Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Mesic, North Carolina

Beautiful single-vehicle width track through the forest. The entry/exit route to the northwest is very, very corrugated. But to the south, you'll find one of the widest and smoothest unpaved roads in the country. The…
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Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge is a series of scenic gravel roads in Tyrrell County, North Carolina. It's located west of Nags Head in the North Carolina Outer Banks. The Refuge offers amazing scenery and…
Learn more about Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge

Portsmouth Island requires a private vehicle ferry from Morris Marina to access and reservation in advance is necessary. A permit is required to drive on the beach and can be obtained through the Cape Lookout…
Learn more about North Core Banks - Portsmouth Island

South Core Banks is only accessible by vehicle ferry. A reservation is required through Cape Lookout Cabins and Camps or the Davis Shore Ferry Service. A beach driving permit (ORV) is required and can be…
Learn more about South Core Banks - Back Road

Millis Road (128) crosses Croaton National Forest between Whitehouse Fork Road and Nine Mile Road. This route is generally maintained and offers a nice scenic drive for any vehicle or driver. While the road is…
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Great Lake Road travels through Croatan National Forest, ending at Great Lake. This route is well-maintained and passable by any vehicle. While traveling the route, drivers will cross several small wooden bridges that cross small…
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Pringle Road is a forest service road that provides access to numerous trails and areas within Croatan National Forest. The road itself is well-maintained, with only a few scattered potholes and ruts. Alongside the road…
Learn more about Pringle Road - FS 123

Pringle Road Spur 3 is one of the longer trails in the area, offering a mix of terrain with potential mud pits, whoops, twists and turns, and several campsites. The mud pits are generally dry…
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This road within the Pocosin National Wildlife Refuge area is rather similar to all the others however is very cool as it can connect to a lake within the refuge. With that being said, depending…
Learn more about Western Road Pocosin National Wildlife Refuge

This trail offers a fun and flexible driving experience, leading to a cleared area where drivers can explore freely. While the tree line subtly suggests a main path, alternate routes with twists, turns, whoops, and…
Learn more about Pringle Road Spur 2

This loop consists of several National Forest Service roads within the southwestern portion of the Croatan National Forest. Following Service Roads 199, 166, 3014, 176, 175, and 144, you will encounter well-maintained gravel roads accessible…
Learn more about Southwest Croatan National Forest Loop

Branch 7 is a continuation of Pettiford Creek Trail 6 and the Pettiford Creek Eastern Entrance. It's slightly tighter and muddier than Trail 6, offering a bit more of a challenge. A mud hole mid-trail…
Learn more about Pettiford Creek Trail 7

This easy off-road trail is located on the western side of the Croatan National Forest. Obstacles include a few potholes, and the trail is mostly gravel. There is one small muddy area that might be…
Learn more about Holston Hunter Trail

This is the main trail through Pettiford Creek State Forest, allowing access from one side of the state forest to the other. This is the easiest trail within Pettiford Creek and mostly consists of sandy…
Learn more about Pettiford Creek Main Trail

This offshoot from the Pettiford Creek Main Trail connects to the Pettiford Creek Eastern Entrance. The trail consists primarily of sandy double-track, with a few scattered mud pits that add some challenge but are smaller…
Learn more about Pettiford Creek Trail 6

Pettiford Creek Trail 8 acts as a link between the Pettiford Creek Main Trail and Trail 6. This trail is mostly composed of packed sand and follows a double-track layout, offering scenic views of the…
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Bogue Road is another hard-pack road leading to more Croatan National Forest areas. Along the road is a vast hunting land area and numerous side trails. The end of the road turns into a tight-looking…
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Branch 5 serves as a connection between Pettiford Creek Main Branch and Pettiford Creek Branch 4. This short trail consists primarily of packed sand and pine needles, with occasional patches of loose sand and potential…
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Morton Field Trail is a hard-packed road that provides access to game land in the Croatan National Forest, potential shooting ranges, and a wooden bridge over a stream. Because of the national forest, wildlife can…
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Mirey branch is a hard-packed road that allows access to a vast amount of Croatan National Forest game land. The road connects to several side trails that lead to different areas of the forest. Wildlife…
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This offshoot from the main trail within Pettiford Creek State Forest provides access to state forest lands and Croatan National Forest lands. The trail is shorter, grassy, and features a few mud crossings, with rather…
Learn more about Pettiford Creek Branch 4

Holston Creek is a hard-pack gravel road in the Croatan National Forest. It provides access to large amounts of game land, additional roads in the national forest, and potential for wildlife depending on timing. The…
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Pettiford Creek Trail 3 is an offshoot of Bogue Road Spur that connects to the Pettiford Creek Main Trail. While Trail 3 and the Main Trail run parallel, they only link up at the beginning…
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This narrow double-track trail provides access to the Pettiford Creek State Forest, an area surrounded by Croatan National Forest. This state forest offers miles of trails ranging from sandy double tracks to deeper mud and…
Learn more about Bogue Road Spur

This narrow double-track trail winds through Croatan National Forest and shares similarities with trails in Pettiford Creek State Forest, featuring loose sandy terrain, mud, and potential shallow water crossings. The trail begins with very loose…
Learn more about Bogue road spur 2

This trail is a longer trail with a varied environment. The beginning of the trail is rather sandy and open but eventually turns into a tighter, secluded forest. This trail is rather easy, featuring some…
Learn more about Pettiford Creek Trail 1

This trail is an easy forest service road that provides access to Croatan National Forest land and a few shorter trails. Along the road is a bridge, a small creek, an access trail to a…
Learn more about Pettiford Creek - FS 206

This is one of three potential entrances that access the vast trail system within the Pettiford Creek Tract trail system, which has nearly 10 miles of sandy double track with mud holes, stream crossings, whoops,…
Learn more about Pettiford Creek West Entrance

This is one of the first branches off the main trail through Pettiford Creek State Forest. The trail begins with a wide, sandy double track, which turns into a narrow, muddy trail. The trail ends…
Learn more about Pettiford Creek Trail 2

Pettiford Creek Trail 9 is a longer route that initially runs along the edge of private property before entering the state forest and linking Pettiford Creek West Entrance to Pettiford Creek Main Trail. While the…
Learn more about Pettiford Creek Trail 9