Located in Gates County 10 miles south of North Carolina's northeastern border with Virginia, Merchants Millpond State Park centers on a 760-acre millpond nearly 200 years old. Hiking the surrounding trails or paddling the placid, shallow waters of the pond offer a great way to explore this wetland environment. Old-growth cypress trees adorned with Spanish Moss create an "enchanted forest," particularly at Lassiter Swamp. Visitors have even spotted the American alligator here, at the northernmost point of its range. The Visitor Center provides information on the cultural history of the millpond, as well as the diversity of plants and animals that live in it today. Rangers offer a multitude of programs in both indoor and outdoor settings to give visitors a guided, hands-on experience at the millpond.