Little Pee Dee State Park near Dillon preserves part of a Carolina Bay and its sand rim, making it a notable example of one of the Southeast’s distinctive landforms. Recent U.S. Geological Survey interpretation holds that Carolina Bays are relict thermokarst lakes formed several thousand years ago in a colder, drier, windier climate, then reshaped by wind and water, evidence that permafrost may once have reached this far south during the last ice age or earlier glacial periods. Beyond its geological importance, the park centers recreation on Lake Norton and the Little Pee Dee River, offering fishing, boating, camping, bird watching, trails, and other outdoor amenities.