Viewing Plants Areas

• Croatan National Forest

  Welcome to the Croatan National Forest, one of four National Forests in North Carolina and the only true coastal forest in the East.  The Croatan National Forest's 160,000 acres have pine forests, saltwater estuaries, bogs and raised swamps called pocosins.  Bordered on three sides by tidal rivers and the Bogue Sound, the forest is defined by water.

  All this water provides a variety of recreation and diversity of wildlife- from deer, black bears and turkeys to wading birds, ospreys and alligators.  Canoeing and fishing are popular on blackwater creeks and saltwater marshes.  The Croatan is also home to the carnivorous Venus fly-trap, sunder and pitcherplant. 

  The Croatan National Forest has one Ranger District, the Croatan Ranger District.  Please contact the District for more information.

  Camping and Day-use Information

  Enjoy camping or a picnic at one of the many day-use areas. A list of camping and day-use areas in the Croatan National Forest can be found here.

  Recreation Maps

  Croatan National Forest Maps

  Be Safe

  The national forests in North Carolina offer a wide variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. From the mountains to the sea, there are many exciting adventures awaiting your visit to these national forests. Please keep in mind that all outdoor recreational activities on the Croatan, Pisgah, Nantahala and Uwharrie national forests, including activities at recreation sites, have inherent risks due to the natural setting in which they occur. Always remember, your safety is your responsibility.

• Catfish Area

  Catfish Lake Boat Launch and Waterfowl Impoundment

• Catfish Waterfowl Impoundment
• Cedar Point Recreation Area

  The Cedar Point Recreation Area, near the mouth of the White Oak River, is surrounded by a salt marsh and a coastal forest.  The salt marsh, where fresh water meets salt water, stretches out like a sea of grass.  This nutrient-rich wetland is a valuable "nursery" for commercial seafood, including fish, shrimp, crabs and oysters.

  A small-craft boat ramp and fishing pier provides easy access to the river and its bounty. The shallow water is suited to flat-bottom boats. Canoes and kayaks can navigate the maze of canals through the salt march. From the boat ramp, paddle around the point, then pass under the boardwalk of the Tideland Trail. Be aware of the tides; an extremely low tide can leave some canals dry. The loop is shown on the map is about 2 miles and can be completed in half a day.

  The campground has 36 sites with electrical hookups, a bathhouse with flush toilets, warm showers, drinking water and a ramp for shallow water boats. Picnic tables are nearby. The Cedar Point Tideland Trail crosses boardwalks to explore the salt marsh and the life above and beneath.

   

  Common birds around the salt marsh:

  Osprey*, Red-tail hawk, Turkey vulture, Fish crow, Common egret, Snowy egret, Great blue heron, Tri-colored heron, Little blue heron, Red-winged blackbird, Boat-tail grackle, Belted kingfisher.

  Common birds in the forest:

  Carolina chikadee, Brown-headed nuthatch, Tufted titmouse, Northern mockingbird, Brown thrasher, Caolinawren, Blue-gray gnatcatcher, Pine warbler, Northern cardinal, Rufous-sided tewhee, Eastern bluebird, Red-bellied woodpecker, Red-headed woodpecker, Pileated woodpecker

  *Mostly Mar-Oct. All others are year-round residents

  Common Mammals:

  White-tailed deer, Raccoon

  Other Common Wildlife:

  Marsh periwinkle, Fiddler crabs, Blue crabs, Oysters, Mud crabs, numerous insects, Green anole lizard, Eastern fence lizard.

  Check out the brochure.

• Cedar Point Campground
• Tideland National Recreation Trail
• Flanners Beach/Neuse River Recreation Area

  Neuse River Campground and Trails

  Situated on a bank of the Neuse River and under tall pines and hardwoods, the Neuse River Recreation Area offers secluded campsites. The campground has reopened but the picnic area and beach are temporarily closed due to the impacts of Hurricane Florence. 

  For more information, read the Neuse River Recreation Opportunity Guide.

  You can also view these maps for the area: Neuse River Campground, Neuse River Recreation Area Overview, and Neuse River Recreation Opportunity Guide

  Download free, geo-referenced map, compatible with Avenza.

