Carolina Beach State Park Trails
Carolina Beach State Park was named Regional State Park of the Year in 2015. With some of the best fishing in North Carolina, private camping areas, miles of hiking trails, and unique habitats, Carolina Beach State Park is a popular coastal attraction for locals and tourists alike.
The Carolina Beach State Park Trails are some of the most beautiful in the area. Totaling almost 9 miles, hikers will see a variety of distinct habitats with diverse plants and animals while soaking up plenty of sunshine. In this guide, we are going to highlight all of the trails that Carolina Beach State Park has, their distance, difficulty, and distinct features.
Hikers are encouraged to download a park map offline or pick one up at the visitor center. Many of the trails overlap at certain points, so be sure to take note of the trail’s blaze on signposts. Also, during the summer months, insects are prevalent so please wear bug repellent while in the woods. We hope you enjoy your time on the Carolina Beach State Park Trails.
Remember, entrance into the Carolina Beach State Park is always free!
Campground Trail
The Campground Trail loops through a sandhill forest on the edge of the coast with longleaf pines and live oaks predominantly.
Length: 1-mile loop
Difficulty: easy
Blaze: blue circle
Trailhead: Visitor Center
Surface: natural and sand
Accessibility: Hiking only
Carolina Beach TRACK Trail
The Carolina Beach TRACK Trail is a smaller section of the Snow’s Cut Trail. This trail is designed to be a self-guided trail for kids.
Length: 0.25 miles one way
Difficulty: easy
Blaze: red diamond
Trailhead: Picnic Area or Campground near campsite #20
Surface: natural and sand
Accessibility: Hiking only
Fitness Trail
The Fitness Trail loops around the Carolina Beach Recreation Center and has exercise and activity stations throughout.
Length: 1-mile loop
Difficulty: easy
Blaze: yellow circle
Trailhead: 7th Street
Surface: gravel
Accessibility: Hiking and biking, wheelchair accessible
Flytrap Trail
The Flytrap Trail features some of the unique plant habitats of the Carolina Beach State Park. Hikers will see venus flytraps and wildflowers along the end of the trail in the pocosin wetlands. Please keep on the trail to avoid damaging these fragile ecosystems.
Length: 0.5-mile loop
Difficulty: easy
Blaze: orange diamond
Trailhead: Parking area on Nature Trail Lane
Surface: natural and boardwalk
Accessibility: Hiking and wheelchair accessible
Oak Toe Trail
The Oak Toe Trail is a branch off of the Sugarloaf Trail. This trail leads to the Marsh Overlook with a view of the Cape Fear River and brackish marsh. Hikers will see plants like the dwarf palmetto and oak toe lichen along the way. And be on the lookout for fiddler crabs scurrying across the sand.
Length: 0.25 miles one way
Difficulty: easy
Blaze: blue diamond
Trailhead: Spur off Sugarloaf Trail
Surface: natural and sand
Accessibility: Hiking only
Sand Live Oak Trail
The Sand Live Oak Trail takes hikers along the Cape Fear River and through an ancient sand dune forest at Sugarloaf Dune.
Length: 1.5-mile loop
Difficulty: easy
Blaze: yellow-green diamond
Trailhead: South of Sugarloaf Dune
Surface: natural and sand
Accessibility: Hiking only
Snow’s Cut Trail
The Snow’s Cut Trail takes hikers through a pine-hardwood forest along the Intracoastal Waterway. This trail includes the TRACK trail.
Length: 0.75 miles one way
Difficulty: easy
Blaze: red diamond
Trailhead: Picnic Area
Surface: natural and sand
Accessibility: Hiking only
Sugarloaf Trail
The Sugarloaf Trail will take hikers throughout most of the park with great bird-watching opportunities. Hikers will walk through tidal cypress-gum swamps, longleaf pine savannas, coastal fringe sandhill forests, and coastal evergreen forests.
Length: 3-miles loop
Difficulty: easy
Blaze: orange circle
Trailhead: Main Parking at end of State Park Road
Surface: natural and sand
Accessibility: Hiking only
Swamp Trail
The Swamp Trail is a branch of the Sugarloaf Trail. This trail provides hikers with views of the tidal cypress-gum swamp and brackish marsh.
Length: 0.75 miles one way
Difficulty: easy
Blaze: red circle
Trailhead: Off the Sugarloaf Trail at Group Camping Area
Surface: natural and sand
Accessibility: Hiking only
Learn more about Carolina Beach parks, attractions, restaurants, and water-sports with this Ultimate Visitor’s Guide to Carolina Beach.
We can’t wait to hear about your adventures on the Carolina Beach State Park Trails during your next stay at Golden Sands Beach Resort.