Island Creek Forest Walk, Croatan National Forest

Eastern North Carolina has more hiking trails than I realized. In addition to trails at the various ENC state parks and on Bogue Banks, we recently learned Croatan National Forest has over twenty miles of hiking trails within its boundaries. Last year, we visited Great Lake and the Cedar Point Tideland Trail on the southwest side of Croatan at the White Oak Estuary, and a few weeks ago, we found the Island Creek Forest Walk, located in the far reaches of northeast Croatan.

Both exploring north carolina's natural areas and The Natural Traveler: Along North Carolina's Coast state this trail is a half-mile nature loop. However, the map we found stapled to a tree indicates it intersects with other trails not listed in the books, and that the entire system is a much longer Island Creek Trail:

Not knowing this in advance (and recuperating from the stomach flu) we settled for the half mile loop on this occasion. Since we forgot it was hunting season, that was probably a good choice.

But curious about the remaining trail system, I later called the Ranger Station in New Bern and was told only the half-mile loop that you see at the bottom right of the map is associated with Croatan. Local residents are responsible for the rest, as well as that map, so take caution when straying off the national forest's trail!

Island Creek is a great choice for a fast escapism hike. After parking in the small, gravel parking area located on Brice Creek Rd (SR 1004) we entered the trailhead and instantly left the world behind. Fallen leaves covered the mostly level path, but white blazes and numbered signs kept us on track. Besides an occasional shotgun blast in the near distance, we heard only the crunch of the leaves beneath our feet and an occasional bird chirp. Natural Traveler says this area is known to host pileated and hairy woodpeckers, but besides a few trees that looked as if they served as target practice for bored hunters, we didn't see either.

Nor did we find the pamphlets that correspond to the numbers posted along the trail, and I'm sorry we didn't. Through the bare trees we spotted what I felt were an unusual amount of ferns growing along the forest floor for this time of year. If these ferns are uncommon for the region, then according to exploring north carolina, they're the result of a change in pH created by the limestone present along Island Creek, the outcroppings of which various sources (including fellow CA member, Kelvin Taylor. Thanks, KT) report you can spot along the banks.


What else is out there? Much, including the knobby "gnome" knees of a plethora of cypress trees, which stand along the forest floor and in the middle of the trail, often hidden by the ground cover. So beware while walking.

And a tiny blue stuffed hippo.

Go figure.

If you're in the New Bern area, and you're in the mood for a relaxing, albeit quick hike, check out Island Creek Forest Walk. But if it's hunting season, don't forget to wear orange. And watch out for hippopotamuses.

For more on the Island Creek Forest Walk, to to
http://ncnatural.com/NCUSFS/Croatan/

Great Lake, Cedar Point Tideland Trail in Croatan National Forest

Vocabulary for this report:

• Estuary--Water passage where the tide meets the river current (or where freshwater meets saltwater)


• Marsh: Freshwater--Same as saltwater marsh, sans salt.


• Marsh: Salt--Flat land subject to overflow by salt water. (Kimberli's definition: Picturesque "islands" in shallow water near the water's edge. characterized by tall grasses growing in a thick muck often referred to as Pluff Mud. Oyster beds are often seen in the pluff at low tide.


• Maritime--Of, related to, or bordering on the sea.


• Pocosin Lake--Upland swamp of the coastal plain of the SW USA, or "freshwater wetlands dominated by evergreen shrubs, scattered pond pines, and bay trees".


• Pond Pines--Haven't a clue. I think it's a tree.


• Unimproved--Not tilled, built on, or otherwise improved for use.


• Unmarked--Devoid of signage that might give a person a clue as to where they are, or what direction they should go.

Our time in Eastern North Carolina is proving to be both interesting and informative. While our previous outings introduced us to ENC's history and charm, our latest outing flat out challenged us to learn about the unique environment existing along the state's renowned coastline.

