Hammocks Beach State Park

Hammocks Beach State Park is home to land and water attractions. With trails to hike inland and an educational visitor’s center with interactive children’s exhibits like a digital microscope, you can enjoy the park while on land. Or, travel by boat or ferry to Bear Island and see what this park’s water attraction has to offer. A crown jewel of the North Carolina coast and Hammocks Beach State Park is Bear Island—a 4-mile-long, undeveloped barrier island accessible by the park’s passenger ferry or private ferry, or by paddling a canoe or kayak. A wide beach between massive dunes and the ocean is interrupted only by primitive campsites and a modest concession/picnic complex.  Rent or bring your own kayaks, canoes or paddle boards to explore paddling trails leading to marshes, Bear Island or Huggins Island, which is graced with unspoiled maritime forest. Interpretive programs and extensive exhibits teach about park ecology and wildlife including endangered sea turtles and nesting shorebirds.

Camping: Get in touch with your wild side with a camping trip or backpacking hike aboard Bear Island just off the shores of Hammocks Beach State Park. The island offers plenty of open space and scenic views for those wanting to really experience nature. Learn more about camping at the island – Camping at Bear Island.

Weddings: Let Mother Nature offer a backdrop for your outdoor wedding at Hammocks Beach State Park. Just minutes away from shopping and the destination waterfront in Swansboro, this park is marked by beautiful greenery and fresh beaches. Adventurous couples can even board the ferry out to Bear Island and spend their honeymoon under the stars or in a tent.