South Mills and the Great Dismal Swamp are among the 15 destinations featured in the state of North Carolina's inaugural guide to "trail towns" offering what Visit NC describes as "signature outdoor experiences."
Visit NC, a unit of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, unveiled its Official North Carolina Trail Town Guide this week, billing it as a "go-to resource for natural wonder, wayside pleasures and soon-to-be-made memories."
“With the Trail Town Guide, trip planners can learn that more than the ocean makes our coast remarkable, that more than rivers and roads wind through the Piedmont, and that more than peaks await mountain travelers,” Wit Tuttell, executive director of Visit NC, said in a press release. “They’ll also be encouraged to lessen their impact as they explore Craggy Gardens, the mighty Neuse River or the Great Dismal Swamp."
The Trail Town Guide, available at NCTrailTownGuide.com, links to trails, accessibility features, "responsible recreation practices" and trip tips from local experts, the release said. It also includes a map, a list of the seven Outdoor NC Leave No Trace principles, and an invitation to “join the movement” toward sustainable travel.
“The new guide extends the mission of Outdoor NC to heighten enjoyment of forests, parks, blueways and greenways while reducing the impact on fragile environments,” Tuttell said. “It also extends the concept of ‘trails’ to embrace those inspired by humans as well as nature.”
Sarah Hill, director of the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center and chair of the Camden County Tourism Development Authority, said Camden is both "excited and proud" to be among the 15 trail towns selected for the new guide.
"We worked with our state-level and county-based recreational partners to provide a wide variety of resources and tools which help educate outdoor adventurers on recreating responsibly, respectfully and safely," she said in an email. "The NC Trail Town Guide recognizes our communities and stakeholders for our unique trail experiences and helps us celebrate the stewardship efforts that champion responsible visitation and accessible outdoors."
In its feature on South Mills, the Trail Town Guide points out local attractions like the Dismal Swamp Canal, Dismal Swamp State Park, and the North River Campground. It also notes that the Dismal Swamp is a designated site on the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program, African American Experience of Northeast NC, the NC Civil War Trails, the NC Birding Trail and is part of the East Coast Greenway.
"The Dismal Swamp State Park is the largest remaining swamp in the southeastern US and home to hiking and biking trails," the guide states. "The park’s boardwalk and Visitor Center are ADA accessible, offering an interactive museum, wildlife exhibits, picnic tables, restrooms, and interpretive signs.
"Adjacent to the park sits the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail, a three-mile paved trail, great for wildlife photography," the guide continues. It goes on to note that the canal is the "oldest man-made waterway in the country" and is "enjoyed by paddlers and boaters year-round."
Hill said Camden is hoping its inclusion in the guide will "increase awareness and visitation" to the county, "improve how tourism benefits our local community, reduce negative impacts on our cultural and natural assets and enhance experiences for all residents and visitors" to Camden.
Besides South Mills, the other 14 towns and their surrounding areas featured in the guide include Highlands, Sylva, Waynesville, Brevard, Asheville, Old Fort, Blowing Rock, Wilkesboro, Gastonia, Eden, Southern Pines, Smithfield, Burgaw, and Nags Head.
“Each of the 15 destinations has signature outdoor experiences such as segments of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, the Blue Ridge Parkway sites or state parks,” Tuttell said. “They’re more than enough to make a trip worthwhile. The guide layers in appeal from culture, history and other eye-opening dimensions.”
According to the release, Visit NC launched the Outdoor NC initiative in 2020 "to address the toll taken on public lands as people sought escape from pandemic-induced confinement."
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