Coleman Trail

The Coleman Trail ventures into the most remote section of Merchant Millpond State Park, following a long loop through the upland forest and bottomland swamp of the Floodwater Creek drainage that lies beyond the main millpond and receives far fewer visitors than the more accessible trail system near the park entrance. The trail crosses through a mosaic of coastal plain habitat types including loblolly pine upland, mixed hardwood flat, and the deeply shaded bottomland swamp forest that lines Floodwater Creek and its tributaries. This remote section of the park is exceptional for observing the full suite of coastal plain wildlife away from the activity of the main pond area, with black bears, bobcats, and river otters all regularly documented by trail camera surveys along the Coleman Trail corridor. The swamp sections are particularly atmospheric in early morning when mist rises from the dark water and the calls of barred owls and great horned owls fade from the night. Carnivorous plants including bladderwort and sundew grow in the more open wet areas along the trail, representing an ecological curiosity of the nutrient-poor coastal plain soils. The trail requires some navigation attention as the forest can be dense and trail markers must be followed carefully, adding a modest wilderness character to what is otherwise an easy walk in terms of terrain. Waterproof footwear is recommended after periods of rainfall.