Hammocks Beach State Park (Bear Island)
Hammocks Beach State Park
Bear Island, reachable only by ferry or kayak. It has undeveloped beaches, towering dunes and a nesting site for sea turtles.
The park is located near Swansboro. Its main feature is Bear Island, which sits across Bogue Inlet from Emerald Isle. The island has about 5 kilometers of pristine beach, high dunes and salt marshes, and lifeguards are on duty in summer. A ferry from the visitor centre takes about 25 minutes (around $7 for adults), or you can paddle across using the marked kayak trail. The island has basic toilets and campsites but no food or drink. It is about 15 kilometers by car from Emerald Isle.
Opening hours
08:00 until sunset; ferry seasonal
Nearby sights
- Swansboro
- Bogue Inlet Pier
- Emerald Isle Beach
- Croatan National Forest
- Theodore Roosevelt State Natural Area
- North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
- Tryon Palace
- Fort Macon State Park