Carvers Creek State Park, Sandhills Access

The trails are clear and easy to follow. There is plentiful parking and bathrooms at the parking lot. The official time it's open is at 8, but there wasn't anything stopping my from parking at 7am to beat the heat. It's pretty, with minimal elevation changes. Update: I've been many times now. The bathrooms are cleaned first thing in the morning, and that is when the gate is opened, so you can arrive too early to park. We also went out a little too far with the dog one evening and had a ranger waiting at the gate just before the posted closing time so she could lock it as soon as we left.

Highly recommend bringing bug spray with you if it's been raining recently. I had mine in my backpack and used it once I started getting bit by mosquitoes around mile 1.25 or so on Longleaf Pine Trail. Easy hiking, quiet and peaceful. An occasional plane flew overhead from nearby bases. Well maintained trail system with lots of signs.

Went trail riding with some friends while we were visiting NC. The trails were clean and great. Brought the horses to a small creek crossing and they were able to play a little bit. Very peaceful and quiet.

Even though this is on the outskirts of Fayetteville it is still a remote area, mainly because the stretch from here to the Raleigh area is fairly rural. I drove south from the Raleigh suburbs. My wife and I were the only people in the park on a toasty fall day. This place reminded me of the Pine Barrens in my native New Jersey. Pristine, beautiful and a bit eerie due to the silence and lack of wildlife. Expect an easy hike on flat land. Big parking lot. Easy to find.

Great spot for running and biking, even horseback riding. The way the trails are designed (loops), you can easily get a good 12-14+ mile hike in, and still not be too far from where you parked. Standard southeastern NC terrain; tall pines, wiregrass, a few swamps and some ponds.u