Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge

Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge is a protected area in northeastern North Carolina centered around a large natural lake. The site includes swamps, marshland, and an extensive network of canals that together create a diverse habitat.

The area was established as a protected reserve in 1934 to safeguard habitats for migratory birds and native wildlife. In the following decades, a pump station from around 1915 helped control water levels and improve conditions for animals.

The name comes from the Powhatan people who lived in this region long before it became a refuge for migratory birds. Visitors sense this connection to the area when walking the waterside trails and observing the seasonal arrival of waterfowl.

The area features observation platforms, walking trails, and fishing spots marked with information signs throughout. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear, especially when exploring the wetter areas, and be prepared for changing weather.

The lake was originally much deeper and was reshaped in the early 1900s by drainage projects that permanently altered the landscape. These changes created the patchwork habitat that visitors encounter today.