Goose Creek State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Goose Creek State Park |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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Goose Creek State Park
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 Goose Creek State Park
Location in North Carolina
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| Location | Beaufort, North Carolina, United States |
| Area | 1,672 acres (6.77 km2) |
| Elevation | 0 ft (0 m) |
| Established | September, 1974 |
| Named for | Goose Creek |
| Governing body | North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation |
| Website | Goose Creek State Park |
| Designated: | 1980 |
Goose Creek State Park is a beautiful state park located in Beaufort County, North Carolina, near the town of Washington. It covers about 1,672 acres (6.77 km²) of land right next to Pamlico Sound. This park is a special place where many different kinds of wildlife live. You'll find them in the large saltwater marshes, small inlets, and creeks that flow into the sound. Goose Creek State Park is open all year round for fun activities. You can find it east of Washington, about two miles (3 km) south of U.S. Route 264 on Camp Leach Road.
Contents
Park History: From Native Lands to State Park
The land that is now Goose Creek State Park has a long and interesting history. For many years, it provided lots of natural resources for the people living there.
Early Inhabitants and European Settlers
The first people known to live here were members of the Secota and Pamlico tribes. These were Native American tribes who lived in the Eastern Woodlands. Sadly, many of them got sick from diseases brought by European settlers in the 1600s. Most of the Native Americans who survived the diseases were either killed or forced to leave during the Tuscarora War (1711–1715).
Pirates and Timber Production
After the Native Americans, the area became a hiding spot for famous pirates like Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet. They used the creeks and Pamlico Sound for shelter. Later, the area became important for timber production and commercial fishing. People also did small-scale farming to feed their families.
Large lumber companies, like Eureka Lumber Company and later Weyerhauser Corporation, bought huge areas of land. They harvested many old and tall trees, including bald cypress and longleaf pine. Much of the land that is now Goose Creek State Park was completely cut down. You can still see signs of the timber industry today, like old piers and loading docks along Goose Creek, and an old railroad bed crossing the park.
Creating Goose Creek State Park
After the lumber companies left, people in Beaufort County wanted to protect the land along Goose Creek. At the same time, the state of North Carolina was looking for land along the Pamlico River to create a new park. Everyone agreed that Goose Creek would be a perfect spot. Local citizens showed their support by sending a letter to North Carolina governor, James Holshouser. The state bought 1,208 acres (4.88 km²) of land from Weyerhauser for $1,115,000. Goose Creek State Park officially opened to the public in September 1974. In 1980, a special part of Goose Creek State Park was named a National Natural Landmark.
Fun Activities at Goose Creek State Park
Goose Creek State Park is open all year for many outdoor activities. You can go camping, boating, fishing, hiking, swimming, picnicking, and learn about nature through environmental education.
Boating and Fishing Adventures
There's a boat ramp at Dinah's Landing on the west side of Goose Creek. You can enjoy motorboating, sailing, and windsurfing here. Remember to follow all the rules set by the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission. If you want to explore the creeks by canoe, you'll need to bring your own. You can launch canoes at Dinah's Landing and near the campground. Canoeing is a great way to see many different wading birds that live in the park.
Fishing is also allowed in the park's waters. Some popular fish you might catch include white and yellow perch, largemouth bass, and bluegill.
Camping and Hiking Trails
The park's campground is a simple, "primitive" campground with twelve tent sites. It's located on a strip of land between Goose Creek and Flatty Creek. The campground is surrounded by tall longleaf pines covered in Spanish moss, making it a unique place to stay.
Goose Creek State Park has six different hiking trails for you to explore:
- Flatty Creek Trail: This is a one-mile (1.6 km) loop trail that starts and ends near the campground parking area. Parts of this trail are on boardwalks that go over freshwater and brackish water wetlands.
- Goose Creek Trail: This trail is 1.9 miles (3.06 km) long and takes you through a beautiful cypress swamp.
- Ivey Gut Trail: This two-mile (3.22 km) trail runs from the main park road to the campground, winding through the forest.
- Live Oak Trail: A shorter trail at 0.4 miles (0.64 km), this path passes by an old cemetery.
- Palmetto Boardwalk Trail: This 0.7-mile (1.13 km) boardwalk trail connects the Environmental Education Center with the Ivey Gut Parking area. It goes through a hardwood swamp.
- Mallard Creek Trail: This 1.26-mile (2.03 km) trail follows Mallard Creek and leads to an overlook with a view of the Pamlico River.
Picnicking and Swimming Spots
The park has two pavilions and several picnic tables. These are located in a pine and oak forest near the swimming area. The swimming area itself is a sandy beach along the Pamlico River, on the southern side of the park. It's a great place to cool off!
Park Ecology: Plants and Animals
Goose Creek State Park is home to many different kinds of plants and animals. They all thrive in the various habitats found here.
Wetlands and Swamps
In the brackish marshes near the Pamlico River, you'll find plants like sedges, sawgrass, and black needle rush. These tall grasses provide safe places for many wading birds to hide and build nests. You might see marsh wrens, rails, herons, and egrets.
Beyond the marshes, you'll find swamps. These swamps are filled with trees like bald cypress, loblolly pine, and red cedar. Many of these trees are covered in hanging Spanish moss.
Wildlife of the Park
The swamps are home to a wide variety of animals. You might spot barred owls, frogs, turtles, snakes, minks, turkeys, muskrats, and raccoons. Larger animals that live here include white-tailed deer, bobcats, black bears, and gray foxes.
The waters of Goose Creek and the Pamlico River are also visited by many birds that migrate. Tundra swans and Canada geese spend their winters at the park. You can also see bufflehead, mallard, and wood ducks here.
