Hiking in North Carolina is always an adventure, whether it’s in the mountains, the Piedmont, or along the coast. Prepare to enjoy swift ocean breezes and sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean when you hike (or bike!) along the Fort Macon Beach Trail in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina.

Many visitors to Atlantic Beach clamor over to Fort Macon State Park to take a tour of the historic fort and the Civil War Museum found here.
Google Maps/Bob Bruno
But a visit to the fort offers other activities as well, including a beautiful and mostly empty beach ready for a day of fun in the sun and surf.
AllTrails/J Lewis
Additionally, the park has three trails to explore. The Fort Macon Beach Trail just may be the best one to begin with.
AllTrails/Britta N

Related Stories

Hike Along Peaks And Ridges With Stunning Views On The 30-Mile Art Loeb Trail In North Carolina

Hike Along Peaks And Ridges With Stunning Views On The 30-Mile Art Loeb Trail In North Carolina

 Climb To The Top Of The Hollow Rock Trail In North Carolina For Amazing Views From High Above The Surrounding Terrain

Climb To The Top Of The Hollow Rock Trail In North Carolina For Amazing Views From High Above The Surrounding Terrain

 Take This 1.8-Mile Hike Through The Woods To Discover The Ruins Of An Old Rock House In North Carolina

Take This 1.8-Mile Hike Through The Woods To Discover The Ruins Of An Old Rock House In North Carolina
It travels nearly a mile and a half up the coast to the end of the island (where the fort is located) and passes through a wonderful maritime forest.
AllTrails/Matt Coats
One the way back, hikers can turn around and return through the forest, or... keep going and return via a nice walk (or ride) along the beachfront side of the trail.
AllTrails/Britta N
Bikers are welcome here, too. You'll want to make your way over to near the water where the sand is a bit packed down, unless you have a true beach bike with wide tires for the sand.
AllTrails/Britta N
While exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains on foot is a great hiking activity, so is exploring North Carolina's other famous terrain: the sandy coast.
AllTrails/D Turner

The Fort Macon Beach Trail is rated “easy” by AllTrails.com. The recorded elevation change is a whole 16 feet. Unfortunately, this trail is not ADA compliant. Learn more about the trail from this link on AllTrails. Find out more about Fort Macon State Park by visiting the park’s official website, here.

Looking for an amazing ADA-accessible trail in North Carolina? This Day Trip To Mount Mitchell State Park Is One Of The Best You Can Take In North Carolina

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Related Articles

Explore North Carolina

Featured Addresses
Fort Macon State Park, 2303 E Fort Macon Rd, Atlantic Beach, NC 28512, USA