Posted in North Carolina Nature June 23, 2021 by

Walk Or Ride Alongside The Ocean On The 2.8-Mile Fort Macon Beach Trail In North Carolina

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.

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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.
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Additionally, the park has three trails to explore. The Fort Macon Beach Trail just may be the best one to begin with.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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

Address: Fort Macon State Park, 2303 E Fort Macon Rd, Atlantic Beach, NC 28512, USA