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Island Creek Walk - Croatan National Forest Hiking Trail
4.4 ★★★★☆ 162 Google reviews · Running trail in Pollocksville, North Carolina · Hours vary
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Loop distance
- 2.2 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Not reported
Confirmed from Island Creek Walk - Croatan National Forest Hiking Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Hiking area featuring trails with views of a creek through a shady forest setting.
What runners say about Island Creek Walk - Croatan National Forest Hiking Trail
“The creek is quite scenic and this is a good location for birders or fans of wildflowers.”
“The path is well-marked and perfect for unwinding while enjoying the sounds of nature.”
“It’s a peaceful walk surrounded by tall trees and plenty of wildlife.”
“Great for those looking for a relaxing, easy hike.”
We took a nice hike here last weekend. The creek is quite scenic and this is a good location for birders or fans of wildflowers. Some great photo opportunities too. Please note that the trail is poorly marked and we must have climbed over a dozen trees that have fallen across the trail.
Looks like recent trail maintenance. Underbrush in abundance, hopefully it will be cleaned up before the dry summer months.
Well marked 3.7 mile trail for a moderate hike. A lot of damage from the hurricane back in September 2018. Some trees across the trail but easy to go over them or around them. Made it a little more challenging. Saw bikers and dogs on the trail also.
Parking is finished and trails are marked. The red trail was great and wish I had more time to explore. The trail is well marked and very easy to hike. The hike is great for bird watching, finding different native plants along the creek and in the muddy banks and swampish areas.
Trail conditions & character
“The creek is quite scenic and this is a good location for birders or fans of wildflowers.”
“The path is well-marked and perfect for unwinding while enjoying the sounds of nature.”
“However, the signage is less than par and the parking should be expanded to attract more visitors.”
“It’s a peaceful walk surrounded by tall trees and plenty of wildlife.”
“The hike is great for bird watching, finding different native plants along the creek and in the muddy banks and swampish areas.”
“We were there during a light drizzle that the trees shielded us from, that grew into an almost downpour, so we did the short loop.”
Plan your run at Island Creek Walk - Croatan National Forest Hiking Trail
The practical stuff
- AccessHours vary — hours are not posted for this trail, so check before an early or late run
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- Loop distance2.2 mi back to where you parked
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- Websitefs.usda.gov
- Social Instagram · Facebook
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