: FAQ
Does Jones Lake State Park charge a fee?
No day-use fee is required to access the park or its swim beach; fees apply only to boat rentals, camping, and facility reservations.
Is Jones Lake State Park kid friendly?
The swim beach has a designated, developed access area (not a wild scramble), but the lake's tea-colored, tannin-stained water hides the bottom even in shallow spots, and NC State Parks' general rules do not mention lifeguards at Jones Lake. Max depth is only about 8 ft, so it's a mellow lake overall, but parents should watch kids closely since depth isn't visible.
Do I need to hike to reach Jones Lake State Park?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Jones Lake State Park?
No day-use fee is charged to enter the park or use the swim beach (confirmed on ncparks.gov); the park page did not specify whether beach parking is a dedicated lot or roadside, nor lot capacity.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Jones Lake State Park?
The park's own boathouse rents canoes and paddleboats seasonally (per ncparks.gov and Wikipedia); no mention was found of visitor-owned kayak, paddleboard, or motorboat/jet-ski launching being permitted, and given the small, enclosed nature of the lake, larger motorized craft do not appear to be a park activity.
When is the best time to visit Jones Lake State Park?
Summer (June through August), when the park keeps its longest hours (until 9 p.m.) and seasonal canoe/paddleboat rentals operate.
What are the rules at Jones Lake State Park?
The park operates on seasonal hours: 8 a.m. opening year-round, with closing times of 6 p.m. (Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec), 8 p.m. (Mar-May, Sep-Oct), and 9 p.m. (Jun-Aug); the visitor center is open Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. No lifeguard presence was confirmed in sourced material.
What water body is Jones Lake State Park on?
Jones Lake State Park is on Jones Lake, a natural lake verified in USGS hydrography data.
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