Located in the northern Piedmont Triad region, picturesque terrain makes Haw River State Park the perfect place to connect with nature. Housed within this natural setting is The Summit Environmental Education and Conference Center, N.C. State Park's first residential environmental education center. Along with environmental education programming, The Summit Center offers conference center facilities for groups ranging in size from 10 to 180. The traditional state park amenities of hiking, picnicking and nature viewing are now available, only a short drive away, at the Iron Ore Belt day use access.

Haw River State Park was authorized by the General Assembly in 2003. The Haw River headwaters area was among 12 sites in North Carolina identified as a potential state park in the system's 2003 New Parks for a New Century initiative. One of the initial acquisitions for the park was a 210-acre retreat and conference center, known as The Summit. Acquired in 2004 from the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, the conference center was incorporated into Haw River State Park, officially becoming a park in July of 2005. With the continued assistance of public and private conservation partners, the park has grown in size, bringing the current park holdings to 1,425 acres.