Trails
The refuge offers several trails to experience the habitats and wildlife on the refuge. The Scuppernong River Interpretive Boardwalk is located behind the Visitor Center in Columbia; the Duck Pen Wildlife Trail is located on the Pungo Unit off of South Lake Road.
In addition to these two interpretive trails, the refuge has more than 170 miles of unimproved roads with no or limited (hunting season) vehicle access open to hiking, biking, and walking. The roads are typically mowed on three year cycles, so grass and other vegetation may be dense on some roads. Watch out for ticks and snakes when hiking through vegetation. Some roads may parallel the refuge boundary. Be respectful of adjacent private land.
This accessible boardwalk trail starts behind the Walter B. Jones Center for the Sounds in Columbia and loops through a cypress swamp along the Scuppernong River. Strolling along the boardwalk is a great and accessible way to see a variety of small animals and birds. Interpretive signs placed throughout the self-guided walk explain the wildlife found in this type of habitat and encourage visitors to look, listen and learn. Sunsets over the river can be spectacular.
Trail Length (mi)
0.57
Trail Difficulty
Easy
Estimated Time
25 minutes
Route Type
Loop
Trail Activities
Suitability
Kid friendly
Wheelchair friendly
The Duck Pen Wildlife Trail passes through swamp forest to a photography blind overlooking Pungo Lake, where thousands of swans and geese rest during the winter. The gravel surface trail is 0.55 miles one-way. There is a pull-off for parking along South Lake Road; watch out for muddy spots and do not block the gate. Dogs are not permitted on this trail.
Trail Length (mi)
0.55
Trail Difficulty
Easy
Estimated Time
45 minutes
Trail Activities
This trail is a natural surface, unimproved road. Most roads are mowed on three-year cycles; tall grass and vegetation may be dense along the path. Be careful of ticks and snakes on grassy roads.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
Trail Length (mi)
0.99
Trail Difficulty
Moderate
Estimated Time
45 minutes
Route Type
Point to point
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
This trail is a natural surface, unimproved road. Most roads are mowed on three-year cycles; tall grass and vegetation may be dense along the path. Be careful of ticks and snakes on grassy roads.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
Trail Length (mi)
1.00
Trail Difficulty
Moderate
Estimated Time
45 minutes
Route Type
Point to point
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
This trail is a natural surface, unimproved road. Most roads are mowed on three-year cycles; tall grass and vegetation may be dense along the path. Be careful of ticks and snakes on grassy roads.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
Trail Length (mi)
1.01
Trail Difficulty
Moderate
Estimated Time
45 minutes
Route Type
Point to point
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
This trail is a natural surface, unimproved road. Most roads are mowed on three-year cycles; tall grass and vegetation may be dense along the path. Be careful of ticks and snakes on grassy roads.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
Trail Length (mi)
1.01
Trail Difficulty
Moderate
Estimated Time
45 minutes
Route Type
Point to point
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
This trail is a natural surface, unimproved road. Most roads are mowed on three-year cycles; tall grass and vegetation may be dense along the path. Be careful of ticks and snakes on grassy roads.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
This trail terminates at the refuge boundary. Please be respectful of adjacent private land.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
This trail terminates at the refuge boundary. Please be respectful of adjacent private land.
Trail Length (mi)
1.00
Trail Difficulty
Moderate
Estimated Time
45 minutes
Route Type
Point to point
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
This trail is a natural surface, unimproved road. Most roads are mowed on three-year cycles; tall grass and vegetation may be dense along the path. Be careful of ticks and snakes on grassy roads.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
Trail Length (mi)
1.00
Trail Difficulty
Moderate
Estimated Time
45 minutes
Route Type
Point to point
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
This trail is a natural surface, unimproved road. Most roads are mowed on three-year cycles; tall grass and vegetation may be dense along the path. Be careful of ticks and snakes on grassy roads.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
Trail Length (mi)
1.01
Trail Difficulty
Moderate
Estimated Time
45 minutes
Route Type
Point to point
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
This trail is a natural surface, unimproved road. Most roads are mowed on three-year cycles; tall grass and vegetation may be dense along the path. Be careful of ticks and snakes on grassy roads.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
Trail Length (mi)
1.01
Trail Difficulty
Moderate
Estimated Time
45 minutes
Route Type
Point to point
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
This trail is a natural surface, unimproved road. Most roads are mowed on three-year cycles; tall grass and vegetation may be dense along the path. Be careful of ticks and snakes on grassy roads.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
This trail terminates at the refuge boundary. Please be respectful of adjacent private land.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
This trail terminates at the refuge boundary. Please be respectful of adjacent private land.
