Green Swamp Preserve — Attraction in Shallotte

3-25-23

Parking is a dirt lot that can probably hold 15 vehicles. A marquis/sign is near the lot. Information on it is clearly dated, and there were no maps in the box.

The trail is muddy, poorly blazed, and lacks any logic. We ended up coming to some woods after walking a bit, and there were no signs, etc, other than private property signs. It was difficult to make sense of things. This said, AllTrails lists this as about 1.3 miles one way plus the return. Would recommend following this.

The scenery has the long-leaf pine, star moss, grassy savanna, and the difficult to find flytraps that reviews are raving about. We walked aimlessly, and it seemed for about an hour we found nothing. So we turned back, heading toward our vehicle, thinking we weren't gonna see these. Maybe a tenth of a mile before the boardwalk, we saw a few patches of the elusive traps at our feet. That's it.

Temper your expectations on these. They are difficult to spot, about an inch or two from the ground, and aren't something from Little Shop of Horrors. They are small and aren't plentiful throughout. You will need your detective skills and lots of patience. Others on the trail were a tad frustrated, too.

Recommend covering your legs, insect repellent, sunscreen, and a hat. Random plants will touch your legs, bugs are abound, and the canopy is thin. Sun will hit you.

While I was happy we finally saw some of the traps, the preserve needs some work with maintenance, blazing, and an updated marquis as of...

Very beautiful place to go hiking and get out the house. My buddy has about 20 acres that back-up to this preserve and be very careful and cautious at night because there is a huge creature, mabey 8-9ft tall that roams this area that we have encountered several times. We call it "Amber Eyes" because we caught it with a flashlight one night and the eyes were about 5inches apart, the size of golf balls and glow bright amber color. This creature has a scream that sounds like some kind of dinosaur and has thrown logs and good sized rocks at us. There are a few neighbors in the area he lives in that have also heard the screams at night and have had chickens and other small pets/animals that have disappeared as well. One night amber eyes completely destroyed his chicken coop which was a really nice, well-built one that was bought from tractor supply and ever since that night, when the sun goes down, all the chickens fly up this huge magnolia tree and roost up there as high as they can get and stay up in that tree all night. DO NOT ENTER THIS...

The Green Swamp is a magical place. For first time visitors, bring boots or waders, bug spray, and water. The Green Swamp is at the center of a 30 mile circle that is the only place in the world that Venus Fly Traps grow in the wild. Additionally, three types of pitcher plant, three types of sundew, and three types of butterwort also grow there, meaning at least ten carnivorous plants call the Green Swamp home. The trails are thin and muddy but the views of the Pine Savannahs and Poccosins are breathtaking. At least fifteen orchid species can be found there, in addition to dozens of other species of flowering plants, meaning something beautiful is almost always in bloom. You will normally see one or two other groups during your visit, but otherwise have the place to yourself. Not recommended for people with low or limited mobility, as the paths can be muddy...