Though we've traveled to the aoutheast portion of ENC twice since our arrival, we've yet to adequately explore much of what this region has to offer. Since the roads and restaurants are fast becoming familiar to us, we decided to get a cursory glance of additional interests before moving northward, so we traveled to Croatan National Forest, situated on 150,000 acres between the Neuse, Trent, and White Oak Rivers.

Most of my information about Croatan comes from my exploring north carolina's natural areas, book. Descriptions of wetlands, swamps, natural ponds and lakes, estuaries, a maritime forest, carnivorous plants, and boardwalks over salt marshes captivated me. I wanted to see it all, but with our short Saturday schedule and a three-hour (round-trip) drive, I had to settle for just two destinations. Our first stop: Great Lake. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: taking a small car with low clearance and no four-wheel drive to Great Lake is a big mistake. But I'll get to that in a minute.

Finding Croatan is easy. It's located just south of New Bern on Hwy 70. Finding a way into Croatan is a bit more difficult. Finding Great Lake when one isn't sure how to get into Croatan is almost impossible.

I am The Navigator, and with a good map in hand, I usually do a pretty good job of it. I know even-numbered Interstates and highways indicate the road travels east to west, and odd number goes north to south. I know Interstate exit signs usually correlate to exit numbers (not in all states, but most) and I know it's a good idea to familiarize oneself with the legend on a map to differentiate between two-lane roads and state highways. When I had consulted my worn atlas and didn't find any roads through the forest, I went online. What I missed when I printed the map I found on the NCNatural website was the fact that the "roads" on the map were a faint gray. The legend didn't mention it, so I didn't think about it. Mistake.
There's a reason why the road is faint gray. The road IS gray. Highway or NC or whatever 1100, which cuts through Croatan Forest is unimproved, but it was paradise compared to the rutted sand dune we had to travel over to Great Lake. If I ever get the dings from the gravel out of my car, I'll have to change the struts.
Great Lake is located in the middle of the forest and is a shocking surprise. I'm still trying to get a handle on whether it's a Pocosin lake or if water from pocosins drain into Great Lake. Either way, it was breathtaking. The view from the very secluded parking lot showed waves blowing across a beautiful deep, dark blue lake, like the deep waters of the sea. It was the sapphire in a rock, the diamond in coal, and totally inaccessible without a boat.

We considered walking around the lake in search of a clearing, but Croatan Forest is open to hunters, and this time of year, we passed plenty on the way in. I wore colors that would distinguish me from a deer or a bear in the woods, but why take the chance? So we enjoyed what we could see of the lake, and went to our next destination, Cedar Point Tideland Trail.

The 1.5-mile Cedar Point trail snakes around the White Oak River estuary. I'd read about this area while doing research on salt marshes and was pleased to see it in person. I'm still not sure if both salt- and freshwater marshes are present; I'm still trying to figure out how to tell the difference between the two (other than location. Surely the grass isn't the same in both.)

Unfortunately, Cedar Point was also difficult to find. Since my exploring north carolina book takes explorers on different tours, directions begin from the previous stop, which is Whitehouse Forks Road. And of course, that road isn't well marked. The directions provided on the website where I found the map say, "It can be found by following the (boat ramp) signs on NC Hwy 58, north of it's junction with NC Hwy 24." That would work if NC posted signs for the boat ramp.
So…Kimberli's directions to Cedar Point Tideland Trail: From Hwy 24, travel approximately one mile north on Hwy 58. Turn left on VFW Road. Go straight until you see the parking lot.

Cedar Point trail is a delightful, easy walk and very picturesque. We walked on a dirt trail through a pine-hardwood forest (so says my book) and on boardwalks over the marshes. We saw a white crane and a Blue Heron. The sun shone on the waters of the White Oak River and it was one of those great coastal moments that make the hassle of getting there worth it. I wish we could have stayed longer.

We still have several destinations to visit in Croatan such as Patsy Pond Natural Area and Nature Trail, Haywood Landing at White Oak River, the Island Creek Forest Walk, and more.

Definitions are from Merriam Webster Dictionary and the American Heritage Dictionary