Island Creek Forest Walk

Hike Name: Island Creek Forest Walk Location: east NC Length: 2.5 Submitted by: Carol Collins Date Submitted: 0/0/00 Rating:	more North Carolina trail reviews North Carolina national parks North Carolina state parks
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Description
Summary: This peaceful, easy set of loop trails packs a lot of forest/stream/wildlife scenery into an afternoon. You can hike from 0.5 to 2.5 miles, depending on the loop(s) you take. Of this type of hike, I rate Island Creek highly and even enjoy it in the "buggy" season. If it had a waterfall, I would give it a 5 rating.

The nature loop, with interpretive pamphlet and signs, is about 0.5 miles. However, you can depart the nature loop and extend the hike to a bigger loop of about 2 miles (or more)along well traveled trails. (However, except for the nature loop, the trails are without signs and are missing some blazes, so pay attention to where the road is relative to the sun so that you can get back to the road.)

The trails are scenic and fairly level, and follow tea-colored clear streams a good part of the way. Fall is a favorite time as the ticks and other biting insects are not as prevalent and the hardwood trees are colorful (Oct. & Nov.) But in Spring (early April) you will see Dogwood blooming, and later the violets and wild columbine bloom.

This "hike" is satisfying for both experienced and inexperienced hikers (small children, for example). The scenic trails give one a sense of being in a remote area. The ability to take the 1/2 mile loop and then take another larger loop if desired is also convenient.

Island Creek is about 15 miles by various roads to the Neusiok Trail.
Also Bryce's creek paddle trail is nearby.

Flora include: some virgin hardwood stands, Loblolly Pine, Yellow Poplar, Dogwood, Black Walnut, Sweetgum, Baldcypress, American Holly, Umbrella Magnolia, Mocketnut Hickory, American Beech, White Oak, Red Oak, (under-story) Partridge Berry, Christmas Fern, wild columbine.

Geology: Compacted, fossilized shells called "Marl" outcrops, suggesting that the area was under the ocean for a while long ago.

Fauna include: Ducks, heron, warblers, woodpeckers, owls, snakes, frogs, lizards, salamanders, beaver, muskrat, deer. Black bear are in the whole area and hence may be seen. Lots of insects, including ticks and mosquitos, are there from April through September. For ticks--put on long pants and tuck legs into your socks and spray sox, shoes, trouser legs with a tick repellant.

Directions to Hike
Take US 70 S from New Bern to NC 100 (Madame Moore's Rd.) Then drive 8 miles to marked trail head parking on the right.

See Map at http://www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc/recreation/connections/page15_croatan_map.pdf

Contact Information
Croatan National Forest
141 E. Fisher Ave.
New Bern, NC 28560
252.638.5628
(Off US 70 south of New Bern)

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