Fort Fisher

Fort Fisher State Recreation Area 1000 Loggerhead Road Kure Beach, NC 28449 910-458-5798 fort.fisher@ncparks.gov GPS: 33.9534, -77.929 Activities Location Education and Events: Rangers hold regularly scheduled educational and interpretive programs about Fort Fisher State Recreation Area. Program titles include Shell Stroll, Turtle Talk, Salt Marsh Exploration, Bird Hike and Surf Fishing Basics. Educational materials about Fort Fisher State Recreation Area have been developed for grades 4-6 and are correlated to North Carolina’s competency-based curriculum in science, social studies, mathematics and English/language arts. Contact the park office to arrange a special exploration of Fort Fisher State Recreation Area for your group or class. Fishing: Fishing is allowed on the pedestrian beach and the fourwheel drive beach. Common ocean catches include bluefish, red drum, black drum, pompano, speckled trout, and Virginia mullet. Spot and flounder share the estuary with numerous shellfish. Fishing is best in the spring and fall seasons. All coastal recreational regulations and licenses apply. Hiking: Explore Fort Fisher State Recreation Area by foot. Enjoy a leisurely or brisk walk on our five miles of beach, or take a stroll down the Basin Trail. This trail meanders through the marsh and the Maritime Forest and ends at the overlook of the Cape Fear River and Zeke’s Island. Off Road Vehicles: For people wishing to fish, sunbathe or study nature in the southern portions of the park, four-wheel-drive vehicles are allowed to operate along the beach within a limited corridor. Drivers must follow designated routes, avoiding dunes, vegetation and marked nesting areas. Only registered motor vehicles are allowed on the four-wheel-drive beach access (no ATVs). Exercise caution. Portions of the access may flood at high tides. Soft sand and sharp drop-offs are common. Swimming: Five miles of beach provide all of the sun, sand, sea and sky you can soak up in a day. From the recreation area parking lot, an elevated boardwalk leads over the sand dunes to the beach. The adjacent visitor center includes a refreshment stand that is open during summer months, the park office, nature exhibits and restrooms. Lifeguard service is provided in a designated ocean swimming area from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Please obey the warning signs and flags. A red flag indicates severe conditions. Swimming is not permitted under red flag conditions. Picnicking: Whether for a group gathering or a relaxing lunch getaway from work, 23 picnic tables with grills are available on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no fee for their use. Some tables are ADA accessible. Fort Fisher State Recreation Area is located in New Hanover County five miles south of Carolina Beach. From Wilmington, follow U.S. 421 through the towns of Carolina Beach and Kure Beach. Turn left on Loggerhead Road. The recreation area may also be reached from Brunswick County via the Southport-Fort Fisher ferry, which crosses the Cape Fear River. Park Hours North Carolina State Parks are open every day, with the exception of Christmas Day. Park hours vary with the seasons. Four-wheel drive beach access: Sept. 15 - March 14..........................................24 hours a day March 15 - Sept. 14...... Closes 30 min. before park gates Pedestrian beach access:.......................................24 hours a day Please visit the North Carolina State Park website or contact the park office for the most current information about seasonal hours, activities, alerts, camping fees, programs rules and weather. www.ncparks.gov