Fort Fisher State Recreation Area — Attraction in Kure Beach

Fort Fisher Recreation Area boasts five miles of beachside. Yep. That’s five glorious miles of unoccupied beach. Here’s the kicker: about four of those miles you can only access if you have four-wheel-drive. Thanks to the boyfriend, I am one of those people. Let me back up. If you have a regular town car like me, no big deal! There is a parking lot right next to the Visitor’s Center and Bathhouse. Then there is only a short walk to the beach from there. Out there you can find the real wonders of the beach without the pollutants of what you might find in a beach town. It is recommended to pack your lunch so you do not have to leave. Just be sure to clean up after yourself!

Here’s what makes Fort Fisher one of the best beaches in North Carolina: four-wheel-drive beach access. If you don’t have one, find a buddy and go. There is a $15-$20 charge depending on the day. I went ahead and got a $60 year-round pass. Before going here I never got to experience what it would be like to literally pull up to the beach. Out there, I hardly have to do anything and the beautiful part is that I’m on an untouched beach where nothing has been built to defile it. Do you know how rare that is in this state? Almost impossible! Out there I feel like it’s just me, the ocean, and some other folks who joined me. I’ve never had an issue finding a spot I liked and whenever people come to visit I am always sure to take them there. The fee paid goes to a great cause too - preserving all that beauty! Just be sure not to get stuck out there - it’s not easy to get out!

There is one official trail that runs through the maritime forrest called the Basin Trail. It is easy to navigate as it is just one trail that leads out fo the observation deck and back. This trail is flat with half of it being in the shade and the latter half of it being in the sun. My biggest recommendation for this trail is bug spray. If you’re going in the late fall to early spring, you ought to have little issue, but over the summer in that forrest is not easy. However, if you would rather skip that part of the trail, you can walk up the 4-wheel-drive road and get back on the trail where it leads out to the walkway that takes you over the water via sturdy boarded walkways. There’s usually a breeze out there so it’s an added plus!

My recommendations for the Basin Trail: Bug spray & head out in the early...

Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, just south of the town of Kure Beach and next to the historic site and aquarium, is a great place to enjoy the sun, sand, and surf in the Wilmington area. Once you turn onto Loggerhead Road of US-421, there is a large free parking area to the left. But it fills up fast, so try to arrive early. Stairs and a boardwalk lead to the Visitor Center with a concession stand that sells soft drinks and snacks and the bathrooms and rinse stations. There is also a picnic area with grills. The boardwalk leads over the dunes and to about six miles of pristine, undeveloped beach. So whether you're looking to sunbathe, swim, or play in the sand, this is a great location. Lifeguards are on duty during summer.

In addition to the beach, there is a one mile trail that leads through an interesting salt marsh and maritime forest environment. The trailhead is just past the visitor center and leads through a maritime forest then heads out to the beach, where the trail alternates between sand and boardwalks and ends at an overlook to the Basin, an artificial lagoon created by the addition of a rock jetty in the Cape Fear River. The area past the overlook is part of Zeke's Island Coastal Reserve. The trail is also great for birdwatching - herons, egrets, ibises, and pelicans can all be seen from the trail. Just before the overlook, there is an old WWII bunker where Robert E. Herrill, the hermit of Fort Fisher lived for almost 20 years.

It is also possible to hike to Bald Head Island (yes, you can hike to an island). Keep in mind that it's 8 miles one way, so rather long if you intend to hike out and back. Alternately, you could take the ferry from Bald Head Island to Southport and then to Fort Fisher. It's best to do this hike at low tide so there is more compact...

I’m a local and just called to inquire about a south end pass. A seasonal employee, Diane, answered and was horribly rude. I asked how much again to reiterate the pass cost and she said “I just told you 150.00”. I said I can’t believe you speak to customers like this. She literally hung up on me when I asked for her name and to speak to someone in charge. I can honestly say that I’ve never had such a horrible interaction while calling a business. I called back and said that I need to speak to a manager.

I spoke to the park superintendent through email and he apologized but said that she didn’t recall hanging up on me (she absolutely did and he’s insinuating that it didn’t happen), “Summer Saturdays” get so very busy so she was stressed and I called at a bad time, the number on website is for emergencies (says nothing of the sorts online, it’s the only number that comes up when you Google the rec center, customers in person take precedence over phone callers, they are so busy etc. The Super continues to say how busy he is and accountability was ignorant and at an all time low. It was interesting to read how he handles complaints or lack thereof. I’m not interested in your hectic schedule, your made up phone rules to excuse poor behavior and your 10 other excuses, but that you allow seasonal workers to hang up and be blatantly rude and then give lame excuses to...