Merchants Millpond State Park - Gatesville, NC
Dog Park in Gatesville, North Carolina – Merchants Millpond State Park
Merchants Millpond State Park offers a scenic, dog-friendly hiking experience for visitors in Gatesville, North Carolina. Renowned for its unique cypress swamp, elevated boardwalks, and beautiful millpond, this pet-friendly park features accessible entrances, picnic areas, public restrooms, and onsite parking. It’s perfect for dog owners looking to explore nature on pet-friendly trails alongside their furry companions.
Whether you’re hiking the many well-marked trails, paddling through the scenic waters, or enjoying a picnic with the family, Merchants Millpond is a wonderful destination for outdoor enthusiasts and dog lovers. The spacious landscape, shade provided by large trees, and well-maintained facilities make it a comfortable choice for visitors and their pets year-round.
FAQ – Merchants Millpond State Park as a Dog Park
- Are dogs allowed at this park? Yes, dogs are allowed at Merchants Millpond State Park.
- Are there walking or hiking trails connected to the park? Yes, there are numerous pet-friendly hiking trails.
- Is the park wheelchair accessible? Yes, Merchants Millpond State Park features a wheelchair accessible entrance and parking lot.
- Are restrooms available for owners? Yes, there are public restrooms at the park.
- Are picnics or BBQs allowed? Yes, the park has picnic tables and barbecue grills for visitor use.
- Are there shaded areas available? Yes, the park’s cypress trees and natural landscape provide plenty of shade.
- Are staff or rangers present at the park? Yes, reviewers noted friendly and helpful staff and park rangers onsite.
- Is the park regularly cleaned and maintained? Yes, visitors report clean and well-maintained facilities.
- Is there parking available? Yes, there is a parking lot onsite, and it is accessible for all visitors.
Reviews
Great place to take kids. Easy to read map, lots of trail options. We went to the Ctpress Point trail where they had an adorable ranger book.printed for kids to follow and read. Will be returning many more times.
It’s a little scary knowing there’s gators in there somewhere! Beautiful scenery though. We paddle a few hours, but didn’t make it to the bottom half.
Our family of 4 had such a great time here! The staff was so friendly and helpful every day, and the facilities were clean and well-maintained. It was so fun canoeing around and exploring all of the unique flora and fauna here. We stayed 2 nights at a primitive campsite with 2 canoes, and I am already thinking of a fall trip back. Not dismal in the least!
Great place to paddle. Very scenic cypress swamp with lots of duckweed. No motorized boats were present in the pond. There’s are some shallow areas further up the creek. Beavers and egrets can be spotted occasionally. Didn’t see the gators, but I heard there are about three in the area.
We have visited many of the NC State parks and I have to say this one ranks up there as a favorite. It’s a unique park in that it’s mostly a swamp. Lots of great hiking trails in and around the swamp. There are elevated boardwalks that allow you to walk over the swamp. It was a very cool experience. People were happily fishing of the millpond bridge when we were there as well. If you enjoy fishing that seemed to be a fun spot. We will venture back to hike a few other trails we didn’t get to cover.