Alligator River Canoe and Small Boat Trail
Fairfield, Hyde County
This 21 mile trail is part of the Albemarle Region Canoe and Small Boat Trails System. It is made to order for the endurance canoeist who wishes to test himself. This beautiful stream winds through brackish marshes with picturesque snags left from a former forest. It is composed of three section, the first from the access off North Carolina Highway 94 to the landing at Kilkenny located on State Road 1322 in Tyrrell County. The second section continues on to another access located on North Carolina Highway 94 near the Intracoastal Waterway Bridge in Hyde County. The third continues up either New Lake Fork or the headwaters of the Alligator River. Sections 2 & 3 cross the Intracoastal Waterway, which during certain times of the year is heavy with yacht traffic. Hyde County
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge
Manteo
The refuge has over 150,000 acres of wetland habitats and a wide variety of wildlife, ranging from wood ducks and alligators to black bears and red wolves. Plant species including the Atlantic white cedar, bald cypress, wildflowers and shrubs are abundant. Hiking and wildlife trails plus fishing areas. Trails for kayaking and canoeing; guided canoe tours are available for a fee. On Hwy 64/264 west from Manteo. Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge nature.org recreation.gov
Cashie Wetlands Walk
Windsor
Boardwalk in a natural wetlands environment with cypress trees and other swampland flora. Walk takes visitor to the edge of the Cashie River, which is 20 miles long, as deep as 80 feet in places, and begins and ends within the county of Bertie. An observation deck allows views of several different species of endangered waterfowl as well as other swampland animals in their natural habitats. Canoes available at no charge. Free. Windsor
Dismal Swamp Canal Visitor Center
Camden County
The Dismal Swamp Canal Visitor Center is the first visitor center built off an interstate in North Carolina and the only such facility in the country greeting visitors by both a major highway and historic waterway. The Dismal Swamp Canal, the oldest man-made waterway in the United States still in use today, began construction in 1784 and was completed in 1805. Improvements have been made continually over the years. The canal is part of the Atlantic Inter-coastal Waterway, uses a system of locks to assist navigation, is on the National Register of Historic Places, and has been designated a National Civil Engineering Landmark. The Dismal Swamp Canal Visitor Center provides educational material and programs celebrating the canal's history and significance as well as serving as a state Welcome Center and regional tourism information hub. Welcome Center provides assistance and information to both highway and waterway travelers on historic sites, attractions, special events and travel conditions. Staff assists with lodging and ferry reservations for visitors. Come see us by highway or waterway! Civil War: After Union forces captured Roanoke Island in February 1862, the Northerners turned their attention inland. Among their targets was the Dismal Swamp Canal, which was an important supply artery to Confederates in the area and a potential ''back door'' to Norfolk. Union infantry unsuccessfully attacked Confederate forts protecting the canal near South Mills April 19, 1862. The Confederates successfully defended key areas of the Dismal Swamp Canal against Union attackers. Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center
Emily and Richardson Preyer Buckridge Reserve
Columbia
Located approximately 15 miles south of Columbia, the Emily and Richardson Preyer Buckridge Reserve is the largest single property and the first inland site in the North Carolina Coastal Reserve. The site maintains habitat for special concern, rare, threatened or endangered species including the red wolf, bald eagle, red-cockaded woodpecker Atlantic and shortnose sturgeons and American alligator. ncnerr.org nature.org
The Walter B. Jones, Sr. Center for the Sounds
Columbia
Located on the Scuppernong River, the facility includes a visitor center, wildlife exhibits, Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge film and nature store (The Bears Den). partnershipforthesounds.org
Merchants Millpond State Park
Gates County
Discover one of North Carolina's rarest ecological communities. Massive cypress & gum trees covered with Spanish moss form a canopy for the dark waters of the 750-acre cypress millpond ~ a wilderness sanctuary for wetland wildlife. Paddle quietly through the pond and creek and encounter beavers, otters, owls, etc. Over 10 miles of hiking trails. Fee for camping and canoes. Or bring your own kayak or canoe. Merchants Millpond State Park
Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge
Knotts Island
8,646 acres in the northeastern part of Currituck County. Visitors Center is in the Kitchen Tract Hunt Club, A small boat launch for boats of 16 foot or smaller, 20 miles of canals and creeks. Open for walking, biking, fishing and wildlife observation. Access to Back Bay of VA and the Currituck Sound. Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge"> recreation.gov
Moonrise Bay Vineyard
Knotts Island
Wine List: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Norton, Chambourcin, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pear and more! moonrisebaywine.com
Martin Orchard & Vineyard
Knotts Island
Martin Orchard & Vineyards is a family owned orchard & winery. Visitors can pick peaches, apples, grapes and pumpkins (in season). The wine shop is open for tasting and sales. The picnic area and restrooms on Knotts Island Bay offer a beautiful setting on the water. martinvineyards.com
Missing Mill Park
Hertford
Located just a few walking blocks from downtown Historic Hertford and on the beautiful Perquimans River, Missing Mill Park offers a nature boardwalk, picnic tables, canoe & kayak launch and fishing pier. Perquimans County Tourism
