Beautiful and mysterious. This is how locals and tourists describe the sprawling vastness of the scenic Dismal Swamp State Park. This 14,344-acre swamplands and protected land is located in Camden County, North Carolina. It first opened in 2008. The park’s main feature is the main canal used by boaters and kayakers who use the Intracoastal Waterway. The eastern side of the park is bound by the Dismal Swamp Canal, which is operated by the Army Corps of Engineers.

One of the park’s main attractions is the white cedar that thrives in the area. These trees provide the perfect habitat for several rare animals, such as the Hessel’s Hairstreak butterfly. The Black-throated Green Warblers also call the white cedar its home.

The park is open the whole year for visitors. Activities include boating, hiking, camping, picnicking, and bird watching. There’s a visitor center and camp sites inside the park.