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7 - 5 <br />Orange County Comprehensive Parks and Recreation Master Plan <br /> CHAPTER 7 - Linkages with 2030 Comprehensive Plan and Other County Plans 7 <br />E. State Parks System <br />The North Carolina State Park system includes Eno <br />River State Park, most of which is located in Orange <br />County; the eastern portion is in Durham County. <br />This park follows a linear park model in order to <br />protect an important Piedmont watercourse. Its <br />satellite park unit, Occoneechee Mountain State <br />Natural Area, is near Hillsborough. Park facilities <br />provide low-impact recreation opportunities such as <br />hiking, canoeing, picnicking, and camping. The <br />planned NC Mountains-to-Sea Trail will travel <br />through Eno River State Park. A map showing Eno <br />River State Park is provided as Figure 8-1. <br />campers. Other activities include opportunities to <br />hike, canoe/kayak, and fish. Interpretative programs <br />as well as the annual Festival for the Eno (in Durham <br />County) are among the activities visitors may enjoy <br />at the park. Annual visitation is about 500,000. <br /> <br />Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area <br />This area’s conservation is the result of over 40 <br />years of efforts involving Orange County, The Town <br />of Hillsborough, The Nature Conservancy, the Eno <br />River Association, North Carolina State Parks, and <br />countless individuals. This satellite unit of Eno River <br />State Park, dedicated in 1999, has several ponds as <br />well as approximately three trail miles on 190 acres <br />through oak forest, river habitats, and heath bluff. <br />Current expansion plans include the acquisition of <br />approximately 60 acres of land in order to provide <br />greater protection of more of the regionally signifi- <br />cant plant communities on this property. This site is <br />located just southwest of Hillsborough’s town limits. <br /> <br />Eno River State Park <br />The Eno River State Park is comprised of 3,900 acres <br />in Orange and Durham counties and includes <br />multiple tracts of land fronting the Eno River. <br />Approximately 75% of the park and 16 miles of trail <br />are located within Orange County, as well as 12 <br />primitive campsites that accommodate about 100 <br />Figure 8-1: Eno River Sate Park Map <br />83