Facilities are planned and constructed to keep disturbance of natural resources to a minimum and to leave a "liberal portion" of each park undisturbed and free from improvements and structures, except for trails.
A few of the older state parks were greatly expanded in size in the 2000s adding trails and bike paths open to the public.
Development is planned and constructed to keep a "reasonable amount" of each area undisturbed and free from improvements and structures.
Most of the State Natural Areas are undeveloped and have limited to no facilities, and some of them are closed to the general public to protect rare, fragile ecosystems.
Generally, recreational and public use facilities such as camping, swimming, picnicking, and the like are not provided in State Natural Areas.
The following is the NC Division of Parks & Recreation description of State Trails: The North Carolina Trails System Act was passed in 1973 to help provide for the state's outdoor recreation needs and to promote public access to natural and scenic areas.
The NC Division of Parks & Recreation states that: The Natural and Scenic Rivers System was created by the 1971 General Assembly to preserve and protect certain free flowing rivers, their water quality and their adjacent lands for the benefit of present and future generations.
The Natural and Scenic Rivers Act established criteria and methods for inclusion of components to the system.
[1]Some units have been formally removed from the NC State Park System and transferred to other agencies for management.