RALEIGH – Turnbull Creek Educational State Forest (ESF) located in Elizabethtown, NC is shaking off those winter blues by kickstarting the forest’s spring and summer hours of operation. Beginning March 1, the forest will be open to the public using a modified schedule to include weekend visitation hours.
Turnbull Creek ESF will be open weekly; Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. The forest is closed on Mondays. This year, Turnbull Creek ESF is offering ranger-led small group classes on Saturdays from11:00 am to noon. Each Saturday will feature a unique class based on the following themes:
First Saturday: Guided Hike with a Ranger
Second Saturday: Naval Stores: Colonial North Carolina’s First Industry
Third Saturday: Forest Measurements 101: Tools of the Trade
Fourth Saturday: Fire Control 101
Fifth Saturday: The Art and History of Papermaking
Classes have a capacity limit of 15 participants so please don’t wait to reserve your spot! Class reservations can be made by calling our staff at the forest office.
In addition to Saturday classes, forest staff at Turnbull Creek ESF offer a variety of other classes for groups which can be made available by reservation. Turnbull Creek ESF also offers a variety of appealing activities for every age group. Taking in our exhibits, hiking the trails, birding, and enjoying a picnic under the trees are just a few of the activities available at Turnbull Creek ESF. Our trails offer various levels of difficulty and range from a quarter of a mile to over four miles in length. If you are looking for a special space to host a meeting or outdoor event, Turnbull Creek ESF also offers an open-air picnic shelter available by reservation free of charge.
For more information or to make a reservation, please contact rangers at the Turnbull Creek ESF forest office: 910-588-4161. Visitors can also find more information through our website: https://www.ncesf.org/turnbull.html.
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