





Goodwin State Forest is a vital living laboratory in North Carolina's Sandhills region.
Goodwin State Forest is a vital living laboratory in North Carolina's Sandhills region. This managed forest serves as an indispensable educational and research asset. Spanning approximately 1,100 to 1,410 acres in Moore County, it stands as a testament to sustainable forest management and environmental stewardship.
Dedicated to advancing forestry education, the forest provides hands-on learning and research opportunities for students and faculty from NC State University. Its landscapes showcase southern pine management techniques, including thinning, prescribed burning, and longleaf pine restoration, offering a real-world classroom for future environmental professionals. The forest's sustained management also generates economic returns that fund multiple undergraduate scholarships at the College of Natural Resources.
While not open to the public, Goodwin State Forest plays a crucial role in preserving critical forest ecosystems and contributing to the scientific understanding of forestry. Its carefully managed habitats, bordered by Killets Creek, represent a significant ecological resource within the region, focused on long-term forest health and biodiversity. Unlock an interactive field guide for this spot: get the Snappit app to identify nature on the go.
The James Goodwin Forest was established as an addition to NC State University's school forests in 1967. The property, originally 1,120 acres, came to the School of Forestry through a provision in the will of James L. Goodwin, who passed away in 1967. James L. Goodwin, a Yale-trained forester, had carefully managed the land in the Sandhills region for 36 years prior to his death. He had acquired what was originally exhausted farmland and reforested it with pine seedlings, transforming it into a productive and sustainable working forest. Goodwin stipulated that the income generated from the tract should be used for forestry scholarships, establishing a lasting legacy for forestry education.
Not applicable for public visitors. For NC State students and researchers, activities include studying southern pine management, longleaf restoration, and forest ecology.
Not applicable for public visitors.
As a private research forest not open to the public, specific accessibility features for general visitors are not provided.
Not applicable for public visitors. The "exhibits" are the managed forest plots and ongoing research.
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Please note
Public visits are not permitted at the James Goodwin Forest in North Carolina. These tips are therefore not applicable for general visitors.
May 29, 2026
May 29, 2026
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Massachusetts, US
You might spot Virginia Bluebells and Great Golden Digger Wasp.
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Maryland, US
You might spot White-Tailed Deer and Japanese Knotweed.
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Illinois, US
You might spot White Mulberry, House Finch, and Scissor Grinder.
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Maryland, US
You might spot Great Blue Heron, Eastern Bluebird, and White-Tailed Deer.
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