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Summer trips to Bear Island and Hammocks Beach State Park

11/12/2017

4 Comments

 
Exploring Bear Island, North Carolina by ferry and kayak.
   Well, daylight saving time just ended. It's dark. Winter is coming. At least it's the perfect time to reminisce about an amazing summer spent here in Coastal North Carolina. I try to go on new adventures most of the time, but sometimes certain trips have such a great vibe they just keep calling me back. My most frequent trip from this summer was to Bear Island.  
Up-ing my hat game as I paddle to Bear Island in the summer.
The Bear Island passenger ferry dock.
A great view of Bear Island while paddling my kayak.
View from the beach on Bear Island, Hammocks Beach State Park
   The destination: Bear Island, part of Hammocks Beach State Park. It's a 3 mile long barrier island just off the coast of North Carolina near the town of Swansboro. It's completely undeveloped, has campsites (registration required), and is accessible by two ways: passenger ferry (in season only) or by boat (like, your boat).
Paddling to Bear Island via our inflatable Innova Sunny kayak.
Traveling via our inflatable Innova kayak.

Arrival via Passenger Ferry

Catching the seasonal passenger ferry to Bear Island, Hammocks Beach State Park.
Landing at the passenger ferry dock on Bear Island, North Carolina.
A paddle group practicing near the Bear Island passenger ferry dock.
   Most folks will arrive by passenger ferry. It's quick (about 15 mins), runs once or twice an hour from the Visitors Center, and is pretty cheap ($5 roundtrip last season). Summers and big weekends can get busy so show up early to purchase a ticket at the Hammocks Beach State Park Visitors Center main desk. Here's a link to the ferry schedule, just remember it runs during the season only - generally from April to October.
Picnic shelters on Bear Island.
The beach view from the bathrooms on Bear Island, North Carolina.
View of the boardwalk leading to the seasonal snack shack on Bear Island.
   A few other fun facts and recommendations: 1) Once you arrive you've got a little .5 mile walk from the passenger ferry dock to the beach. It's mostly paved/loose gravel/and boardwalk. You'll get to the picnic areas and bathroom first. The seasonally open snack shack is there too. 2) You'll need snacks and water. I can't believe how many folks we see arriving for a day at the beach unprepared for the sun and heat. Be prepared. 3) You pack your trash out. All of it. Even if you purchase a can of soda at the shack, you take the can with you. Is this a good idea with in a state that arguably has a litter problem? Luckily it actually seems to be working out OK! 4) There are bathrooms and a water fountain to refill water bottles. Need more facts? Check the official page here:) 
A view of the beach at Bear Island, North Carolina

Arrival via Kayak

Kayaking to Bear Island, North Carolina
   Since wonder-mutt isn't allowed on the passenger ferry, the only way to storm the island with pooch is to arrive by our own vessel. There's a large parking lot at the visitors center, a seasonally open kayak rental booth if you need a boat, and a nice floating launch to shove off. Wind, tide, & current will affect how long it takes to get to the island, we've made it one-way (in our high-powered inflatable kayak ) in as little as 32 minutes and as long as 1 1/2 hours. Unlike other parts of the country that have still, hot, dry, summer days, North Carolina usually has wind. Rarely have we paddled out to Bear Island with calm winds in both directions. 
Following the kayaking poles to Bear Island.
One way to get your dog on Bear Island - paddle yourself.
The kayak landing at Bear Island, NC.
   Once you set off all you have to do is follow the colored poles - yellow to Huggins Island, white to Bear Island. Here's a link to a great paddle map from NC parks. P.S. - Don't try and take short cuts - it gets a little confusing out there - ha! Once you arrive at the kayak landing on Bear Island - it's super close to the ocean, just walk over a dune and you're there. Another hint: we like to start the paddle around slack tide. We've found this is one way to minimize the chances of big current and waves (it doesn't always work though).
   Also, if it's crazy windy you might hit-up a plan B: just paddle around and stop at little nearby islands for fun. Always be mindful of the current - if you stop paddling and notice you are getting swept out to sea it's probably going to be a strenuous return paddle. If you plan a long day you might be able to get carried out to the island and carried back in:) Another challenge can be really low tide. It can make the kayak landing on Bear Island tricky to get to  - we've had to walk and pull the kayak a few times. This is something to think about if you were arriving in the winter and weren't prepared for a chilly-feet-in-the-water 20 min walk.
   Finally, remember that tide and current are 2 related but separate things - the tide could be at slack but the current could still be moving. Tide is the vertical movement of water, current is the horizontal movement of water. Unfortunately, probably because of the popularity of power boats, there aren't current charts around these parts. That makes it hard to predict how fast and which direction the water is moving. If you're a local and have some tricks to help figure this out, leave a comment!
The only dog on Bear Island?
Finding a mermaid's purse on the beach at Bear Island
Finding a sponge on the beach in North Carolina
   Without development, Bear Island is a pretty wild place. You may find, from top left going clockwise: mermaid's purses, blowfish skeletons, sponges, sharks, horseshoe crabs, and various natural seaweed art. Low tide is a great time to find unbroken sand dollars.
Photographing sharks in the surf off of Bear Island, North Carolina.
Finding horseshoe crabs on Bear Island, NC.
Yummy seaweed on the beach at Bear Island.
   Hammocks Beach State Park and Bear Island are amazing. The memories of summer trips here will keep us warm as winter sets in. Our next adventure on the island? Camping. We plan to make a reservation, paddle in, and do that before the busy season starts back up again. Questions or comments about the trip? Just leave a comment below and we'll answer quick!

