Bladen Lakes State Forest — Attraction in Elizabethtown

If you dodge the clearcuts, as well as hunting season/activity, when hunters and their loud and sometimes lost dogs are doing their thing, you'll enjoy checking out a somewhat unique natural area of NC. While there are nice dirt roads for easy and relaxed hiking/horseback riding, you can wader off into the thick forest to immerse yourself among the varied plants and wildlife associated in and around this bay lake region. This is a good place to depart from the commotion of civilization, and there is a semi developed campsite, with benches around a fire pit, that is primitive enough to feel like you're almost in a remote environment. Having worked with bears here and there, when I'm back in NC, this is a favorite place to be among bears and connect with Nature. Had to add that the staff at the office are exceptional, knowledgeable, and very helpful. Years ago, there was a superintendent named Hans and a woman at the info/receptionist desk that were incredibly...

While visiting White Lake, NC I was looking for a place that I could take my dogs and let them run off of the leash. I noticed the signs for Bladen State Forest on hwy 701 and decided to give it a shot and I’m glad I did! It is very secluded, I visited three times in two days and never seen another person there. Even though I drive a 4x4 truck, the sand roads in and through the forest are packed tight enough that a regular car or minivan should have little to no problem getting through. There is tons of dense pinewood forest that you can pull into and let your dogs out to run and play and the ground is covered in pine needles which in my opinion makes it easier to spot snakes! My dogs had a great time and there was no one around to bother us. So if you are in the white lake area and looking for a place to run your dogs give this place a try you and your dogs...

We spent a weekend primitive camping here. 2 adults, 2 kids and 3 dogs. We had an absolute blast! Hans took our reservation and answered all of my questions. The only downside is at night you hear barking from a bunch of dogs and really unsettling sounds from 11 p.m to about 3 a.m coming from a home close by. Lots of shots fired too. We felt safe on the grounds but they noise kept us awake and our dogs on gaurd alert. Walking the grounds in the day was beautiful. Would...