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Croatan National Forest

The Croatan National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located on the Atlantic coast of North Carolina. It is administered by the United States Forest Service, a part of the United States Department of Agriculture. The forest is managed together with the other three North Carolina National Forests (Nantahala, Pisgah, and Uwharrie) from common headquarters in Asheville, North Carolina. However, Croatan has a local ranger district office in New Bern.

Geography

The forest covers acres of coastal land. It is bordered on three sides by the Neuse River, the Bogue Sound, and the White Oak River. The Croatan Forest is characteristic of its pine forests, salt estuaries, bogs, and pocosins. The forest is suitable for hiking, camping, hunting, trail biking, and all-terrain vehicles. The surrounding rivers, inland lakes, and creeks allow for swimming, fishing, boating, and canoeing. The forest is close to the cities of New Bern, NC and Morehead City, NC. It also surrounds the Marine Corp Air Station Cherry Point.

Trails

Many hiking trails can be found throughout the Croatan Forest such as the Neusiok Trail which offers of trail through swamps and pine forests. Other trails include the Cedar Point Tideland Trail which traverses through a salt marsh and along the White Oak River, the Island Forest Creek Walk featuring a forest of hardwoods, and the Black Swamp OHV Trail which offers eight miles for off-road vehicles and bikes.

Flora and fauna

The Croatan National Forest is home to many land and marine animals. Some of the wildlife that can be found include deer, various poisonous snakes, black bears, turkeys, ospreys, and alligators. The forest is abundant with pine trees with some hardwood spots including the cypress trees of the swamps. Carnivorous plants such as Venus flytraps, sundew, and pitcherplants may also be found.