Dan Nicholas Park Campground, located near Salisbury, NC and High Rock Lake offers 70 camping sites nestled in a wooded area behind the lake. Many people who have visited the park do not even realize a campground is in the park. Many people walk just a few feet from the camping area as they walk around the lake and never realize the fun possibilities of camping at one of the best parks in Rowan County and North Carolina!
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| Fun Things to do Near Salisbury NC © Katrena |
The campsites are spacious, and many of them are pull-through for those who would prefer not to back into a site or for those who might seem to tie a pop-up in a square knot any time you put the truck in reverse! Most sites have water and electricity, but a few discount sites offer only a table and grill. They also have a few small cabins for those who do not have a camper or tent.
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| Camping in North Carolina and Rowan County © Katrena |
In my opinion, this campground is a hidden gem! Staff members at Dan Nicholas are friendly, helpful, and ready to offer suggestions for those looking for fun activities both in and out of the park. The campground offers a few friendly competitions like the chili cook offs and an ice cream making contest, and you can see some pictures of these activities in the camp store.
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| Beautiful Lakes in North Carolina © Katrena |
If you enjoy seclusion, many of the camp sites further away from the lake seem particularly quiet. A paved road connects all campsites. Bath houses are found in several locations throughout the campground. When we camped, the remnants of a tropical storm arrived when we did and it rained every day we were there, but staff worked extra hard to keep the bath houses as clean as possible.
The sites nearest the lake put folks near the walking trail that wraps around the lake. A short trail takes visitors around the lake where ducks, geese, and paddle boats abound. This is one of my favorite trails as the bridge across the back reminds me a bit of Claude Monet's Water Lily pond painting.
Our family particularly enjoys riding bikes at campgrounds. The paved roads made it easy to navigate with three young children, and other campers would wave and watch out for kids riding and playing. Those interested in hiking can enjoy a variety of trails at Dan Nicholas, some quick and easy and others that might take a few hours to complete.
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| Dog Friendly Campgrounds in NC © Katrena |
The Dan Nicholas Park campground is dog-friendly, and my kids delighted in meeting quite a few furry campers! Squirrels regularly visit camp sites and can put on quite a show as they scamper up and down trees while the family enjoys a picnic under the trees. One little camper proudly showed us his collection of tiny frogs he had found as we were out on a bike ride.
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| Dan Nicholas Park in Rowan County NC © H.W. |
The park is brimming with beautiful flowers and an amazing array of native animals that are attracted to the area. Our family loves to look for birds, dragonflies, butterflies, bees, and frogs as we walk through Dan Nicholas. My kids especially enjoy looking for turtles swimming near the wooden bridge over the lake. We were surprised to see a heron when we camped at the park. I loved having such a peaceful feeling as I did yoga at dawn while the sun's early rays filtered through the plethora of leaves that twinkled with dew.
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| Black Bears in North Carolina © Katrena |
Those who enjoy wildlife might also wish to visit the nature center and Wildlife Encounters exhibit in the park. You'll see black bears, turtles, frogs, foxes, birds of prey, perhaps deer, snakes, fish, and other animals in those exhibits. A barnyard will bring you close to some animals you might see on a farm. You might even try your hand at mining for gems in the mine just past the barnyard.
My kids love rides, so they are particularly drawn to the carousel and train ride. Dan Nicholas offers one of the largest free playgrounds we've ever visited, and sections of the playground are handicap accessible. Beyond the playground is putt-putt golf. Horseshoe pits, tennis courts, and ball fields are also available.
Those who enjoy water activities will be drawn to the splash pad, fishing, and paddle boats. Water can make a hot southern summer day seem a little cooler. When we camped, it rained every day – actually it rained almost every day of the entire summer break in 2013 around these parts, but that didn't stop our fun. We bought some fun umbrellas at the train station and simply learned to dance in the rain!
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| Fishing Lakes and Paddle Boats in North Carolina © Katrena |
I found the campground at Dan Nicholas Park to be quite relaxing and particularly enjoyed listening to the ducks and birds calling one another in the mornings before most folks were awake. For me, it was a nice place to unwind, unplug, and rejuvenate while enjoying some quality time with my daughters. It was also convenient to have such a variety of fun activities in walking distance – we could easily stay a week at the campground without leaving the park; however, many fun family activities in and around Rowan County lie a short distance away.
The fees are very reasonable, and residents of Rowan County are offered a discounted rate for camping. Those who love crafts and music might be interested to know that Dan Nicholas offers an Autumn Jubilee, a very popular activity typically offered in early October. Visit the
Dan Nicholas official web site for dates, times, fees, trail maps and more; many of the activities at Dan Nicholas are free or have a low cost. Although this was an inexpensive camping trip for us, it was packed with fun and was one of our favorite activities.
Readers may also wish to check out some of my other articles:
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| Great Places to See Wildlife in Rowan County, North Carolina © Katrena |
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