Be sure to bring a picnic lunch with you. Picnic sites with tables and grills are available. A spacious picnic shelter, complete with a massive stone fireplace, is available for groups.
Recreation is one of the many features of Turnbull Creek Educational State Forest. The following recreation opportunities are available:
Reservations for the shelter are required.
- Duncan Trail
Duncan Trail takes hikers all throughout the 890-acre forest. You will see most of our forested areas on this trail and it includes a stroll by Turnbull Creek (the forest’s namesake) and the Jones Lake Drain, where excess water feeds from Jones Lake into Turnbull Creek. This is a great opportunity to take in why we are called a demonstration forest by seeing all the management tactics that are utilized on this massive landscape.
Length – 4.5 miles
Difficulty – Moderate to Strenuous
Walking Time – 3 hours
- Turnbull Creek Trail
Turnbull Creek Trail has many educational opportunities, from our Red Oak tree slab, to identification placards on the trees, to natural springs and frog ponds, to a large viewing area of our namesake Turnbull Creek. Park at the Forest Products Exhibit area and walk over to the trail entrance.
Length – 1/4 mile
Difficulty – Easy to Moderate, stairs involved
Walking Time – .5 hour
- Big Loop Trail
Big Loop Trail consists of an easy walking area that is remote, but not strenuous. A great opportunity to see wildlife. From the picnic shelter parking area, cross the grassy field, and hang a left down the sandy road. You’ll see signage that will direct you into the forest. The loop will bring you back to another portion of the same sandy road. Cross the grassy field again, and you’ll be back at your vehicle.
Length – 1.8 miles
Difficulty – Easy
Walking Time – 1.5 hours
- Smith Swamp Trail
Smith Swamp Trail offers a nice, easy walk from the main office parking area to our back gate. You’ll pass by several timber types, including a hardwood forest. You’ll also see our Naval Stores exhibit and get to learn about our RAWS weather station along the way. Smith Swamp Trail bisects the Duncan Trail, if you’d like to only walk a portion of the long trail. From Smith Swamp Trial, you can also venture through our short Wildlife Path, just behind the RAWS weather station.
Length – 1 mile, one way
Difficulty – Easy
Walking Time – 1 to 1.5 hours
- Wildlife Path
Take a stroll on a grassy path through our wildlife plot. Designed for providing year-round food for our forest wildlife, who knows what you’ll spot in this quiet area. Park at the RAWS weather station.
Length – 1/4 mile, one way
Difficulty – Easy
Walking Time – .5 hour
- The Driving Path Loop "Trail"
The Driving Path Loop “Trail” allows you to “hike” through the forest without ever leaving your car! The Driving Path will take you throughout our 890-acre forest. You’ll see all our exhibits in passing, including our Fire Control exhibit with retired helicopter and dozer equipment. You see many forested areas, some with signage explaining our management practices. You’ll also get a chance to spot wildlife, as staff see fox squirrels, wild turkey, and sometimes deer just riding through.
Length – 2 miles
Difficulty – Easy
Driving Time – Varies
- Mountains to Sea Trail Segment
Mountains to Sea Trail Segment highlights “Carolina Bay Country”, and takes you through a bay area on Turnbull Creek ESF.
Length – 1 mile on TCESF property, continues throughout the state elsewhere
Difficulty – Moderate
Walking Time – 1.5 hours
Turnbull Creek Educational State Forest