Trail Length (mi)
5.80
Trail Difficulty
Moderate
Estimated Time
3 hours
Route Type
Point to point
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
This trail is a natural surface, unimproved road. Most roads are mowed on three-year cycles; tall grass and vegetation may be dense along the path. Be careful of ticks and snakes on grassy roads.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
This trail terminates at the refuge boundary. Please be respectful of adjacent private land.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
This trail terminates at the refuge boundary. Please be respectful of adjacent private land.
Trail Length (mi)
1.01
Trail Difficulty
Moderate
Estimated Time
45 minutes
Route Type
Point to point
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
This trail is a natural surface, unimproved road. Most roads are mowed on three-year cycles; tall grass and vegetation may be dense along the path. Be careful of ticks and snakes on grassy roads.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
This trail terminates at the refuge boundary. Please be respectful of adjacent private land.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
This trail terminates at the refuge boundary. Please be respectful of adjacent private land.
Trail Length (mi)
1.01
Trail Difficulty
Moderate
Estimated Time
45 minutes
Route Type
Point to point
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
This trail is a natural surface, unimproved road. Most roads are mowed on three-year cycles; tall grass and vegetation may be dense along the path. Be careful of ticks and snakes on grassy roads.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
This trail terminates at the refuge boundary. Please be respectful of adjacent private land.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
This trail terminates at the refuge boundary. Please be respectful of adjacent private land.
Trail Length (mi)
1.00
Trail Difficulty
Moderate
Estimated Time
45 minutes
Route Type
Point to point
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
This trail is a natural surface, unimproved road. Most roads are mowed on three-year cycles; tall grass and vegetation may be dense along the path. Be careful of ticks and snakes on grassy roads.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
This trail terminates at the refuge boundary. Please be respectful of adjacent private land.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
This trail terminates at the refuge boundary. Please be respectful of adjacent private land.
Trail Length (mi)
1.00
Trail Difficulty
Moderate
Estimated Time
45 minutes
Route Type
Point to point
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
This trail is a natural surface, unimproved road. Most roads are mowed on three-year cycles; tall grass and vegetation may be dense along the path. Be careful of ticks and snakes on grassy roads.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
Trail Length (mi)
1.00
Trail Difficulty
Moderate
Estimated Time
45 minutes
Route Type
Point to point
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
This trail is a natural surface, unimproved road. Most roads are mowed on three-year cycles; tall grass and vegetation may be dense along the path. Be careful of ticks and snakes on grassy roads.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
This trail terminates at the refuge boundary. Please be respectful of adjacent private land.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
This trail terminates at the refuge boundary. Please be respectful of adjacent private land.
Trail Length (mi)
1.01
Trail Difficulty
Moderate
Estimated Time
45 minutes
Route Type
Point to point
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
This trail is a natural surface, unimproved road. Most roads are mowed on three-year cycles; tall grass and vegetation may be dense along the path. Be careful of ticks and snakes on grassy roads.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
Trail Length (mi)
0.40
Trail Difficulty
Moderate
Route Type
Point to point
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
The northern end of this trail (north of the C-7 trail) is currently CLOSED for refuge management activities. Visitors may still use the southern section of the trail up to the Area Closed signs.
This trail is a natural surface, unimproved road. Most roads are mowed on three-year cycles; tall grass and vegetation may be dense along the path. Be careful of ticks and snakes on grassy roads.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
This trail is a natural surface, unimproved road. Most roads are mowed on three-year cycles; tall grass and vegetation may be dense along the path. Be careful of ticks and snakes on grassy roads.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
Trail Length (mi)
6.54
Trail Difficulty
Moderate
Estimated Time
3 hours
Route Type
Point to point
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
This trail is a natural surface, unimproved road. Most roads are mowed on three-year cycles; tall grass and vegetation may be dense along the path. Be careful of ticks and snakes on grassy roads.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
Trail Length (mi)
0.89
Trail Difficulty
Moderate
Estimated Time
45 minutes
Route Type
Point to point
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
This trail is a natural surface, unimproved road. Most roads are mowed on three-year cycles; tall grass and vegetation may be dense along the path. Be careful of ticks and snakes on grassy roads.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
Trail Length (mi)
1.49
Trail Difficulty
Moderate
Estimated Time
45 minutes
Route Type
Point to point
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
This trail is a natural surface, unimproved road. Most roads are mowed on three-year cycles; tall grass and vegetation may be dense along the path. Be careful of ticks and snakes on grassy roads.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
This trail terminates at the refuge boundary. Please respect adjacent private property.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
This trail terminates at the refuge boundary. Please respect adjacent private property.
