Merchants Millpond

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Merchants Millpond State Park

The pond at Merchants Millpond State Park is worth a trip to the northeastern corner of the state to see. The bald cypress "trees with knees" draped with Spanish moss look like they should be in a swamp farther south.

The park rents canoes, and canoe trails lead to canoe camping sites (canoes can be rented by the hour or in 24-hour increments). Once you paddle across the pond, Bennetts Creek leads through Lassiter Swamp to the "Enchanted Forest." Here's a park map.

 Merchants Millpond trees with knees
The pond was busy and colorful with canoers and kayakers when we made a quick stop there on a Saturday afternoon in November of 2005.
Canoers at Merchants Millpond The boat ramp, pier and canoe rental office are at the parking lot off of Millpond Road; the park's main entrance is farther down U.S. 158, assuming you're coming from the west. We walked the short Cypress Point Trail loop, which is off of the boat ramp area. It's a very easy trail with views of the pond; we were watching canoers through the trees.
The family campground (toilets, showers, etc.) is accessed from the U.S. 158 entrance. Trails from it lead to the boat ramp and canoe rental office. So you can set up camp, walk over to go paddling, drop off your canoes and stretch your legs as you head back to camp. There are also group sites for canoe and regular land-lubber camping, and five backpack camping sites. Merchants Millpond boat ramp

Merchants Millpond is in Gates County.

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