North Carolina State Parks

Fort Fisher

PO Box 243, Kure Beach, NC 28449 · (910) 458-5798 · E-mail

Enjoy a leisurely day at the ocean shore. Comb the beach for sea stars, keyhole urchins and whelk shells. Or, simply lie back on the sand and enjoy the aerial acrobatics of seagulls, terns and brown pelicans as they soar above the waves. You may want to venture into the mud flats and marshes to watch sandpipers and other shorebirds as they search for food. Learn about endangered species. Loggerhead sea turtles, piping plovers and other rare species nest along this sandy shore. Explore the North Carolina coast; visit Fort Fisher State Recreation Area. This stretch of pristine shoreline offers many enjoyable activities.

Located on the southern tip of Pleasure Island near Wilmington, Fort Fisher lies between the Atlantic Ocean on the east and the Cape Fear River on the west. Here are miles of white, sandy beach for sunning, swimming and fishing. The salt marsh, tidal creeks and mud flats form a natural outdoor laboratory exhibiting the wonders of a coastal environment.

Fishing

Common ocean catches include bluefish, puppy drum and Virginia mullet. Spot and flounder share the estuary with numerous shellfish.

Hiking

Explore Fort Fisher State Recreation Area by foot. A short trail meanders through the marsh, allowing hikers a chance to view sound-side flora and fauna.

Off-Road Vehicles

For visitors wishing to fish, sunbathe or view nature in the southern portions of the park, four-wheel-drive vehicles are allowed to operate within a limited corridor along the beach, at certain times of the day and with a valid permit ($10 per day or $40 for annual permit allowing unlimited visits). Drivers must follow designated routes, avoiding dunes, vegetation and marked nesting areas. Only registered motor vehicles are allowed in the four-wheel-drive access area (no ATV's). Exercise caution, portions of the access may flood at high tides; soft sand and sharp drop-offs are common.

Swimming

More than seven miles of beach provide all of the sun, sand, sea and sky you can soak up in a day. Experience the ocean away from the crowds; walk along on one of the few remaining undeveloped stretches of shoreline on our southern coast.

From the recreation area parking lot, an elevated boardwalk leads over the sand dunes to the beach. The adjacent visitor's center includes a refreshment stand that is open during summer months, the park office, nature exhibits and restrooms. Lifeguard service is provided in a designated ocean swimming area from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

For more information visit: North Carolina State Parks - Fort Fisher State Recreation Area