Guilford Mackintosh Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Guilford Mackintosh Park is a popular park located in Burlington, North Carolina.
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Summary
The park is spread across an area of 1,025 acres and offers an array of recreational activities. The park is an ideal spot for families and individuals who love to spend time in nature and participate in outdoor activities.
The park features several trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. The trails offer scenic views of the lake and are perfect for those who enjoy a good walk or bike ride. The park also has a lake where visitors can fish, boat, or paddle. The lake is stocked with various species of fish, including catfish, bass, and crappie.
One of the main attractions of the park is the Mackintosh Marina and Grill. The marina offers boat rentals and has a restaurant that serves delicious food and drinks. The park also has several picnic areas, playgrounds, and a dog park. The dog park is a great place to bring your furry friends and let them run around and socialize.
Interesting facts about the park include its history as a former quarry site. The park was once used to quarry granite, and remnants of the quarry can still be seen in some areas of the park. The park is also home to various wildlife, including deer, foxes, and birds.
The best time to visit Guilford Mackintosh Park is during the spring and fall when the weather is mild, and the foliage is beautiful. The park is open year-round, but some activities may be limited during the winter months.
In conclusion, Guilford Mackintosh Park is a must-visit destination in North Carolina. With its beautiful lake, scenic trails, and various recreational activities, it is the perfect spot for a family outing or a solo adventure.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Lake Mackintosh Park
Burlington City Park
Northwestern Park
Elmira Park
Cedarock Park
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Boyds Creek
Big Alamance Creek