If you’re looking for kid-friendly activities at a state park, look no further. Raven Rock State Park has several options that will get your kids moving and learning.
This is not the first time we’ve visited this park. For more Raven Rock adventures and tips, have a look at these previous blog posts.
Where We Stayed
Raven Rock State Park is located about 30 miles southwest of Raleigh, in Harnett County, North Carolina. There are more than 26 miles of hiking and 10 miles of biking.
By car, the entrance to Moccasin Branch Campground is less than half a mile from the entrance to the park. The campground has 6 cabins, 14 tent campsites, and 9 RV sites (with water, electric, and sewer hookups). There’s an unpaved bike trail around the campground and a hiking trail that connects the campground to the state park. There are plenty of trash cans, and the campground also has recycling.
| Campground Name | Moccasin Branch Campground |
| Location | Lillington, NC |
| Dates | November 22-24, 2024 |
| Site Number | Site 14 |
| Site Surface | gravel, almost level |
| Hook-ups | full hookups, 50-amp electric |
| Cost | $36 per night (including taxes and fees) |
| Water Pressure | 60 psi |
| Voltage | 125 V |
| Verizon Speed Test | 9 Mbps down; 5 Mbps up |
| T-Mobile Speed Test | 3 Mbps down; 2 Mbps up |
| Campground WiFi | None |
Our favorite feature of the campground is the large campsites. Neighboring campsites are more than 40 feet away, and many are almost staggered. For example, the main area of our site lines up with the driveway of the next site on one side and woods on the other. It’s hard to explain, but it eliminates the feeling of being on top of your neighbors.
Moccasin Branch Campground closes at 6:00 p.m., so keep that in mind if you plan to go out for dinner during your stay. If you’re out when they lock the gates, you’ll have to leave your car and walk back to your site.
The campground is very dark after the sun sets. If you like stargazing, you should definitely give it a try at Moccasin Branch!
What We Did
Fish Traps Trail
On this trip, we tried Fish Traps Trail. According to the park’s website, the trail is 0.6 miles each way. Going out, it was basically all downhill, so coming back was all uphill. There are a lot of steps, and some of them are fairly large. Keep that in mind if you’re hiking with small kids (or small dogs). The trail ends at the Cape Fear River, but the banks were too steep to let the dogs get in the water.
We were there with my sister and our 5- and 7-year-old nieces. They got to take turns walking Corona by themselves or helping Jesse hold Aiken’s leash.
The Fish Traps Trail wasn’t the most interesting trail for them, but they did enjoy climbing on some large rocks we found toward the end of the trail.
Kid-Friendly Options
American Beech Trail
If you’re looking for a kid-friendly day in Raven Rock State Park, I recommend starting with the American Beech Trail. We hiked that on a previous trip, and it’s an educational trail and much more kid-friendly. You can read more about that trail in this blog post.
Discovery Woods
If you’re staying at the campground, they also have a kid-friendly activity worth trying, called Discovery Woods. They call it a self-guided hike, but it feels more like a scavenger hunt. The start is located at the beginning of the trail behind the bathhouse.
Within the woods enclosed by the campground loop are 15 signs. The theme is Raven Rock State Park. Each sign asks a question and provides directions to the next clue.
Discovery Woods Travel Tip
Consider packing a small notebook and a pencil for your camping trip. That way, the kids can keep track of their answers as they search the woods for more signs.
More Photos
Happy travels!
