🌤 Weather at Bay Tree Lake State Natural Area by season
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40–82 °F | 66–91 °F | 40–84 °F | 32–59 °F |
Each range runs from the coldest monthly average low to the warmest monthly average high in that season (1991-2020 climate normals), measured at Elizabethtown, 7 mi away, elevation 120 ft. Conditions at the park can differ from the station, especially where elevation differs — check a forecast before you go.
🌲 Longleaf Pines and a Carolina Bay — 620-acre state natural area on Bay Tree Lake near White Lake, a state park until 2017, managed from Singletary Lake State Park
Bay Tree Lake State Natural Area protects 620 acres of longleaf pine forest, xeric sandhill and Carolina bay habitat on Bay Tree Lake in Bladen County. The North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation manages it from the office of Singletary Lake State Park, 13 miles away. The General Assembly reclassified the former Bay Tree State Park as a state natural area in 2017, and access is limited to a hiking trail (NC State Parks, as of October 2026).
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Access | Unpaved parking area on N.C. 41, about 3.5 miles east of N.C. 701 near White Lake |
| Size | 620 acres |
| Trail | 4.9 miles one way, white blazes, moderate, hiking only, not accessible |
| Lake | Bay Tree Lake, a state-owned Carolina bay lake of 1,418 acres |
| Contact | Singletary Lake State Park, 6707 N.C. 53 E., Kelly, NC 28448, 910-669-2928 |
| Managed by | NC Division of Parks and Recreation |
| Former Name | Bay Tree Lake State Park (until 2017) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bay Tree Lake still a state park?
No. In 2017 the General Assembly reclassified it as a state natural area. It remains part of the North Carolina state parks system, with limited access managed from Singletary Lake State Park.
Are dogs allowed on the trail?
Yes, on a leash no longer than 6 feet.
Are there snakes on the trail?
Yes. NC State Parks warns of copperheads, cottonmouths, pygmy rattlesnakes and canebrake rattlesnakes; stay on the trail.
Nearby parks: If you have extra time, Singletary Lake State Park is a short drive away, and Bakers Lake State Natural Area is within about an hour’s drive.
🌲 Visit Bay Tree Lake State Natural Area
Trail details and access from NC State Parks, on the Singletary Lake State Park trails page.
About Bay Tree Lake State Natural Area
The state bought its first land on the lake in two purchases in 1979 and 1981, together 609 acres; another 350 acres were donated in 1979 as part of a federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grant. The lake, once called Black Lake, is a Carolina bay with a maximum depth of 7.1 feet. Under an 1911 state law, lakes of 500 acres or more remain state property (NC State Parks general management plan).
Things to Do
Hike the white-blazed trail through longleaf pine and sandhill forest of turkey oak, bluejack oak and southern magnolia. Look for wildlife of the woods and lakeshore.
Insider Tips
Plan the distance: The 4.9 miles are one way, so an out-and-back hike is close to 10 miles. Footing: The trail runs on natural sandy soil. Questions: Call the Singletary Lake State Park office, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round except Christmas.
Best Time to Visit
Spring and fall: Cooler weather for the long sandhill trail. Summer: Hot and exposed in the sandhills, with snakes active.
Wildlife & Nature
NC State Parks lists eastern fox squirrels and black bears, along with gray squirrels, white-tailed deer, cottontails, bobcats, coyotes, river otters and beavers. The management plan also notes well-developed pocosin vegetation and wet and mesic pine flatwoods.
Nearby Attractions
White Lake — the trailhead lies about 3.5 miles east of N.C. 701 near White Lake. Singletary Lake State Park — 13 miles away, with the managing park office.
🐾 Dogs & Pets at Bay Tree Lake State Natural Area
- Pets allowed? statewide rule
- Pets are permitted in all North Carolina state parks as long as they are on an attended leash and under the constant control of the owner.
- Leash rule statewide rule
- Attended leash or other restraint no longer than 6 feet required at all times
- Beaches & swim areas statewide rule
- Pets are not permitted at swim areas or in bathhouses
- Cabins & lodging statewide rule
- Pets are strictly prohibited from entering any building, including cabins; no pet-friendly cabin program
- Statewide exceptions statewide rule
- Not all campgrounds allow pets (contact the park office first); pets must be confined to tent or vehicle during quiet hours (10 p.m.-7 a.m.); at Hammocks Beach visitors must arrange their own transportation for pets to Bear Island
Are dogs allowed at Bay Tree Lake State Natural Area?
Pets are permitted in all North Carolina state parks as long as they are on an attended leash and under the constant control of the owner. Individual parks can post stricter rules — check signage on arrival.
Rules verified July 2026 via ncparks.gov. More: North Carolina state parks guide · Dog rules in all 50 states compared
Park Map
Plan your gear for Bay Tree Lake State Natural Area
From our editorial guides, matched to this park’s activities:
