Goose Creek State Park is open for year-round recreation, east of Washington, two miles (3 km) south of U.S. Route 264 on Camp Leach Road.

[2] The land in and surrounding Goose Creek State Park has long provided an abundance of natural resources for the people of the area.

[3] Since the end of the pirate era, the area in and surrounding Goose Creek State Park has been centered on timber production, commercial fishing and small scale, subsistence farming.

Local citizens showed their support for the effort by sending a resolution to North Carolina governor, James Holshouser.

[5] Goose Creek State Park is open for year-round recreation offering camping, boating, fishing, hiking, swimming, picnicking, and environmental education.

Ivey Gut Trail runs from the main park road to the campground through two miles (3.22 km) of forest.

There are two pavilions at Goose Creek State Park and several picnic tables in a pine and oak forest near the swimming area.

These tall grasses provide cover and nesting sites for the many wading birds of the park, including, marsh wren, rails, herons and egrets.

The swamps are home to a wide variety of wildlife including barred owls, frogs, turtles, snakes, minks, turkeys, muskrats and raccoons.

The waters of Goose Creek and the Pamlico River are visited by a wide variety of migratory birds.