Photos by Tina Ray/Paraglide Smith Lake Recreation Park offers a variety of activities, including canoe rentals. The lake is located off Honeycutt Road.

Tucked off Honeycutt Road and nestled one mile outside of Fort Bragg on N.C. 210, Smith Lake is a gem of a place. People who frequent the recreation area say they wish others would visit.

The Smith Lake Recreation Park features bike and horse trails, a beach, picnic area and campsites, among other amenities.

Stanley West said he rides the bike trails everyday. During a typical week, the Sanford resident rides an average of 70 to 80 miles.
“I don’t get tired of it out here. I don’t know why people don’t take advantage of it,” said West, who has been riding the trails since 2002.
The trails are about seven miles, said Sabina Bryant, chief, outdoor recreation. Access fee costs $20 a year or $5 per day and the money is used for maintenance, clean up after rainfall and placement of signs, she said.

The trails offer advanced, intermediate and expert challenges, “Bryant added. The expert challenge, for instance, is faster paced and provides ramps for jumping small bridges.
Smith Lake riding stables also offers riding trails,” said Rebecca Meyer, stable manager.
Patrons can take part in horse fun shows, held once each month. The next horse show is scheduled for June 26, at 6 p.m., she said.

One amenity available to active-duty military is boarding of horses for $80 a month, Meyer explained. Horse owners are responsible for care of their animals.

Meyer, has been an avid equestrian since youth and encourages people to visit the stables for recreation.

“It’s fun. Horses are fun, relaxing and enjoyable,” she said.

At the beach area on a recent Friday, lifeguards were learning how to locate victims in both shallow and deep water. The lake opened Memorial Day weekend.

Jennifer Pearson is the aquatics director and helped facilitate the waterfront lifeguarding certification course, which teaches lifesaving skills like CPR, first aid and oxygen administration.
The course is designed to protect beach customers and avoid mishaps.

“The biggest thing we stress is prevention,” Pearson said.

Admission fee to the beach is $4 for military and government ID cardholders and their Family members; $5 for the general public and $2 for children ages 6 to 26. There is no charge for children under 6.

“A movie night is held once monthly during the summer,” Bryant said.

The charge is $5 per vehicle, with showtime at 8:30 p.m. The next two movies to show will be “Hitch,” Saturday and “Jaws,” July 30.

Smith Lake is available for unit functions, birthday parties, picnics and other celebrations.
The campsite area is restricted, however, to military, Department of Defense and Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation ID cardholders only,” Bryant said.

Anni Tiemann, does not live in Fayetteville, but a recent Family trip brought her to the area by way of Arizona. Tiemann chose the recreation area as the site of her daily run.

“It’s my first time here. It’s beautiful,” Tiemann said.

Open from dawn to dusk and in a close proximity to Fort Bragg, Smith Lake should appeal to Soldiers, Families and civilians.

Pearson encourages people to visit.

“It’s an FMWR facility and location,” Pearson said. “FMWR puts their customer first always. We create a Family environment at all of our facilities.”

For more information about the Smith Lake Recreation Park, call 396-5979 or visit the Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation at www.fortbraggmwr.com.

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