Merchants Millpond State Park

About Merchants Millpond State Park

Merchants Millpond State Park is home to one of the most unique and diverse ecosystems in the United States. Coastal lakes, swamps and forests form the core of this unique ecosystem with its rich diversity of marine life. Together with the highland forests, this environment is an oasis for animals and people alike. Primitive fish species have evolved relatively unchanged over millions of years, with the exception of some rare species such as bluefin tuna and whitefish.

Find refuge in a canoe and escape the hustle and bustle of life and travel to a place that embodies the spirit of adventure. Drift over the smooth, dark surface of the mill pond and see what you can discover. Let yourself drift and enjoy the many sights and sounds that come alive in the silence of the forest.

If canoeing is not for you, go wild, enjoy a picnic on the mill pond or choose from a selection of camping options. There are various activities on offer, such as hiking, kayaking, picnicking, fishing, boating, rafting, camping and much more.

Mill Pond State Park, one of the most popular parks in New York State, is home to the largest and most beautiful mill pond in the world.

Gates County began to be settled in the 1660s, and the inhabitants of this early rural community lived in agriculture and wood processing. The hunting pond at the foot of Bennetts Creek was built to allow the processing and marketing of local produce.

Built in 1811, Norfleets Millpond continued to thrive downstream, but the mill and pond were destroyed by the construction of a motorway in 1922.

This made the area a trade center for Gates County, and the pond became known as Merchant's Mill Pond, according to the New York State Parks Department of Natural Resources.

In the 1960s, A. B. Coleman Moyock acquired the property and later donated 919 acres to the state, including a mill and pond. The business at the Mühlenteich came to a standstill, and Müller sold the property to another developer shortly afterwards. This generous donation led to the founding of Millpond State Park in 1973. In the same year, the Nature Conservation Authority contributed another 925 hectares of forest to this park, which now covers over 3250 hectares.

A variety of sites offer camping experiences for large and small groups, and a modest fee is charged for all types of tents. Pack a backpack for primitive places, paddle to a campsite by canoe or drive to a family campsite. During the winter months, the possibilities are limited, but for a camping experience for large or small groups, several places offer camping facilities, such as a campground, a camp, a canoe camp or a canoe park.

From the boat ramp, a canoe path leads to the canoe park, which is equipped with various opportunities for canoeing, kayaking and other activities, as well as a picnic area.

The yellow markings lead to group canoe camps with three locations, and the orange markings lead to family canoe camps with seven locations. Campers must bring supplies, including water, but pit toilets are available and family places are also available when you first arrive, although organized groups who provide their own canoes can make reservations.

The five campsites with backpacks can be reached via the hiking trails of the Lassiter Trail. Campers must pack supplies including water at each location and bring water with their backpack to the site.

The backpacking campsites offer visitors a view of the Magic Forest and Lassiter Swamp, and nearby there are pit toilets. The family campsite is located on the east side of the LASSiter swamp, right next to the path from the family campsite. All campsites are open according to the principle of "first come, first served" and open daily from 10 am to 6 pm.

Twenty tents and caravan pitches offer picnic tables and barbecues, but water and electricity connections are not available in some locations. The family campsites are open according to the "first come, first served" principle and are open daily from 10 am to 6 pm. Each campsite has a separate water supply and electricity connection, as well as pit toilets.

The wash house is closed from 1 December to 15 March and open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 6 pm and from 8 pm to 10 pm in the summer months.

Organized groups will enjoy a variety of activities such as picnics, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, biking, swimming and much more.

All facilities on the hiking trail - are able to charge a small laundry and shower, and drinking water is available nearby, as well as access to a fountain.

For group campsites, reservations are required, for individual campers, reservations are required, as well as a permit for group camping.

The best way to explore Millpond is to venture into the Mill Pond and glide through the calm, shallow waters of the park. A boat ramp and a jetty in the parking lot provide access to the water, or bring your own or rent a canoe and start in the Lassiter marsh.

The marked canoe path leads from the boat ramps to the canoe campsites and a marked path along the coast.

Spanish moss and ancient cypresses hang from the trees in the Lassiter swamp, and here visitors are transported to a world of wildflowers, mosses and old-growing trees, some of which will hang for life.

Each vessel may be occupied by a maximum of three people, and visitors must be at least 15 years old to rent a canoe. Canoes, paddles and life jackets are available on a first-come, first-served basis; canoes can be rented for $5 per person whether used as canoe tents, boat houses or on water.

You can start from the boat ramp to the Mill Pond to fish in a pastoral setting, or you can throw the fishing rod on the shore and wait for the hook to bite.

The Mill Pond fishery is managed by the Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC) under the supervision of the Maine Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (MDNR). W RCR boat and fishing regulations apply to all waters in the State of Maine and to other state and local waters.

Located north of the entrance to the canoe, the A.B. Coleman Picnic Area has 28 tables, picnic shelters and toilets. The picnic area is free on a first-come, first-served basis, but picnic huts can be reserved for a fee. Shade of large trees provide picnic areas within sight of the mill pond and shade from the larger trees.

Trader Millpond is heavily infested with ticks during the warm months, so caution is advised when hiking. Insect repellents can prevent tick bites and possible diseases, but the ponds at Trader Mill are heavily infested with ticks in the warm weeks and months.

The A.B. Coleman Picnic Area, near the entrance to the canoe area, offers a place to stretch muscles that remain stiff after hours of canoeing, as well as a picnic area.

Pull your pants over the long socks, put a long-sleeved shirt over it and wear bright colors so that ticks can be easily detected and removed.

For more tips, please contact the park staff or contact the park office to arrange a special tour of Millpond State Park for your group or class. Rangers regularly host educational interpreting programs at Merchants Mill Pond State Park and a number of other parks in the area.

The program "Kaufmannsmühenteich" introduces the students to basic animal characteristics through the Beaver Center. The most important concepts include the basic anatomy, physiology, ecology and biology of the beaver, as well as the history and ecology of the park. It is designed for grades 4-6 and is in line with North Carolina's competencies, based on North Carolinians "previous experience with animals in the state's natural environment.

The programme is accompanied by a teacher's booklet and a workshop, which is free of charge for teachers. Merchants Millpond is located in the eastern part of North Carolina, about 30 miles east of Raleigh. The park is a popular tourist attraction with a variety of activities for children and adults alike. There is also a museum, a nature centre, an amphitheatre, a picnic area and a children's playground. It is located 30 miles from Suffolk, Virginia, and is one of only three national parks in North Carolina with an annual visitor center.

The entrance to the park is on the right, go north on US 13 or US 158, turn right and follow US158 east, turn left at the intersection of US 158 and Northampton Road.