What are the Bay Lakes of North Carolina? I would have asked that same exact question a year ago. Located in the eastern part of the state sit hundreds of shallow depressions refereed to as the Carolina Bays. Turns out, these areas are extremely unique and even have controversy surrounding their origin. We set out to visit the 3 State Parks containing Bay Lakes this past year on our epic NC State Park quest. At each place we learned a ton about these interesting and enchanting bodies of water. In North Carolina you can visit Singletary Lake, Lake Waccamaw and Jones Lake through the State Park System. Each is a little different than the others and they all have a ton to offer! Let’s dive in and discover what the Bay Lakes of North Carolina are all about!

What are the Bay Lakes Anyway?

Before we get into the actual visit we need to do a little background. First, the name Bay is kind of deceiving. These shallow lakes get their name “Bay” from the various Bay type trees that surround the water’s edge. Second, there are not only hundreds of these bay lakes located in North Carolina but thousands all along the Eastern part of the United States. The origin of these lakes are greatly debated because they are so shallow and small. Scientist theorize everything from Meteor showers, underground springs and wind/wave erosion. We loved debating this as a family while we were there. Silas and Justin are team meteor, Meg is team wind/wave erosion (this area was once completely covered in water).

The lakes are mostly small and all circular in shape and have very acidic water. There are many more theories and you need to visit and learn all about them in the visitor centers! Most of the Bays rely on rain water and due to the shallow nature and lack of water these lakes are slowly disappearing. For instance, Singletary Lake is now only 44% the size it once was and may just be left to a shallow bog at some point.

These 3 lakes are state parks because they are on the larger size. Most Bay Lakes are around 500 feet across…these are more like 4,000-5,000 feet across. Because these lakes are relatively in the same area, you could visit them all in one day. But, there is plenty to do at these parks to spend a whole day or even a weekend at each one.

Singletary Lake

Singletary Lake is located in Bladen County close to Elizabethtown. We didn’t know much about this park at all so we enjoyed discovering this pretty spot. Singletary Lake offers hiking, fishing, boating, swimming and camping. It’s important to note that the fishing is limited because of the acidic water. They only have yellow perch and chain pickerel here.

We chose to take a little hike to the actual lake and check out the 500 foot pier. They have one hiking trail at the main park area- the CCC Loop trail. This was a fun and easy hike with lots of pretty places to stop and enjoy the beauty around you.

Our favorite part of the visit was walking out onto the pier. Its so beautiful on the lake and you can see just how rounded the shape is. We went in the spring and had the park all to ourselves. There is a summer camp program on site so just be aware that sometimes they may be using the lake during that time. If you want to boat you need to bring your own – there are no kayak or canoe rentals here. This park offers group and family camping but you need to use their cabins – tent camping its not allowed here.

Jones Lake

Jones Lake is a short drive from Singletary in Elizabethtown. It’s also larger at 8,000 feet across. This state park holds another lake on site – Salters Lake. Salters Lake is accessible by permit only. Jones Lake features many of the same things as Singletary. This is a local favorite spot for swimming because of the warmer water and you can also rent canoes here during the warmer months.

In addition to learning about the unique natural history of the bay lakes it was awesome to learn about the cultural history of this specific one. Jones Lake was at one time a segregated lake and was a special place for the African-American community. Many church baptisms were held here as well as family gatherings. We enjoyed learning about the history here in the visitors center. Take time together to read all about the significance of this place. It was a great conversation for all of us and something we haven’t forgotten since visiting.

While we were there we spent some time relaxing by the water. The lake is surrounded by swings, benches and picnic tables. It really is a great place for a picnic, cookout or any type of family gathering. It was one of the most relaxing places we visited.

Lake Waccamaw

This is probably the most unique and diverse lake in the whole group. Its large, the only lake that receives its water flow from a swamp and it is surrounded by limestone bluffs. The limestone help to neutralize the acidic water making it much more suitable for lots of species of plants and animals.

Lake Waccamaw is located in Columbus County and is not far from Wilmington. Hiking, boating and picnicking are all available here. This Bay Lake Park is the only one that allows tent camping and also boasts the most hiking trails. We set out from the visitors center and chose the boardwalk trail for an afternoon hike. This trail leads you down a long boardwalk to a pier to view Lake Waccamaw. We had one of the best nature encounters here as there was a deer hanging out near the trail. It allowed us to get fairly close as long as we were still until running off into the wood. Silas absolutely loved it!

Getting closer to the lake there was a ton of beautiful vegetation along the shoreline which made a great place to find butterflies and dragonflies. We went in the summer and it was very hot on the boardwalk. Take advantage of the several shelter areas along the boardwalk when going during warmer months.

There is also a lot of history found here with archaeologists finding evidence of a civilization dating back thousands of years. Many artifacts from the Waccamaw-Siouan tribe have been found around the lake. You can also find many rare plant species here and a huge variety of animal life. So many things to explore and discover in the Carolina Bays!

Elizabethtown

Really close by Singletary and Jones Lakes is Elizabethtown. It’s a quaint town with a great historical downtown area. Melvin’s is renowned in North Carolina for being one of the best places to grab a burger! White Lake Water Park is also nearby – this is another bigger Bay Lake that is a fun spot to spend a day. Take some time while driving through to stop and take a walk through this quintessential Eastern North Carolina town.

Our Takeaways

Visiting these state parks was truly a different kind of experience. All 3 were similar but different in their own way. Each place provided lots of relaxation while viewing the wildlife and nature. We took time to stop and enjoy the scenery around us in each place. We think Spring and Fall are the best times to visit these parks with the cooler temps and less crowds. If you are in need of the outdoors and wanting something a little slower – visit the Carolina Bays. Beautiful, enchanting and relaxing.

Did you know anything about the Bay Lakes of North Carolina before now? Have you spent time at any of these parks? Share with us what you enjoy about these beautiful places!

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PS! Love state parks? Check out what we learned from visiting every state park in North Carolina!