GetBackpacking! at Merchants Millpond State Park

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Note: This trip was originally slated for the Neusiok Trail, but the trail remains closed due to Hurricane Florence damage and the government shutdown. In its place, we will backpack at Merchants Millpond State Park.

When you think of backpacking in these parts, you think of exploring the scenic highlands — the mountaintop balds, the roaring waterfalls — of the Southern Appalachians. Rarely do your thoughts turns to camping in a swamp. But in winter, they should, especially at a place as enchanted as Merchants Millpond State Park. The park is centered around a 760-acre millpond created more than 200 years ago ago. For about a century, it was the hub of regional commerce. Then it wasn't.

Since then, nature has reclaimed the area. The pond has become peppered with tupelo gum and bald cypress, Spanish moss draped from their limbs. Beyond the millpond's banks, the surrounding flora has flourished, sporting a tangle of coastal trees and shrubs that support a diverse critter population and more than 200 species of birds. Plus, a winter visit means the chance to see a range of overwintering waterfowl. A winter visit also means the park's peskier residents, particularly of the biting variety, are kept at bay; it's the perfect time for a visit.

Our plan:

Friday: We'll arrive around 3 p.m. and hike the 3 miles to our campsite for the weekend. We should have plenty of time to hike this flat stretch of trail before sunset at 5:43 p.m. (Civil Twilight — the point at which you'll need to start using a headlamp — lasts until 6:09 p.m.) We'll be in the same camp both Friday and Saturday nights.

Saturday: We'll don day packs and hike between 8 and 10 miles, exploring much of the park. There's also the option to paddle the millpond: canoes are available at the boathouse year-round.

Sunday: We pack up and hike out.

Pre-trip meeting. At our pre-trip meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. at the Great Outdoor Provision Co. in Chapel Hill (1800 E. Franklin St.) we will discuss cold-weather camping, the gear you need to bring and the precautions to take, as well as how to navigate a coastal forest. This is an especially good trip for a backpacker with limited cold-weather experience.

This trip includes an eguide , with custom map of the hike, tips on coastal hiking and cold weather camping — but not too cold: the typical overnight low this time of year is 40, daytime high in the low 60s; perfect for traveling with a pack on your back — and information about the forest and the area. Fee for this trip is $95.