Merchants Millpond State Park, located in Gates County just 10 miles south of North Carolina’s northeastern border with Virginia, is a peaceful escape into a wetland world shaped by a 190-year-old, 760-acre millpond.
Join us in celebrating the 2025 NCSciFest theme "Science: Everyday, Everywhere, Everyone"! We are hosting a self-guided scavenger hunt using the Goosechase application. Take a hike along Nuwati Trail or Daniel Boone Scout Trail to try to find all the items and get a chance to win some prizes!
What make bobcats such good hunters? Why are coyotes hard to spot? How do beavers keep warm in cold water? Join us at the Catawba River Area to learn about the amazing adaptations of the animals that call Lake James home. Then, take a hike to see what wildlife you can find!