Bear Island, Hammocks Beach State Park, Swansboro NC Camping

Sunset at Bear Island, Hammocks Beach State Park, Swansboro, NC.


Kids at Bear Island, Hammocks Beach State Park, Swansboro, NC...this is a very isolated place and you have to get there by ferry (pontoon boat).


Primitive camping is allowed at reserved sights.  This area is better suited for backpack camping and not car camping.  Do not bring a lot of gear because it will be a long walk from the ferry site to your campground.  I'm talking about a mile or more hike, at least it felt that way to me hauling cookers, fishing gear, tents, coolers, lanterns, etc.


Some of the most uncrowded beach in NC, Bear Island.


Kids enjoying the ferry ride out to Bear Island from Hammock Beach State Park.

Bear Island...what can I say, there's not much there, the island is bare!  You will have to make a reservation with the NC State Park system for about $25.

You will catch a pontoon boat ferry from Hammock Beach State Park.  The park main building has a little museum and gift shop there.  The areas is protected from the ocean and most of it is marshland with tall grasses.  A great place to do some salt water kayaking and fishing.  If you had a small boat, jon boat, and such you could fish it here because the waters are calm.

You should catch things such as flounder, puppy drum, croakers, spots, and speckled trout.  You could even try crabbing or shrimping with a cast net.

Once you reach Bear Island, there are some showers and bathroom facilities there, but they are not the best.  There is a shelter at the dock site and an asphalt path to the beach side of the island.  There are no cars, boats, nothing but nature on the beach.  You will have to walk another 200 to 1000 yards to your campsite.

The campsites are on the other side of the sand dunes and are protected from the wind.  They will have picnic tables there and numbers.  A park ranger will come by and check on you 100%.  It is very, very beautiful and isolated.  At the east end of the island, you will find a ton of sea shells....lots, and lots of sea shells.

Bear Island is a magnificent place...magical almost, and it's such a great feeling to have a place like this that the public can enjoy that's completely undeveloped.  Get out there and enjoy it!  Bring a surf rod if you do.