Pocosin Wilderness

Pocosin Wilderness is a protected area covering roughly 12000 acres of acidic peat wetlands within a national forest in eastern North Carolina, characterized by pond pines and dense plant growth. The terrain consists of soggy ground with vegetation specially adapted to this moist and acidic setting.

Congress designated this area as protected land in 1984 to safeguard its natural wetland features. This decision was part of a larger effort to preserve wild lands across the nation.

The name comes from an Eastern Algonquian word for elevated wetlands, showing how Native Americans recognized this distinct landscape type. It reflects an understanding of how different swamp areas have their own character.

The area is wild and undeveloped, with no marked trails or ready camping spots, so you need solid navigation skills to explore it. Visitors should prepare thoroughly and bring navigation gear to move through this untamed land.

The area is home to carnivorous plants like Venus flytraps and pitcher plants, which have adapted to the nutrient-poor and acidic soil. These unusual plants have developed special mechanisms to trap insects and meet their nutritional needs.