Hammocks Beach State Park, North Carolina, is located on Bear Island, just off the coast of NC. It is accessible by a ferry that docks near the Hammocks Beach State Park office and ferry dock in Onslow County, between Jacksonville and Morehead City, at 1572 Hammocks Beach Rd in Swansboro. The park is operated and maintained by the North Carolina Division of Parks & Recreation. The park can also be visited on private boats.
The schedule of the ferry to the park changes frequently with changes in the migration of sand in the channel between shore and the island. Small craft like canoes and kayaks can reach the island and navigate a marked marsh trail at the park.
The park is open from 8 AM to 6 PM daily, although in June through August it stays open until 7 PM. The park closes for Christmas Day.
The park is centered on a barrier island that hosts over 3 miles of beach. There are large sand dunes, a salt marshland and a maritime forest.
Hammocks Beach State Park, North Carolina has water and restroom facilities although from mid November through mid March they are closed to prevent the plumbing from freezing in the cold. There is an elevated bathhouse and a concession stand that sells a minimum of basic snack food.
Permits for camping can be obtained from the Park Office throughout the year. While fires are not permitted on the island, propane and backpack stoves are allowed.
Fishing is especially rewarding in the fall, although fish may be caught throughout the year, among them are flounder and trout. North Carolina requires a Coastal Fishing License.
There is a designated swimming area at the park where lifeguards are on duty from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
The park area served as a base for Native Americans launching dugout canoe raids against mainland colonial settlers from 1711 up until the middle of the 1700s. Later, the island where the park is located continued to have military importance as it served as a confederate defense against the Union in the Civil War. In the20th Century it was used as a US monitoring base on the lookout for German U-Boats in the Second World War.
In 1964 the Hammocks Beach State Park, North Carolina, first opened. Every year thousands of visitors come here. The abundant wild creatures that may be seen at the park include gray foxes, raccoons and deer as well as sea turtles, porpoises and sand sharks. The island where the park is located is about 3.5 miles long and a half mile wide.
There are no advance reservations for the 14 campsites. There is a small fee for camping and the campsites are limited to 6 people at each one.
