The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

A sundew plant on the Holly Shelter Game Land. © Marge Limbert

Open to the Public

Yes

Things To Do

Hiking / Birding / Wildflowers / Rare Plants / Hunting
View All

Plan Your Visit

Contact the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission at http://www.ncwildlife.org View All

Get Directions

LOCATION:

Southeastern Coastal Plain/Onslow Bight

TOPOGRAPHICAL MAPS:

"Maple Hill SW, Stag Park"
Contact: NC Geographical Survey
1612 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1612
(919) 715-9718
www.geology.enr.state.nc.us/ 

OWNERSHIP AND ACCESS:                               

NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Division of Wildlife Management
1722 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1712.
(919) 733-7291
www.ncwildlife.org

CONSERVATION HIGHLIGHTS:

The Nature Conservancy helped protect 950 acres at Southeast Ridge Preserve and later transferred the property to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

• Read about how TNC uses fire to keep ecosystems like this game land healthy in our Prescribed Fire brochure.

According to the N.C. Natural Heritage Program, Pender County contains some of the most biologically significant land along the entire U.S. Atlantic Coast.  The county ranks fourth among the state's 100 counties for its total number of rare plants and animal species.  Much of this biological cornucopia is centered around the Camp Lejeune/Holly Shelter region - a vast expanse of longleaf pine savannas, Carolina bays, blackwater streams, and pocosin habitat that encompasses Holly Shelter Game Land in Pender County, most of Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base in Onslow County, and Nature Conservancy perserves near Maple Hill.  These areas have historically been dependent on fire to thrive, and TNC is helping to restore.  See our Prescribed Fire brochure.

Things To Do

Hiking / Birding / Wildflowers / Rare Plants / Hunting

Please check hunting schedules before planning a trip to Holly Shelter Game Land. 

Plan Your Visit

Roads in the game land are only open during hunting season, so please heed the hunting schedule.  During other times of the year, you can park outside the gates and walk into the game land.

Contact the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission for more information.

Directions

Two access points into Holly Shelter offer hikers and birders a chance to enjoy some of the game land's diverse habitats. 

Take NC 210 east from I-40 and cross the Northeast Cape Fear River.  Drive less than a mile past the river and turn left on Shaw Highway (SR 1520).  Go 7.3 miles to the Wildlife Commission boat access area by the river.  Follow the trail along the dike between the river and the swamp forest. 

From the intersection on NC 210 and US 17 in Hampstead, drive north on US 17 4.4 miles.  Look for a Wildlife Commission sign on the left at the entrance to Lodge Road.  The road is gated and closed from March 1 through Aug. 31, but you can walk into the game land here and walk through the flatwoods.

Discussion

Have you been to this preserve? Are you thinking of visiting? See what others are saying about their experiences and add your comments below.

Add Your Comments

Time for you to join the discussion. Tell us about your experience at this preserve. What plants and animals did you see? When did you go? You can help others plan their visit when you share your thoughts. And thank you for visiting one of our nature preserves!

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