Rendezvous Mountain Educational State Forest to begin phased reopening

North Carolina -- North Carolina Forest Service: May 12, 2020: Rendezvous Mountain Educational State Forest will reopen to the public effective 9a.m. May 13.

To encourage responsible use and to maintain required social distancing, phased reopening will begin with allowing public access only to areas of the forest that promote movement-focused activities such as hiking. All areas and facilities of the forest will not be available during phase one of the reopening but will become available in accordance with Governor Cooper’s phased plan for reopening the state.

What can visitors expect during a visit to Rendezvous Mountain ESF during phase one of the reopening?

Rendezvous Mountain ESF will be open Monday through Friday, 9a.m. until 5p.m.
Most of the trail system will be open, and visitors should come prepared to access trails and to keep moving.
Parking has been adjusted to allow for more spacing and to make it more feasible for visitors to maintain recommended social distance.
While portable toilets will be available for visitors, restrooms will remain closed.
Gathering areas of the forest will remain closed to encourage movement and separation. These areas include the following:
all picnic areas;
the McGee Forestry Center;
the Bathhouse;
the Ranger Station;
the Logger’s Shack;
the Office; and,
the amphitheater.
As we move forward with this phased approach, we urge the public to adjust expectations, to be prepared, to stay local and to continue complying with CDC recommendations and guidelines. Visitors are asked to be responsible for individual best practices and to follow social distancing recommendations. Visitor behavior will be a key factor for providing continued public access and to avoid additional closures to the forest during this period of phased reopening. For phased reopening to be successful for public lands across our state, visitors must be good stewards and good neighbors. If you arrive during a busy time and find limited parking, the right decision is to return home and plan to visit another day at another time. If we are busy, expect other public lands, such as state parks and national forests, to also be busy. For up-to-date information about access to state forests in North Carolina, please stay tuned into https://ncforestservice.gov/COVID19.htm and NCFS social media accounts.