• Neuse River Trails
• Island Creek Trailhead
• Neusiok Area

  Neusiok Trails and Pine Cliff Picnic Area

• Neusiok Trail
• Patsy Pond Nature Trail
• Nantahala National Forest

  Welcome to the Nantahala National Forest! The Nantahala National Forest lies in the mountain and valleys of southwestern North Carolina. The largest of North Carolina's four National Forests, the Nantahala encompasses 531,148 acres with elevations ranging from 5,800 feet at Lone Bald in Jackson County to 1,200 feet in Cherokee County along Hiwassee River. The Forest is divided into three Districts, Cheoah in Robbinsville, NC, Tusquitee in Murphy, NC, and the Nantahala in Franklin, NC. All district names come from the Cherokee language. "Nantahala" is a Cherokee word meaning "land of the noon day sun," a fitting name for the Nantahala Gorge, where the sun only reaches to the valley floor at midday.The Nantahala National Forest was established in 1920 under authority of the 1911 Weeks Act. This act provided authority to acquire lands for national forests to protect watersheds, to provide timber, and to regulate the flow of navigable streams. In the Nantahala National Forest, visitors enjoy a wide variety of recreational activities from whitewater rafting to camping. With over 600 miles of trails, opportunities exist for hikers, mountain bikers, horse-back riders and off-highway vehicle riders.

  Camping and Day-use Information

  Enjoy camping or a picnic at one of the many day-use areas. A list of camping and day-use areas in the Nantahala National Forest can be found here.

  Recreation Maps

  Nantahala & Pisgah National Forest Maps

  Be Safe

  The national forests in North Carolina offer a wide variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. From the mountains to the sea, there are many exciting adventures awaiting your visit to these national forests. Please keep in mind that all outdoor recreational activities on the Croatan, Pisgah, Nantahala and Uwharrie national forests, including activities at recreation sites, have inherent risks due to the natural setting in which they occur. Always remember, your safety is your responsibility.

  Waterfall Safety for the Summer.

• Nantahala Ranger District

  The Nantahala Ranger District stretches 250,000 acres across Macon, Jackson and Swain counties offering a variety of recreational opportunities from camping to off-highway vehicle riding. This District is a diverse, rugged, and mountainous area with raging rivers, granite walls, and waterfalls. Visitors can enjoy the remoteness of the Southern Nantahala Wilderness, a scenic drive along the Mountain Waters Byway or a view Whitewater Falls, the highest falls east of the Rocky Mountains. The Nantahala is also home to four long distance trails, the Appalachian, Bartram, Foothills, and Mountains-to-Sea Trails. Come experience the outdoors and explore the Nantahala! Nantahala Ranger District, 90 Sloan Road, Franklin, NC 28734, (828) 524-6441

• Panthertown Valley Backcountry Area
• Whiteside Mountain
• Pisgah National Forest

  The Pisgah National Forest is a land of mile-high peaks, cascading waterfalls, and heavily forested slopes. Comprised of over 500,000 acres, the Pisgah is primarily a hardwood forest with whitewater rivers, waterfalls and hundreds of miles of trails. This national forest is home of the first tract of land purchased under the Weeks Act of 1911 which led to the creation of the national forests in the eastern United States. It is also home of the first school of forestry in the United States, now preserved at the Cradle of Forestry in America historic site, and boasts two of the first designated wilderness areas in the east. The Pisgah, Grandfather and Appalachian Ranger Districts are scattered along the eastern edge of the mountains of western North Carolina and offer visitors a variety of opportunities for outdoor recreation and enjoying the natural beauty of the mountains.

  Camping and Day-use Information

  Enjoy camping or a picnic at one of the many day-use areas. A list of camping and day-use areas in the Pisgah National Forest can be found here 

  Recreation Maps

  Nantahala & Pisgah National Forest Maps

  Directions to Frequently Requested Places

  NC Arobretum and Bent Creek Area

  Blue Ridge Parkway South

  Blue Ridge Parkway North

  Pisgah Ranger District

  Cradle of Forestry

  Cradle of Forestry (Scenic Route)

  The Biltmore House

  Mt. Mitchell

  Be Safe

  The national forests in North Carolina offer a wide variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. From the mountains to the sea, there are many exciting adventures awaiting your visit to these national forests. Please keep in mind that all outdoor recreational activities on the Croatan, Pisgah, Nantahala and Uwharrie national forests, including activities at recreation sites, have inherent risks due to the natural setting in which they occur. Always remember, your safety is your responsibility.