Trail Length (mi)
2.30
Trail Difficulty
Moderate
Estimated Time
1 hour
Route Type
Point to point
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
This trail is a natural surface, unimproved road. Most roads are mowed on three-year cycles; tall grass and vegetation may be dense along the path. Be careful of ticks and snakes on grassy roads.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
This trail passes through active farm fields. Please stay out of the fields when crops are present.
This trail terminates at a refuge boundary. Please be respectful of adjacent private land.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
This trail passes through active farm fields. Please stay out of the fields when crops are present.
This trail terminates at a refuge boundary. Please be respectful of adjacent private land.
Trail Length (mi)
1.00
Trail Difficulty
Moderate
Estimated Time
45 minutes
Route Type
Point to point
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
This trail is a natural surface, unimproved road. Most roads are mowed on three-year cycles; tall grass and vegetation may be dense along the path. Be careful of ticks and snakes on grassy roads.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
The trail terminates at the refuge boundary; please respect private property and do not trespass on adjacent lands.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
The trail terminates at the refuge boundary; please respect private property and do not trespass on adjacent lands.
Trail Length (mi)
2.39
Trail Difficulty
Moderate
Estimated Time
2 hours
Route Type
Point to point
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
This natural surface, unimproved road is open for walking, hiking, and biking. Most roads are mowed on three-year cycles; tall grass and vegetation may be dense along the path. Be careful of ticks and snakes on grassy roads.
The trail terminates at the refuge boundary; please respect private property and do not trespass on adjacent lands.
The trail terminates at the refuge boundary; please respect private property and do not trespass on adjacent lands.
Trail Length (mi)
5.50
Trail Difficulty
Moderate
Estimated Time
2 hours
Route Type
Point to point
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
This trail is a natural surface, unimproved road. Most roads are mowed on three-year cycles; tall grass and vegetation may be dense along the path. Be careful of ticks and snakes on grassy roads.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
This trail parallels the refuge boundary. Please be respectful of adjacent private land.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
This trail parallels the refuge boundary. Please be respectful of adjacent private land.
Trail Length (mi)
3.10
Trail Difficulty
Moderate
Route Type
Point to point
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
This trail is a natural surface, unimproved road. Most roads are mowed on three-year cycles; tall grass and vegetation may be dense along the path. Be careful of ticks and snakes on grassy roads.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
Trail Length (mi)
1.39
Trail Difficulty
Moderate
Route Type
Point to point
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
This trail is a natural surface, unimproved road. Most roads are mowed on three-year cycles; tall grass and vegetation may be dense along the path. Be careful of ticks and snakes on grassy roads.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
Trail Length (mi)
0.43
Trail Difficulty
Moderate
Route Type
Point to point
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
This short natural-surface trail provides access to a viewing area at the north end of Pungo Lake, where thousands of swans and geese rest during the winter.
Trail Length (mi)
0.15
Trail Difficulty
Easy
Trail Activities
This trail is a natural surface, unimproved road. Most roads are mowed on three-year cycles; tall grass and vegetation may be dense along the path. Be careful of ticks and snakes on grassy roads.
The western part of this trail is closed to all public entry November to February to protect wintering waterfowl from disturbance.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
The western part of this trail is closed to all public entry November to February to protect wintering waterfowl from disturbance.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
Trail Length (mi)
2.93
Trail Difficulty
Moderate
Estimated Time
2 hours
Route Type
Point to point
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
This trail is a natural surface, unimproved road. Most roads are mowed on three-year cycles; tall grass and vegetation may be dense along the path. Be careful of ticks and snakes on grassy roads.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
Trail Length (mi)
0.54
Trail Difficulty
Moderate
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
This natural surface, unimproved road is open for walking, hiking, and biking. Most roads are mowed on three-year cycles; tall grass and vegetation may be dense along the path. Be careful of ticks and snakes on grassy roads.
The trail terminates at the refuge boundary; please respect private property and do not trespass on adjacent lands.
The trail terminates at the refuge boundary; please respect private property and do not trespass on adjacent lands.
Trail Length (mi)
4.35
Trail Difficulty
Moderate
Estimated Time
2 hours
Route Type
Point to point
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly
The western end of this trail is currently CLOSED for refuge management activities. Visitors may still use the eastern section of the trail up to the Area Closed signs.
This trail is a natural surface, unimproved road. Most roads are mowed on three-year cycles; tall grass and vegetation may be dense along the path. Be careful of ticks and snakes on grassy roads.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
This trail is a natural surface, unimproved road. Most roads are mowed on three-year cycles; tall grass and vegetation may be dense along the path. Be careful of ticks and snakes on grassy roads.
Pets must be on leash. For hunting information, please see the Pocosin Lakes Hunt Brochure.
Trail Length (mi)
2.52
Trail Difficulty
Moderate
Route Type
Point to point
Trail Activities
Suitability
Dog friendly