Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 Ancient Longleaf Forest — 898-acre old-growth longleaf pine forest — the finest remaining example in the NC Sandhills with trees over 300 years old
Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve protects 898 acres of old-growth longleaf pine forest in the Sandhills region of Moore County — the finest remaining example of this once-dominant ecosystem. Some longleaf pines here are over 300 years old — towering 100+ feet above a fire-maintained understory of wiregrass, wildflowers, and rare plants. The Sandhills region is a band of ancient sand dunes deposited when the Atlantic Ocean shoreline was 30 miles further inland (3 million years ago!). The preserve is home to the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker — which nests exclusively in living longleaf pines.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Moore County, NC (Sandhills!) |
| Entry Fee | Free |
| Size | 898 acres old-growth! |
| Trees | 300+ year old longleaf pines! |
| Sand | 3 MILLION year old dunes! |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do longleaf pines need fire?
Longleaf pines evolved with frequent fire — lightning strikes naturally ignited the wiregrass understory every 2–5 years. Fire eliminates competing hardwood seedlings (which can’t survive fire), maintaining the open, park-like forest. Without fire, hardwoods crowd out the longleaf and the entire ecosystem collapses. The preserve conducts regular prescribed burns.
Insider Tips
Old-growth longleaf: Weymouth Woods preserves one of the finest remaining stands of old-growth longleaf pine in NC — some trees are 300+ years old. Pro tip: The longleaf pine-wiregrass ecosystem is one of the most fire-dependent on Earth — without regular fire, hardwoods overtake the pines. Red-cockaded woodpecker: Weymouth is home to active red-cockaded woodpecker colonies.
Best Time to Visit
Spring: Post-burn wildflower explosion. Year-round: Nature center and trails. Fall: Wiregrass golden. Winter: Open understory views.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do longleaf pines need fire?
Longleaf pine evolved with fire — lightning-sparked fires swept through Southeastern forests every 1-3 years for millennia. Young longleaf pines survive fire in a “grass stage” (growing roots underground for years before shooting up rapidly). Fire kills competing hardwoods but not fire-resistant longleaf. Without fire, oaks and other hardwoods shade out longleaf seedlings. Prescribed burning is now essential for maintaining these ecosystems.
Park Location
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