DuPont State Forest, formally DuPont State Recreational Forest, is a 12,500-acre protected area in western North Carolina that grew from former industrial land once owned by DuPont for X-ray film production. Created in 1996 from property long known as Buck Forest, it later expanded through several additions, including land secured by the state after a contested development threat in 2000. The forest is widely known for its mix of woods, lakes, rock outcrops, waterfalls, and nearly 83 miles of trails and roads used for outdoor recreation. Its scenery has also appeared in films, helping make it a prominent destination in the southern Appalachians.