Soak Your Stress Away In The Forests Of North Carolina's Croatan National Forest At Flanners Beach
By Ben Jones|Published February 14, 2022
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Ben Jones
Author
Ben Jones is at heart an adventurer who delights in inspiring others. A former reporter and photojournalist, he explored towns large and small as a Wisconsin correspondent for USA Today. He later became a lead photographer and senior copywriter for an award-winning destination marketing agency, before founding Boldland Creative, a company that produces photography, video, and other content for travel destinations. Jones has completed photography and content projects in more than 15 states and when he’s not looking through a camera or at his Macbook you’ll find him exploring the world’s lakes and forests.
A beautiful corner of North Carolina National forest offers it all, including a tranquil trail and a gorgeous beach. You’ll find this special destination within the vast Croatan National Forest and it’s a place where the stress of daily life simply melts away. Take in the wildlife, stroll a shady path or just relax by the water – you won’t regret visiting. Here’s a sample of the natural therapy that’s waiting for you at North Carolina’s Flanners Beach.
North Carolina is home to four National Forests, but just one is a coastal forest - Croatan National Forest.
You’ll find a beautiful area along the Neuse River near Cherry Point. Locally, the area is called Flanners Beach. There’s a pleasant campground with 40 sites, a hiking trail, and a beautiful stretch of beach.
A winding hiking trail will take you through a quiet mixed pine and hardwood forest. You may want to pick up a map or use a GPS device as there are many turns and forks on the trail.
The terrain in the forest is a little rugged but it’s gorgeous. You’ll likely have some company on the trail - the area is rich with wildlife. You may encounter deer, black bears turkey, wading birds, osprey, alligators, and turtles.
The area is subject to closure in advance of hurricanes – the hurricane season typically runs from mid June until mid November. Learn more about the Croatan National Forest here. If you love wild places, there’s a lot more to explore in North Carolina. Here are some of the state’s most scenic wild and hiking trails.
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