Croatan National Forest

The Croatan National Forest’s 161,000 acres of land offer an exciting variety of opportunities. You can camp under the pines, canoe past giant cypress trees hung with Spanish moss, or stroll boardwalks over salt marshes and view wading herons. The Croatan’s wide diversity of ecosystems ranges from freshwater pocosins to longleaf pine savannas to salt marsh. With such an array of habitats, it’s no surprise that the Croatan is home to a variety of wildlife: waterfowl, wading birds, deer, bears, snakes, and alligators.

Croatan NF Recreation Overview (198 kb pdf)
Piedmont/Coastal Camping List ( 51 kb pdf)
Croatan  NF Recreation Map  ( 1,125 kb pdf)
Cedar Point Recreation Area  (418 kb pdf)

Cedar Point Tideland Trail, a National Recreation Trail, includes a 0.6-mile loop and a 1.3-mile loop that provide excellent opportunities to view wildlife and explore the salt marsh and adjoining forest. Interpretive signs along the short loop tell the story of the ever changing salt marsh. The trail meanders through pine and hardwood forests damaged by Hurricanes Bertha and Fran in 1996. Boardwalks cross marshes and open water and offer views of wading birds and other wildlife. The Tidelands Trail is at Cedar Point in the southwest corner of the Croatan National Forest. Cedar Point Recreation Area offers camping, picnicking, a ramp for small boats, a fishing pier, canoeing, and kayaking.

The proposed Saltwater Adventure Trail is unique in that it is the only national forest saltwater trail in the nation. It is a water-based trail that displays the unique ecosystems and history of the eastern coastal tidelands. The trip provides visits to several points of interest, is suitable for novices, and can take as long as seven days. The route is approximately 100 miles long and nearly circumvents the Croatan National Forest. Recreational opportunities are numerous. The focus of this trail is adventure, exploration, accessibility and a unique setting. Many of the features along the trail can also be accessed by car.
Croatan Saltwater Adventure Trail  (731 kb pdf)

The Neuse River Recreation Area offers a range of recreation, from camping and picnicking to hiking, biking and fishing. The area’s sandy beach is perfect for sunbathing, swimming and playing in the water.
Neuse River Recreation Area ( 328 kb pdf)

For more information

Croatan National Forest, 141 E. Fisher Ave., New Bern, N.C. 28650; 252-638-5628. The ranger station is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Neusiok Trail travels 22 miles through the east side of the Croatan National Forest. It goes from a cypress-lined, sandy beach on the Neuse River, south through bottomland hard-woods and thick pocosin, to a beautiful estuary of the Newport River. The Neusiok Trail is part of the 900-mile Mountains-to-Sea Trail that begins in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and ends in Jockey Ridge State Park at the ocean. The Mountains-to-Sea Trail is blazed with white circles. Camping is allowed anywhere along the trail.

Trail users must pack out their trash. Hikers need to wear boots to cross several wet areas and must carry drinking water. Most people prefer fall, winter, and early spring hiking to avoid the heat, insects, and snakes.
Neusiok Trail (505 kb pdf)

Length & Difficulty: 20.4 miles, easy

U.S.G.S. quad maps: Cherry Point, Core Creek, Newport

Trailheads: • North terminus—Pine Cliff.

Beside NC 306, about two miles from NC 101 on the right.

• South terminus—Oyster Point.

Directions to Neusiok Trailhead:

To south terminus, Oyster Point: In New-

port, follow Chatham St. for 2.8 miles to Market St. and turn left. Follow Market St. to Mill Creek Rd. (SR 1154). Go 7. 1 miles to Oyster Point Rd. (FR 181). Turn right for one mile.

To north terminus: From Havelock, turn onto NC 101 and go 5.3 miles to Ferry Rd. (NC 306). Turn left on NC 306 and go 3.3 miles to Forest Road 132. Turn left on unpaved road. Go 1.7 miles to Pine Cliff Picnic Area at road’s end.

For more information contact: Croatan National Forest, 141 E. Fisher Avenue

New Bern, NC 28560, 252-638-5628.

Camping in Croatan NF
Reservations- 252-638-5628.

CATFISH LAKE

Open all year. FromMAYSVILLE, take NC 58E. Turn left on SR 1105 (turns to dirt) to FR 158, turn left.  No facilities, no fee

CEDAR POINT

Open all year. From MAYSVILLE, off NC 58, 1 mile north of the junction of NC 24 and NC 58.

Electricity at all sites. Boat ramp, fishing pier. Fee area

FISHERS LANDING

Open all year. From NEW BERN, take US 70E about 10 miles. turn left at sign, 0.5 mile north of office. TENTS only.  No fee.

GREAT LAKE

Open all year. From MAYSVILLE, take NC 58E. Turn left on SR 110 (turns to gravel). Continue to FR 126.

Paved boat ramp. No fee.

LONG POINT

Open all year. From MAYSVILLE, take NC 58E. Turn right on FR 120.

On the White Oak River. Picnic tables, accessible pier. Fee area.

NEUSE RIVER (Also called Flanners Beach)

Open all year. From NEW BERN, take U.S. 70E about 12 miles. About 2 miles south of Croatan Ranger office, turn left on SR 1107 & go 1.5 miles.

14 sites with electricity. extra $$ for electricity.  Fee area.

OYSTER POINT

Open all year. From NEWPORT, take SR 1154 to FR 181, & turn right.

Neusiok Trailhead. Shallow water at ramp.  Fee area

SIDDIE FIELDS

Open all year. From HAVELOCK, take NC 101 for 4.7 miles to Ferry Rd. & turn left. Go 3.2 miles to Pine Cliff Rd. (gravel) & turn right. At FR 167, turn left & bear left.

No facilities.  No fee.