Waterfall Hero Hikes: Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge

Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge is a 110,000-acre Wildlife Refuge on the Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula in eastern North Carolina managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The refuge is located in Hyde, Washington, and Tyrrell Counties. The protected habitat includes natural lakes and pocosin swamps at the southern end of Great Dismal Swamp. Pungo National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1963 to private habitat for migratory waterfowl in the winter, specifically tundra swans and snow geese. In 1990 through a generous donation, additional land was merged with Pungo Lake to become Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.

Contact Information:

205 South Ludington Drive

PO Box 329 (mail)

Columbia, NC 27925

Phone: (252) 796-3004

Email: pocosinlakes@fws.gov

Map:

Trails:

There are only a few short hiking trails in the refuge. In addition to these trails, hiking is permitted on refuge roads, including those open and closed to vehicles, as long as they are not marked as all entry prohibited.

Duck Pen Wildlife Trail:

Length: 0.5 miles (one way)

Duck Pen Wildlife Trail is a short half-mile stroll along an old gravel road out to the Pungo Lake Observation Point. This photography blind provides a great opportunity to view Pungo Lake without disturbing the wildlife.

Scuppernong River Interpretive Boardwalk:

Scuppernong River Interpretive Boardwalk is a short boardwalk trail along the river. It starts from behind the Refuge Headquarters/Walter B. Jones Sr. Center for the Sounds.

Points of Interest:

Pungo Lake Observation Platform and Charles Kuralt Trail Site:

The Pungo Lake Observation Platform and Charles Kuralt Trail Site is located on the southern tip of Pungo Lake. The elevated platform provides good views of the lake and surrounding pocosin to view migratory waterfowl in the winter. A kiosk is located in the parking lot for the Charles Kuralt Trail, which connects several wildlife refuges in eastern North Carolina and Virginia.