Goose Creek Trail

Washington, North Carolina

1 Review

Summary Trail Guide Topo Map Reviews Photos GPS

DESCRIPTION FROM:

Best Dog Hikes North Carolina

by Melissa Watson (Falcon Guides)

At 2.5 miles, the Goose Creek Trail runs nearly the entire width of the state park. Although there are no creeks or tributaries to cross, the dogs have fantastic places to swim and play in the water at both ends of the trail. Near the trailhead they can play in the Pamlico River, which is reached via the Live Oak Trail (hike 5).

And at the trail’s end, you’ll find another great swimming hole near a pair of benches overlooking Goose Creek. Nearly surrounded by water, Goose Creek State Park not only borders the Pamlico River to the south, it has a few creeks that dip into it, including the park’s namesake—Goose Creek. The trail runs from one side of the park to the other, but to access it, you need to begin by hiking on the Live Oak Trail (hike 5).

View Guide Topo Map

Trail Statistics and Information


Activity Type:	Hiking
Nearby City:	Washington
Distance:	5.2
Trail Type:	Out-and-back
Skill Level:	Easy
Duration:	2 hours 40 min
Season:	Year-round; November–February, 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.; March–May, September, and October, 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.; June–August, 8:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. Closed Christmas Day
Accessibility:	Dog-friendly
Local Contacts:	Goose Creek State Park, 2190 Camp Leach Rd., Washington; (252)9232191; www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/gocr/ main.php
Local Maps:	DeLorme: North Carolina Atlas & Gazetteer, page 66, B3
Driving Directions:	Directions to Goose Creek Trail

Recent Trail Reviews

Eric S.

Rating:

Date of Trip: 2/27/2018

Did this trail in late February with my sheltie. There are not a lot of hiking opportunities in the Greenville, NC area, so this state park is a nice little oasis in a hiking desert. All told, there are about 8 miles of total trails in the park, with the Goose Creek Trail being the main, and longest, of them all. The trail winds in and out of forest and swamp land, passing by the occasional campsite and road, with good views of various waterways at the trail's beginning and end. The trail has good infrastructure (boardwalks and benches), and on a Tuesday morning, was not crowded at all (I saw one other hiker). Plenty of other trails branch off this main one for anyone looking to add miles or do a little extra exploring. If you're stuck in the area for any extended amount of time and need to scratch your hiking itch, this trail and park do the trick!