Pond Pine Wilderness

The smallest of North Carolina's designated Wildernesses lies just south of Great Lake in the middle of Croatan National Forest. The lake is acidic, the Wilderness a trailless pocosin, and the few who visit are a hardy breed who can cope with deep muck, alligators, biting insects, poisonous snakes, and tangled masses of vines and shrubs. People come to see the wildlife and plants, but they rarely stay long. In case you fancy yourself the exception to that rule, be forewarned that there are no campsites.