Medoc Mountain State Park
Halifax County
Medoc Mountain State Park
Morningstar Nature Refuge
Williamston, Martin County
Privately owned and operated refuge open by appointment only daily, yearround afternoons from 2 p.m. Points of interest incude museum and visitor's center, observatory, research lab and nature library, eight short educational trails, feeding station, trees, plants and shrubs identified. Located in migratory flyway with over 250 species documented. Programs created for one-on-one and small groups. Larger adult clubs and groups accepted. morningstarrefuge.org
National Fish Hatchery
Edenton
Walking trails and ponds in back assessible for visitors. An addition of an educational facility has been built where conferences for up to 40 people can take place. Features new aquarium and exhibits for everyone to enjoy. The Hatchery is located on West Queen Street and is part of the Charles Kuralt Trail. Edenton National Fish Hatchery recreation.gov
NCDOT Ferry System: Sans Souci Ferry
Windsor
One of the last two-car inland ferries in the state. Guided by a cable stretched across the river. Ride gives visitor a sense of nature at its best. Saves about 20 miles for locals who want to get to the other side of the Cashie River and could be a shortcut to the Outer Banks for travelers. Free. windsor-bertie.com
The Palmetto-Peartree Preserve
Columbia
The Palmetto-Peartree Preserve encompasses 9,732 acres bordered by the Albemarle Sound and the Alligator River. The preserve was established to preserve the endangered Red-Cockaded Woodpecker. There are three interpretive walking and bird watching trails on the preserve. palmettopeartree.org
Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
Columbia
Located in Washington, Hyde and Tyrrell counties. In 1990 the Conservation Fund donated land to the US Fish & Wildlife Service. This led to the establishment of Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, covering 111,000 acres. The refuge includes portions of the Scuppernong and Alligator Rivers. Visitors may observe a variety of wildlife, birds, natural vegetation and beauty. Facilities include restrooms, the Walter B. Jones, Sr. Center for the Sounds visitor center, free parking and picnic area. Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge recreation.gov
Pettigrew State Park
Creswell
An angler's paradise, this park is the home of Lake Phelps, a 16,600-acre natural lake; a virgin forest; and recreational facilities including a family campground, group camping, trails, picnic areas, boat ramp, exhibits, fishing pier and play fields. Ideal for shallow draft sailboats, canoeing and windsurfing. View displays of prehistoric Indian culture in the exhibit hall or visit nearby Somerset Place, a state historic site. Free. Fee for camping. ## Pettigrew State Park borders Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge including Phelps Lake. The site of James Johnston Pettigrew's family home, the Pettigrew family cemetery, and Somerset Place State Historic Site are all located inside the perimeters of the park. The park's public collections include two Algonquian dugout canoes excavated from Phelps Lake. Pettigrew State Park
Red Wolf
Columbia
Information, artifacts and merchandise dealing with red wolves. Seasonal howling safaris on the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. redwolves.com
Roanoke/Cashie River Center
Windsor
Focus on the vast floodplain and bottomland swamp system of the lower Roanoke basin. Historic items on the center property, including an ''in situ'' brick vault, a 150-year-old grave marker, and an outbuilding from a historic home what will house various artifacts, allow for interpretation of the Windsor area's past. ## The Partnership for the Sounds seeks to promote sustainable, community driven economic well-being and stewardship in the Albemarle-Pamlico Region through environmental education and nature-based and cultural tourism. Specifically, the Roanoke-Cashie River Center features a natural area and park with a boardwalk and canoe/small boat access to the Cashie River on the premises, an amphitheater for special events, exhibits of historical artifacts, science and nature displays, and educational programming on the history, heritage, and natural resources of the Roanoke and Cashie River area. partnershipforthesounds.org
Roanoke River National Wildlife Refuge
Windsor
Established in 1989, the refuge is home to animals such as deer, otter, beaver, muskrat, and black bear, as well as more than 191 species of migrating birds. Informal trail systems are open to the public for hiking and birdwatching, including the new Charles Kuralt Trail which opened in spring 2000; some of the trails and refuge are only accessible by boat. Hunting by special permit only. Refuge is closed to public during permitted hunts for safety reasons. Special wildlife observation areas along Hwy.13/17 are available seasonably. Special fishing regulations apply in selected tributaries within the refuge boundaries. Fishing is permitted in the Roanoke River proper. Owned and operated by the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Roanoke River National Wildlife Refuge recreation.gov
Roanoke River Paddle Trail & Canoe Camping Platforms
Jamesville, Martin County
