Dismal Swamp Welcome Center

06/10/2026

🌟 So many great events taking place this weekend along !

Check out Somerset Place State Historic Site 15th annual Days Gone By ⤵️

This Saturday, we will have our 15th Annual Days Gone By! Come and experience history through arts, crafts, guided tours, and activities! This annual event will feature opportunities to learn about plantation life through historic trades and crafts, living history, hands-on activities with historic interpreters, and tours of the plantation. We will also have special musical guests Possum Hollar Band and African percussionist and storyteller Braima Moiwai.

Guided tours will be offered at 10:30a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 1:30p.m. and have a required fee of $5.35 for adults, $4.28 for seniors 65 and over and military, and $1.07 for children ages 3-17. We hope you’ll join us to explore the diverse peoples, cultures, and histories of Somerset Place.

Event fee of $5 for adults (ages 18 - 64) and $2 for seniors (ages 64+) and children (ages 3 - 17). Children age 2 and under get free admission.

06/10/2026

🐟The 2026 Bassmaster Elite Series begins in Elizabeth City tomorrow!

Be sure to check out their page for all the latest happenings & events through the weekend!

Visit Elizabeth City, NC Elizabeth City Downtown, Inc

06/09/2026

⚓🚤🌿 Welcome to Camden County!🌿🚤⚓

Arriving by boat to for an overnight stay along the Dismal Swamp Canal may sound a little "dismal"... but trust us—it’s anything but! 😄🌞🌊

The Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center and Dismal Swamp State Park are packed with surprises around every bend! 🦅🐢🌳 Discover incredible wildlife, a peaceful waterway, scenic trails, fascinating exhibits, and breathtaking mirror-like reflections that transform the canal into a picture-perfect masterpiece. 🛶✨🌅

⚓ FREE overnight dockage
🛶 Amazing paddling adventures
🌿 Miles of hiking/biking trails to explore
📸 Unforgettable photo opportunities
🐦 Wildlife around every corner

Whether you're cruising through by boat 🚤 or visiting by car 🚗, adventure, history, and natural beauty are waiting for you in Camden County! 💙🌲🌊

Drop anchor, stretch your legs, and come see why so many travelers fall in love with the Dismal Swamp! ⚓❤️

🚤🌿🦅🌊

Waterway Guide Atlantic Yacht Basin, LLC. Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Visit Edenton, NC
The Northern Outer Banks Maritime Ministries Visit North Carolina Outdoor NC
Camden County America 250 NC Camden County, NC Cruisers Net Lamb's Marina & Market Friends of Dismal Swamp State Park Friends of the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge North Carolina State Parks and Recreation North Carolina Department of Transportation WTKR News 3 WRAL TV WITN-TV

06/06/2026

🐻🌿 NATIONAL BLACK BEAR DAY 🌿🐻

Did you know Coastal North Carolina is home to some of the LARGEST black bears on the planet?! 😲🐻 The northeastern part of the state even has some of the world’s highest black bear populations! 🌎✨

Black bears may be called “black” bears, but they can also appear cinnamon 🤎, blue/gray 🩶, and even white 🤍! These amazing animals are powerful, intelligent, and an important part of our local ecosystem. 🌿🫐🐾

The Dismal Swamp State Park is home to one of the largest black bear populations on the East Coast! 🐻🌲 Visit the park to learn more about these incredible creatures while respecting their natural habitat. Remember — never feed bears! 🚫🍔

Celebrate National Black Bear Day by exploring nature, learning about wildlife, and appreciating one of North America’s most extraordinary animals! 🌎🖤🐻
📸 Camden County TDA

🐻🌿

of Dismal Swamp State Park Camden County, NC Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge NC Wild Outdoor NC Visit North Carolina Wildlife Habitat Stewards of Northeastern NC

06/05/2026

⚓️ Notice to Navigation Interests⚓️

Please see notice from Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding upcoming closure of the Deep Creek Bridge along the Dismal Swamp Canal from July 6- August 3, 2026. During this time, the old Deep Creek Bridge will be demolished in preparation for construction of a new span.

*The canal will still be available for paddling. Bring your own kayak or rent one from the Dismal Swamp State Park to explore & experience the historic waterway.