  Waterfall Safety for the Summer.

• Appalachian Ranger District

  Current Notes of Interest:

  • 4/5/2024- All seasonal road closures are open except for:
  • • Stony Fork (FS 63): Remains closed due to storm damage
    • Flat Top (FS 278): Closed at the Spivy Entrance. Harmiller Gap entrance is open. Traffic turn around areas are at Joe Lewis Field. 

  • 4/4/2024-Rocky Bluff Campground will be closed for the 2024 season due to multiple maintenance issues. 

  • 3/19/2024-Roan Mountain Recreation Area will undergo a major renovation this summer. The Recreation Area will be closed during the repairs. 
    •  The area to be closed includes the rhododendron gardens, Roan high bluff, Cloudland parking area, and Cloudland Trail. Carver’s Gap and the Appalachian Trail will remain open, but there is limited parking at Carver’s Gap.
    • This does not affect Roan Mountain State Park. To contact them, please follow this link, or call (888) 867-2757.
• Black Mountain / South Toe River Area

  The South Toe River area is on the Appalachian Ranger District near Burnsville, NC. This area includes the Black Mountains, the Blue Ridge, and the headwaters of the South Toe River. The Black Mountains, capped with a forest of red spruce and Fraser fir, are named for the resulting dark color. Along the South Toe River, you can camp, picnic, fish, swim, tube, bike, and horseback ride.

  Page last updated 1/30/2024

• Black Mountain Crest TR 179
• Briar Bottom Group Campground
• Harmon Den Area

  Harmon Den is on the Appalachian Ranger District in the vicinity of exit 7 off of  I-40. The area is a haven for hikers and horseback riders. It offers 54.5 miles of trails with 14 miles of trails designated for horseback riding and hiking, and 40 miles for hiking.

   This page was last updated 5/6/2024

   

  Harmon Den HorseCamp Information: 

  https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/nfsnc/recarea/?recid=48600

• Hot Springs Area

  The French Broad River and Appalachian Trail travel right through Hot Springs making the town a  haven for hikers, rafters and other outdoor enthusiasts. The Hot Springs area features 44 miles of trails with 13.4 miles designated for mountain biking.  

• Rocky Bluff Campground
• Special Day-Use Areas

  http://www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc/recreation/connections/pisgah_day_use.pdf

• Roan Mountain Day Use Area

  Famous for its spectacular natural gardens of Catawba rhododendrons, Roan Mountain shelters a rich diversity of life, from spruce-fir forests to vast grassy balds.

  Roan Mountain is actually not one mountain, but a high ridge about 5 miles long. It ranges from a height of 6,286 feet at Roan High Knob to a low of 5,500 feet at Carver’s Gap. No one knows the origin of the mountain’s name. Some claim the name refers to the roan or reddish color of the mountain when rhododendrons bloom in June,
  or the mountain ash berries appear in September. Others say the name comes from Daniel Boone’s roan horse, because he and his horse were frequent visitors.

  Roan Mountain Recreation Area will undergo a major renovation this summer, funded by the Great American Outdoors Act. 

  The Recreation Area will be closed during the repairs.

  Crews have started by drilling a new well and replacing the current water distribution system. Plans also include road surface improvement, replacing curbs and fences, rehabilitating picnic sites, replacing flooring in the visitor center, new interpretive signs and repairing damage on the observation decks. The area to be closed includes the rhododendron gardens, Roan high bluff, Cloudland parking area, and Cloudland Trail. Carver’s Gap and the Appalachian Trail will remain open, but there is limited parking at Carver’s Gap. We ask that visitors plan accordingly and contact the District Office (828-689-9694) if they have any questions or visit www.roanhighlands.org for alternative hikes. 

  This does not affect Roan Mountain State Park in TN. To contact them, please follow this link, or call (888) 867-2757.

   

   

  Page last updated: 3/19/2024

• Cloudland TR 1000