Carolina Beach State Park – A Coastal Paradise

With a marina, secluded campgrounds, and miles of hiking trails traversing distinct habitats including one of the world’s rarest carnivorous plants the Carolina Beach State Park is a popular coastal attraction. The park covers 761 acres on Pleasure Island.

Known for its natural beauty, the park’s pine and oak forests, sandy beaches, and Pocosin wetlands attract woodland and migrating coastal bird species. White-tailed deer, raccoons, squirrels, and river otters also roam the region. Read on to know more.

Camping

The 761-acre Carolina Beach State Park is a top camping destination thanks to its miles of hiking trails, riverfront beach, on-site marina, boat launch, seasonal kayak, and paddle board rentals, and numerous park ranger-led public interpretive programs. The shady campground is set among pine and oak trees, offering both tent and RV sites with no hookups or full hookups.

Four cabins are available for a more rustic experience. The park is a great place to slow down and take in the scenery of this quaint coastal town.

The state park’s campground is open daily with varying hours from May through October. The park’s visitor center and exhibit hall that showcases the carnivorous Venus fly trap plants are also open daily at varying hours.

Boating

Carolina Beach State Park is an outdoor coastal paradise with boating opportunities along the Cape Fear River, Snow’s Cut, Masonboro Sound, and the Atlantic Ocean. You can also find hiking trails that offer beautiful vistas and unique carnivorous plants.

The park features a 54-slip marina, two public boat ramps, and a marina store that sells fuel, snacks, supplies, and fishing equipment. You can also rent kayaks and paddleboards.

Although swimming is not recommended due to rough tidal activity, you can go boating, fishing, and exploring the waterways at Carolina Beach State Park. However, the best time to visit the park is during the fall, winter, or early spring for fewer crowds. The marina and visitors’ center are open year-round. Browse around this site.

Hiking

With a marina, secluded camping areas, and miles of hiking trails that traverse a variety of distinct habitats including one of the world’s most unique carnivorous plants the state park is popular among outdoor enthusiasts. The Visitors’ Center and exhibit hall are open daily, year-round from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Nearly 9 miles of trails, some of them paved and accessible to wheelchairs, wind through the park’s diverse habitats. The Sugarloaf Trail travels through coastal evergreen forest, coastal fringe sandhill forest, and tidal cypress-gum swamp before reaching the massive Sugarloaf Dune.

The park also hosts an array of recreational and educational programs throughout the year. Check local guides and calendars for events, many of which are free to attend. Swimming is not recommended due to the park’s proximity to the Cape Fear River and Snow’s Cut/Intracoastal Waterway.

Picnicking

The park has a picnic area with tables, grills, and fire rings that are perfect for family meals. It is also a great place to enjoy the flora and fauna on the over 9 miles of hiking trails. The Flytrap Trail and Fitness Trail are wheelchair accessible while dogs on a leash are welcome.

The sand dunes, maritime forests, and pocosin wetlands at the park offer plenty of things to see and do. From a 50-foot sand dune that served as the campsite of Civil War troops to rare carnivorous plants, there are treasures to discover for both first-time and repeat visitors.

The park has a marina with boat slips and public boat ramps, as well as restrooms, a fishing deck, and a visitor center. However, swimming is not recommended due to local tidal activity.

Wildlife

With a marina providing access to excellent fishing opportunities, secluded camping areas, and miles of hiking trails traversing a wide variety of distinct habitats, this state park offers countless wildlife-based adventures. Visit the visitor center to learn more about the area’s flora and fauna, or set out on one of the many guided hikes that explore the park’s unique plant and animal habitats.

The 761-acre park, located on a triangle of land called Pleasure Island, sits between the Atlantic Ocean and Masonboro Sound and is bordered to the north by Snow’s Cut, an inlet of the Cape Fear River. The area’s diverse landscape includes long-leaf pine forests, oak, and wiregrass.

The park is a bird-watching hot spot. Brown pelicans thrive in the coastal environment, warblers, finches and woodpeckers fill the forest, and painted buntings and prairie warblers can be found along Snow’s Cut. Next blog post.

 

Driving directions from Crystal Clear Shine to Carolina Beach State Park

Driving directions from Carolina Beach State Park to Freeman Park