The Crystal Coast is an 85-mile stretch of North Carolina coastline between Cape Lookout and Cape Fear. 56 miles of protected beaches are punctuated by coastal forests, historical sites, several coastal towns and one large urban center. A great destination for exploration and birdwatching!

Beaufort/Morehead have close proximity to all of these sites as well as great waterfront areas with plenty of dining, shopping, and educational opportunities.

Day 1 (Friday)

Patsy Pond Nature Trail

• This is a great quick stop right along the road, perfect for a quick hike on your way to or from the beach. This site is mostly pine habitat with flat, sandy trails. The pond looked beautiful with very clear reflections of the pine trees and clouds.
• There are three trail loops at this site: a .75 mile loop, a 1 mile loop, and a 1.9 mile loop.
• If you visit during the week, hop across the street to visit the NC Coastal Federation!

Cedar Point Tideland Trail

• This is a great site for the whole family. The trails are flat, with many boardwalks and easy to traverse. There are lots of interpretive signs about wildlife and the ecosystems at the site.
• This site has gorgeous views of maritime forest, tidal flats, and open water. The trail winds through areas with very beachy vibes, and then turns into a more heavily wooded area as well.
• We saw thousands of fiddler crabs, and lots of Osprey, various herons and egrets, gulls, and songbirds. There were cool gnarly live oak and cedar trees lining much of the trail.
• This site has two loop trails: a .6 mile loop and a 1.3 mile loop. Make sure to remember the sunscreen and bug spray, since this site has both full sun areas and heavily wooded areas.

Emerald Isle Woods

• This site is a disc golf course with trails as well as access to boat/paddle ramps. There are canoes and kayaks to rent in one area as well. The trails are relatively hilly for a coastal site, and there are great views of the marsh and sound.
• This site can be busy with disc golfers, so it is best to visit early in the morning (or after a rain storm clears out the park!)
• The trail here is a one mile loop.
• The trails here are mostly woodsy with some swampy areas as well.

Day 2 (Saturday)

Cape Lookout National Seashore

• Cape Lookout National Seashore is at least a half-day, but works best as a whole-day excursion. After breakfast and/or coffee, drive to the NPS headquarters at the end of Harkers Island to hop on the ferry. During the summer season, the ferry runs every 30 minutes from roughly 8am – 5pm. If you’re not sure what time you want to take the ferry back, schedule a later return and just hop on an earlier ferry with extra space if you decide to pack up early.
• Cape Lookout has beaches on the sound side and the ocean side, both of which have abundant space for sunbathing, playing, fishing, and just hanging out. Private boats can also anchor on the sound side.
• This site is the home of the Cape Lookout lighthouse, which can be climbed during operating hours (usually 10am-4pm). The lighthouse has amazing, sweeping views of Cape Lookout and the whole Crystal Coast. Below the lighthouse is the Keeper’s Quarters museum, which has excellent maritime history displays.
• There is also a truck shuttle service on the island that will take you through the historic Cape Lookout Village, and down to “The Point” of the cape, which has some of the country’s best opportunities for shelling. Many colonies of birds live on the point as well.

Harkers Island Nature Trail

• If you want to squeeze in a quick hike before or after Cape Lookout, stop by Harkers Island Nature Trail for some great birding in maritime forest habitat.

Day 3 (Sunday)

Fort Macon State Park

• Head to the end of Atlantic Beach Rd. for natural beauty and elaborate historical displays. From the main parking lot, you can get to beach access, nature trails, the fort, and the visitor center.
• There are a few options for nature trails: the Elliot Cones trail (3.3 miles), Yarrow’s Loop trail (XX miles), and Fisherman’s Path (0.25 miles). You can also walk along the beach from multiple access points. Tons of shorebirds hang out in the beach areas, and songbirds hang out in the trees above the nature trails.
• The fort area has excellent interpretive displays representing the use of Fort Macon over time. There are many new displays on the ground floor area of the fort, so if you have visited before, make sure to find the newer displays you haven’t seen!
• The new visitor center also has a ton of educational displays, many of which revolve around birds! Apparently, the army surgeon stationed at Fort Macon during the civil war was also a bird enthusiast and ornithologist who contributed a ton of work to early bird research.

Hoop Pole Creek Natural Area

• The trailhead for this site is located in a shopping center in Atlantic Beach. Sitting just a few yards from Atlantic Beach Coffee, this site is the perfect place to start your day.
• The short out-and-back trail winds through maritime forest with a short loop and dumps out on the edge of a salt marsh along the ICW.
• This small site packs quite a punch with beautiful views and tons of opportunities to see birds both in the forest and along the marsh. There is a small platform with benches, perfect for viewing birds or taking a few moments for relaxation before heading back down the trail.

NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores

• This is a great site for kids and adults. The aquarium has tons of information about the environment and conservation. The mountains -> coast setup is helpful for understan
• ding how waterways function throughout our state. There is even an exhibit with live owls!
• Behind the aquarium is a boardwalk overlooking the salt marsh and sound. There are binoculars and interpretive information about birds on the viewing platforms that extend from the boardwalks.
• At the end of the boardwalk, the half-mile loop trail begins. The trail is mostly flat and accessible, but there is a floating bridge you have to cross to complete the loop.

Calico Creek Boardwalk

• Stop by this site if you are in Morehead City. This would be an excellent place to start your morning with the sunrise, or a place to wind down at the end of a day with the sunset.
• Parking options are limited, so this site is best reached by foot or bicycle.
• Half of the boardwalk runs along a large cemetery.