Waterway Guide Cruisers Net Albemarle Loop Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association Friends of Dismal Swamp State Park Chesapeake Parks, Recreation and Tourism Maritime Ministries Albemarle Loop Atlantic Yacht Basin, LLC. Visit Elizabeth City, NC Visit Perquimans Elizabeth City Downtown, Inc Lamb's Marina & Market BoatUS

06/05/2026

The Summer Junior Adventure Series is back for its 4th year, and this week's adventure is all about NAVIGATION! 🗺️✨

Have you ever wondered how people found their way before GPS?

Join us as we explore the essential skills that helped shape human history! Learn how to use maps and compasses, discover why navigation is an important outdoor skill, and then put your new knowledge to the test. 🧭🌎

📍 Merchants Millpond State Park Visitor Center
📅 Monday, June 5th, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM (program begins promptly)
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 All ages welcome

🌤️ Be sure to dress for the weather, as part of the program will take place outdoors.

Bring your sense of adventure and get ready to find your way through a fun morning of exploration and learning! 🌿🥾🗺️

🧭🌲☀️

Friends of Dismal Swamp State Park of merchants millpond state park
North Carolina State Parks and Recreation Camden County America 250 NC Visit Elizabeth City, NC Camden County, NC Outdoor NC Visit Elizabeth City, NC

06/04/2026

📚✨ Discover a powerful part of North Carolina’s history during the virtual program “Telling Our NC 250 Story: Free Women of Color in Revolutionary North Carolina” on June 11 at noon. 🖥️🕛

This special program, commemorating Juneteenth ❤️🖤💚 and America 250 NC✨, features scholars and historians sharing the stories of remarkable free women of color who helped shape our state during the Revolutionary Era. 📖👩🏾‍🏫🏛️
Through historical records, genealogy, and research 🔎📝, panelists will explore the lives, families, and communities of these inspiring women. ❤️

Join the conversation, learn more about our shared past, and celebrate the stories that deserve to be remembered. 🌟📚🤝

To Register: EMAIL - Mitzi Townes at [email protected]
or CALL - 919-814-6863.



Camden County, NC NC Department of Natural & Cultural Resources Visit North Carolina visitRaleigh Camden County Public Library - North Carolina
Pasquotank County Library Elizabeth City State University

06/03/2026

🚤🌿 Nothing Dismal About It!🐾⛵️

Don't let the name fool you- the Dismal Swamp Canal is one of the most scenic and unforgettable experiences on the East Coast!

⚓️Glide through mirror-waters, spot wildlife and cruise the oldest man-made waterway in the United States.

💚We promise, the journey is worth taking!

📸: Millennium Falcon 2025

Waterway Guide America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association Cruisers Net Maritime Ministries Albemarle Loop Visit Elizabeth City, NC Elizabeth City Downtown, Inc North Carolina State Parks and Recreation Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chesapeake Parks, Recreation and Tourism Friends of Dismal Swamp State Park

06/03/2026

🇺🇸 Don't miss America 250 Family Day at Salmon Creek State Natural Area this weekend!

🌟Saturday, June 6, 2026 ~ 11am- 2pm
🌟FREE event for whole family
🌟Crafts, Big Canoes, Local Vendors

America 250 NC North Carolina State Parks and Recreation Destination Bertie NC Department of Natural & Cultural Resources

06/03/2026

🚴🌿 Happy World Bicycle Day! 🌎✨

It’s time to dust off those bikes, pump up the tires, and hit the trails! 🚲💨
Whether you’re exploring the 20+ miles of unpaved trails at Dismal Swamp State Park 🌲🦋,
cruising the 3-mile paved Dismal Swamp Canal Trail 🌊,
or even pedaling away on the exercise bike at the gym 💪
— today is all about enjoying the ride!

Did you know bicycles were invented over 200 years ago? 🕰️
The first bicycle-like invention appeared in the early 1800s, and WOW…
we’ve come a long way since then! 🚴✨
From wooden frames to mountain bikes and paved greenways, bikes continue to connect us with the outdoors and adventure.

So grab your helmet ⛑️, enjoy the fresh air 🌞, and explore the beauty of the Dismal Swamp the way — responsibly, respectfully, and full of adventure! 💚🌿

🚴🌲🌞

Camden County, NC Camden Parks & Recreation Camden County Public Library - North Carolina Friends of Dismal Swamp State Park Visit North Carolina Outdoor NC Elizabeth City Area Chamber of Commerce Elizabeth City Downtown, Inc Currituck Chamber of Commerce Cycle North Carolina