~Paul, Amber, & Eleanor (woof)    ETC

Nearby adventures:
Emerald Isle Woods
Cedar Point Boat Launch
Cedar Point Tideland Trail
Jones Island
A view of the giant sand dunes on Bear Island, Hammocks Beach State Park
The sign at the end of Bear Island
A campground spot on Bear Island, North Carolina.
The sign at the end of Bear Island, Hammocks Beach State Park.
A controlled burn in Croatan National Forest.
Wowza! Don't worry, just a controlled summer burn in nearby Croatan National Forest.
4 Comments
BRUNO
9/22/2022 01:58:21 pm

Hey guys! How are you?

Awesome post, lots of good information!

My friend and I are going to bear island on the 11th of october! What should we be concerned about? How are the currents like?

I'm a sea kayak guide and I have experience, however I didnt find any information about currents for the area.

Can you please share some local knowledge?

Thank you,

Bruno Gehem De Moura

Reply
Paul link
9/24/2022 04:58:10 am

Bruno,
Nice. It’s a great paddle and we’ve done it so many times. You are right about the lack of current info—we lived in the Pacific Northwest and had a current atlas that gave all of the details about current speed and direction. I think because this is powerboat country and the current is often wind driven this info isn’t used around these parts. However, I would say the wind can affect the paddle even more than the current or tides at times. My advice:
1. If you follow the colored pole marked paddle route from the HB visitor center launch it keeps you away from the Inlet (bigger current) next to Emerald Isle.
2. Plan your launch based on tide info for the Bogue Inlet (tide isn’t the same as current we know, but it is related out here a little). Getting closer to slack tide will help, although the wind can mess up plans.
3. With the wind behind you heading out (usually it’s not, but every once in awhile) from the HB visitor center I’ve made it out to the island in as quick as 45 mins (in an inflatable kayak). Normal time is about 1.5 - 2 hrs.
4. It can be buggy on the paddle and on the island when the sun goes down and/or the wind dies. Like, little biting flies. Lots of them. Bring a buff, long sleeves, pants, bug spray, even sunglasses to keep them out of your eyes on the paddle if the wind dies. If there’s wind it’s not an issue at all. Don’t leave too early in the morning if the wind is dead…bugs!
5. Very low tide can make it challenging getting into the final part of the paddle, where you paddle up the final inlet and arrive at the campground (the kayak launch isn’t where the ferry drops off).
6. Definitely want to land at the official kayak landing, not the ferry dropoff area.
7. Not too many places to pull over for a break on the paddle out if the tide is high.
8. Finally, on the paddle out, when you hit the “long boring straight away” (as we call it), you’re almost there:)

Have fun and paddle safe!
-Paul ETC

Reply
Jess
10/16/2023 07:41:38 am

Hello!

My friends and I are camping out on Bear Island the first week in November! We’d like to bring our dogs, is there any other way you’d recommend getting our dogs out there besides a kayak?

Thanks!

Jess

Reply
Paul link
10/16/2023 08:10:12 am

Jess, Kayak is probably best if launching from Hammock’s Beach…however, Pogies does offer affordable powerboat boat drop off and pickup to Bear Island (or they have in the past)…I would reach out to them (they’re in Swansboro). -Paul

Reply



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