COVID-19 information for parks (Updated 3/26/2021)
Posted on: Friday, March 26, 2021 - 1:54pm |
Trails
Current status of park facilities
Trails, restrooms, and boat ramps are open. The visitor center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A properly worn mask or face covering, covering both the nose and the mouth, is required to enter the visitor center.
The swimming pier is closed.
Campsites are open. Reservations must be made in advance through the reservations website or by calling 1-877-722-6762.
Please note that this alert is updated only when something changes. Generally, state parks are following the phased reopening statewide. As of October 3, we are following modified Phase 3.
Last updated on: Monday, October 5, 2020
Contact the park
910-646-4748
lake.waccamaw@ncparks.gov
Address
Visitor center
1866 State Park Drive
Lake Waccamaw, NC 28450
GPS: 34.2790, -78.4654
Hours
►
- December to February:
7:00am to 7:00pm
- March to April:
7:00am to 9:00pm
- May to September:
7:00am to 10:00pm
- October:
7:00am to 9:00pm
- November:
7:00am to 8:00pm
- Closed Christmas Day
►
- Open daily:
8:00am to 5:00pm
- Closed Christmas Day
List of trails
The diverse habitats of Lake Waccamaw—both on land and along the shoreline—are presented by a trail network that includes access to boardwalks, sun shelters and piers along with great fishing spots.
Boardwalk Trail
Location: A gravel path from the picnic area parking lot winds through the picnic ground and leads to a 700-foot boardwalk
Description:
Hikers can get a closer look at the various plants of the bay forest bordering the lake. The boardwalk ends at a 375-foot pier.
Surface: gravel, boardwalk/bridge
Length:
0.10 miles
one way
0.10 miles
one way
Difficulty:
easy hike
easy hike
Blaze:
Boardwalk Trail 2
Location: Located near the visitor's center.
Description:
An accessible boardwalk that traverses the bay forest and is complete with two sun shelters.
Surface: boardwalk/bridge
Length:
one way
one way
Difficulty:
easy hike
easy hike
Blaze:
Lakeshore Trail
Location: Begins at the visitor's center and follows the lakeshore to the Waccamaw River
Description:
The trail passes through a variety of ecosystems during its four-mile course. Marked by blue blazes, Lakeshore Trail cuts through a pine forest, past one of the oldest stands of cypress trees in the area, under towering hickory trees, alongside grass beds in the lake that provide cover for a variety of fish species and beside sandy beaches perfect for picnicking or pausing to gaze across the lake.
Surface:
Length:
one way
one way
Difficulty:
Blaze:
Loblolly Trail
Location: begins and ends at the visitor's center.
Description:
The trail allows hikers to view the diverse plant life found at Lake Waccamaw State Park. Common plants along this trail include longleaf pines, bay trees and turkey oaks. With a careful eye, hikers can even spot Venus flytraps. Because the flytraps are a rare species, they should not be disturbed.
Surface:
Length:
0.65 miles
loop
0.65 miles
loop
Difficulty:
easy hike
easy hike
Blaze:
red
red
New Boardwalk
Location: Between Lake Shore Trail and Pine Woods Trail
Description:
In the beginning, an eagle scout had a vision and after five years long years of hard work and perseverance that vision is a reality. The construction of the boardwalk, with the help of many, was completed in March 2016.
The boardwalk connects Lake Shore Trail to the Pine Woods Trail, making the trail three miles. This trail will give you the best of both worlds, with a little of the woods mixed in with the lake shore. We hope you make time to take a stroll on the boardwalk.
Surface: boardwalk/bridge
Length:
Difficulty:
easy hike
easy hike
Blaze:
Park Maps and Brochures:
