A trail through the bottomland forest along the river that rewards patience. Best in early morning when the light hits the water and the egrets are out. Wear decent shoes — it can be soft underfoot.
The Northeast Cape Fear River runs dark and slow through the bottomland forest east of Burgaw — the water stained the color of tea by tannins from the surrounding vegetation. The trail follows a stretch of this river through a forest of bald cypress, water tupelo, and Atlantic white cedar, with Spanish moss draped from everything overhead.
Wildlife here is abundant and unhurried. Great blue herons stand motionless in the shallows. Wood ducks move through the flooded understory. In spring and fall the migrating warblers are thick enough that serious birders drive hours to get here. Even in summer, when birding slows, the forest itself is reason enough to come.
The trail can be muddy after rain, and sections nearest the water are sometimes flooded. That's not a warning to stay away — it's an argument for the right footwear. The wildest sections are the ones the casual visitors turn back from, and those are often the best.
Practical tips
- Go early — wildlife is most active in the first two hours after sunrise
- Bring waterproof shoes or expect wet feet in certain sections
- The mosquitoes are serious from May through September; treat your clothes, not just your skin
- No facilities on the trail; plan accordingly
- The parking area off River Road can be unmarked — look for the gravel pull-off
More photos
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