Pocosin Wilderness
Native Americans called it a pocosin, which in their language meant "swamp on a hill." Another assessment of this seemingly flat area that rises slightly in the center might be "raised bog." Over thousands of years, organic matter (basically black muck) accumulated to form a pocosin, an area highly acidic and deficient in nutrients that produces a unique biological occurrence. The thickness of the muck varies from several inches at the edge to several feet at the center. Growth on the outer rim is typically pond pine with a dense understory of titi, the shrub Zenobia (unique to pocosins), and an impenetrable jungle of greenbrier vines.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | North Carolina |
| Size | 11,801 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 34.79° N, 77.02° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 14) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 1 federal campground within ten miles sits inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 5.7 miMattocks, William Edward, House ↗Swansboro, NC
- 7.8 miPalo Alto Plantation ↗Palopato, NC
- 14.6 miEarle W. Webb, Jr. Memorial Civic Center and Library ↗Morehead City, NC
- 14.6 miMorehead City Municipal Building ↗Morehead City, NC
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for North Carolina
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Great Day Hikes on North Carolina's Mountains-To-Sea TrailFriends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and Jim Grode, 2020Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Pocosin Wilderness?
11,801 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Pocosin Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Pocosin Wilderness in?
North Carolina.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Pocosin Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Pocosin Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Pocosin Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 34.788° N, 77.017° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near Pocosin Wilderness?
The National Register has 4 listings within 15 miles, including Mattocks, William Edward, House and Palo Alto Plantation.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.