Carvers Creek State Park is in central North Carolina. Activities include hiking, biking, horseback riding, fishing, and picnicking. There are 9 hiking trails in the park, split between two access areas, and I hiked 5 during my visit.
Long Valley Farm Access
Long Valley Farm was once the winter retreat of James Stillman Rockefeller in the late 1930s. There are two trails here.
Rockefeller Loop Trail
Rockefeller Loop Trail starts near the welcome center. It is an easy 2-mile sand-and-dirt trail.
It follows white circle blazes on an old gravel road, first along a meadow and then into a longleaf pine forest. Picnic areas sit just inside the tree line along the path.
The key point of interest is the Rockefeller House. In front of the home is a wayside exhibit with information signs about the Rockefellers, Long Valley Farm, and the McDiarmid Millpond behind it.
The 1914 spring house, used for fresh water and refrigeration, is also intact. It was built around an artesian well.
From the house, the loop continues through pines, oaks, and other trees. Autumn wildflowers were in bloom during my hike including asters, goldenrod, ironweed, and purple false foxglove.
Then the trail hugs the boundary with a nearby neighborhood. Finally, it ends slightly back up the main road from the welcome center.
Cypress Point Loop Trail
To the left of the Rockefeller House, you can turn onto the Cypress Point Loop Trail. Blue circle blazes mark the easy 0.75-mile path. It follows the water’s edge.
At the Y-intersection, keep to the right to continue to Cypress Point. A new observation deck has been built, allowing visitors to walk out into the lake.
To the left, the pond stretches to the edge of a cypress swamp. I came at a great time of year to see the beginning tinge of autumn colors in the trees.
After enjoying solitude at the lake, return to the Y-intersection and turn right to finish the loop. Multiple pines surround the path including loblolly, shortleaf, and longleaf. On the right, the millpond transitions into Jumping Run Creek. The trail ends back at the Rockefeller Loop.
Wildlife
In addition to dozens of squirrels, I found American robins, blue jays, brown-headed nuthatches, Carolina chickadees, gray catbirds, northern cardinals, and red-bellied woodpeckers.
Sandhills Access
Sandhills Access trails wander through longleaf pine ecosystems. Because it is a multi-use trail, remember “wheels yield to hooves and heels” meaning hikers yield to horseback riders and bicyclist must yield to both hikers and horseback riders.
Longleaf Pine Trail
Longleaf Pine is four miles one way. All other trails at this access spur off this trail.
From the trailhead, follow the white triangle blazes to the right. I found it easy for the first mile along McCloskey Road. Then the trail turns into the forest and descends before flattening out again.
This trail offers multiple surroundings: wiregrass and pines, hickory and oaks, Sandhills seeps, and marshy bottomlands. I found wildflowers like asters and blazing stars.
Little Pond Spur Trail
Around 1.2 miles into the Longleaf Pine Trail, there is a spur trail to Little Pond. The 0.1-mile trail follows blue triangle blazes to a small pond.
There were no water birds enjoying the area on my visit but there were several pine warblers along the trail on my walk down.
Wiregrass Loop Trail
Acting at the park’s TRACK Trail, the 1.4-mile Wiregrass Loop is named for the native grasses in the area. I would rate it on the high end of easy due to multiple switchbacks and gradual inclines and slopes. There are wooden benches to rest on and take in the landscape.
Wildflowers along this trail include goldenrod and pine barren gentian.
You can take the loop from the parking area, but since I was returning on the Longleaf Pine Trail, I jumped on from there. Look for blue hexagon blazes to guide the way.
Wildlife
I spied brown-headed nuthatches, Carolina chickadees, eastern towhees, northern cardinals, northern flickers, pine warblers, and red-shouldered hawks.
Carvers Creek State Park offers so much! I recommend the Long Valley Farm area for history lovers and those looking for an easy walk. The Sandhills area is perfect for those looking for multiple nature hike options.