Fort Fisher State Recreation Area
Fort Fisher State Recreation Area is just 7 miles away from Carolina Beach State Park- making them perfect pair for a weekend trip. Carolina Beach State Park was our third and this is our fourth park in our 2025 North Carolina State Park Challenge.
The main attraction is the 5 miles of beach that is split into a pedestrian and 4WD beach. The pedestrian entrance has bathrooms, showers, and spigots to wash off your feet. Dogs are allowed on the beach year round (as long as they are on a leash). but watch out for their paws on the hot sand during the summer! Because the pedestrian beach (and parking at the Park) is free, during peak months it fill us quickly. To access the 4WD beach, you’ll need to check in at the Park Office to pay $20/day on week days and $30/day for the weekend. You can also get an annual pass for $150/year.
The only hiking trail off the beach is the Basin Trail. A 2.2 mile round trip trail that crosses multiple boardwalks through a marsh eco-system to an observation deck with views of the Cape Fear River and Zeke’s island. Keep your eyes open on your hike to the observation deck, we saw lots of Sand Fiddler Crabs and shorebirds. Make sure to wear bug spray as this trail does go through a marsh. We took this trail early in the day to try to avoid the hottest part of the day with all the bugs, then after a quick break headed over to the beach to cool off.
There aren’t a whole lot of areas that offer shade in the park, but there is another bathroom, some vending machines, and benches outside the park office- for us this was the perfect place to cool off in the shade (and reapply some sunscreen) before heading back out!
Park Details:
ADDRESS: 1000 Loggerhead Road, Kure Beach NC 28449
HOURS: November-February: 8am-6pm
March & October: 8am-7pm
April-May & September: 8am-8pm
June-August: 8am-9pm
VISITOR CENTER: Open daily 8am-5pm
PASSPORT STAMP: At the Park Office in the Visitor Center
ENTRANCE FEE: No fee
TRAILS:
ACTIVITIES: Hiking, Paddling, Swimming, Fishing, and 4WD Beach Driving
DOG RULES: Dogs are allowed on the beach year round as long as they are on a leash. Dogs are not allowed in park buildings. Please pick up after your pet.
Check out our videos about this Park on instagram @axel.theadventurepup