An emerging destination in northeast North Carolina, the Lower Roanoke River and its tributaries offer a unique wilderness experience for kayakers and canoeists. Meandering through the Coastal plain to the Atlantic Ocean, the Roanoke spreads out through the largest intact bottomland hardwood swamp forest east of the Mississippi. The area is home to black bear, river otter, white-tail deer, bobcat, beaver, and mink. Over 200 bird species have been identified including bald eagles. It is a birdwatcher's paradise. The River is renowned for its abundance of striped bass, largemouth bass, black crappie, lunker catfish, gar and bowfin. Thousand year-old bald cypress trees and towering tupelos form a lush canopy overhead. Seven camping platforms off the river have been completed as part of Phase One of the development of this water trail by Roanoke River Partners. To complete Phase One, three more platforms will be constructed between Hamilton, Plymouth and up the Cashie River to Windsor with nearly 140 miles of water trail linking the platforms. Phase Two will extend the paddle camping trail up to Roanoke Rapids, increasing the trail total to 200+ miles. Reservations for the Trail can be made at Roberson's Marina in Jamesville. Visitors will be educated about the trail system, and will sign a liability waiver and a ''pack-in and pack-out'' waste policy agreement to be used with the platforms. A per-person rental fee is paid to hold the reservation and receive a permit. Call 252-794-6501 to reserve a platform and visit us at www.roanokeriverpartners.org roanokeriverpartners.org
Roanoke River: Larkspur Ridge Preserve
Halifax County
nature.org
Roanoke River: Devil's Gut Preserve
Martin County
nature.org
Roanoke Swamps Outpost
Williamston, Martin County
Bald eagles soar and black bear roam along the majestic waterway that is home to striking swamp forests. Many species of neotropical migratory birds abound. Day and overnight trips are available in the Conoho, Devil's Gut and Sweetwater swamps, and the Roanoke River Paddle Trail and Canoe Camping Platforms provide a good place to stop. rockrest.com
Roanoke River: Camassia Slopes Preserve
Northampton County
nature.org
Sanctuary Vineyards
Jarvisburg, Currituck County
Located at the Cotton Gin. Offering free local wine tasting; open all year. sanctuaryvineyards.com
Scuppernong River Preserve
Columbia, Creswell
nature.org
Scuppernong River Interpretive Trail
Columbia
A 3/4-mile loop through a pristine bottomland swamp along the Scuppernong River. Interpretive signs explain the workings of the blackwater swamp ecosystem and encourage visitors to look, listen and learn while they stroll through nature's garden. partnershipforthesounds.org
Somerset Place State Historic Site
Creswell
Somerset Place is a representative antebellum plantation dating from 1785. Beginning in 1829, this was home to two generations of the Collins family-Josiah Collins III, his wife Mary, and their six sons. It was also home to more than three hundred enslaved men, women, and children of African decent whose lives and work are interpreted here as well. Somerset Place offers an insightful view of plantation life during the antebellum period. ## Somerset Place is an antebellum plantation offering an insightful view of life before the Civil War. It is one of North Carolina's most significant African American (African-American) heritage sites. During its existence (1785-1865) it encompassed 100,000 acres and became one of North Carolina's most prosperous rice, corn and wheat plantations and home to more than three hundred slaves and the Collins Family, the wealthy planters. Eighty of the slaves were brought to Somerset directly from thier West African homeland in 1786 due to their firsthand knowledge of rice cultivation Guided tours are available of the site including the Collins mansion and a reconstructed slave cabin. ## Civil War: Once one of the most prosperous plantations in the state, Somerset Place extended to more than 100,00 acres and maintained 300 slaves during its 1785-1865 lifespan. The house has been preserved, offering information about both planter and slave cultures before the war. NCDCR
Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Center
Scotland Neck, Halifax County
The Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Center is the largest waterfowl collection in North America maintaining 2,500 birds. Since the late 1980s, the 9-acre facility has been dedicated primarily to propagation, especially endangered species. Currently, tours of the breeding preserve at Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Center in Scotland Neck, North Carolina is limited to members of the Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Society. However, plans are being implemented to expand the Center into an education-oriented destination for school children and visitors of all types. In 2004, an additional 19 acres was acquired by the North Carolina Zoological Society for the Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Center. Part of the new land will be developed into a visitors' area with a variety of exhibits showcasing waterfowl and other exotic birds. Plans include a two-story building that will serve as an education center and library, where numerous conservation-oriented programs will be presented. sylvan-heights.org
Sen. Bob Martin Eastern Agricultural Center
Williamston, Martin County
The first facility in Eastern North Carolina designed primarily for equestrian and livestock events, this multi-event, yearround complex features a coliseum, Meeting Center, covered outdoor riding ring, lunging rings and four barns. The Coliseum is 110,000 square-foot fully enclosed indoor show arena with seating capacity of 7,000 people. Also hosts farm shows, boat shows, expos, car shows and more. The Meeting Center has 10,380 square feet of meeting and assembly areas perfect for trade shows, receptions, seminars, banquets, meetings and educational seminars. Rooms seat 125; Halls seat up to 250; total capacity 1,000. NCAGR
Winfall Landing Park
Winfall
Waterfront park in the community of Winfall featuring picnic area and boardwalk ideal for fishing, canoeing and kayaking. Adjacent town office building has space available for private gatherings. townofwinfall.com
Current real estate database of the northern mainland 5-county region, which includes Elizabeth City, Edenton, Hertford, and Moyock.
