Part of Hammocks Beach State Park, Bear Island is an 892-acre barrier island that has served as a Native American hunting and fishing ground, a reported hideout for 18th-century pirates -- including the notorious Blackbeard -- and a military outpost during the Civil War and World War II. Originally named "Bare Island" for its lack of vegetation -- a moniker changed by an early mapmaker -- the island's secluded sandy shoreline is now open for recreational activities such as camping, swimming and fishing.
Accessible only by a park-run passenger ferry or private vessel, Bear Island is about 3.5 miles long and a half-mile wide. The ferry terminal is at the park's main headquarters on Hammocks Beach Road, less than 3 miles west of Swansboro. The ferry charges a nominal fee and typically runs from early April to late October, with the trip to Bear Island taking about 15 minutes. Bear Island has a bulkhead where private boats may be beached or tied up. Canoeists and kayakers also can reach the island via two designated paddle routes -- a 2.6-mile run through an inlet creek or a 6-mile route that circumnavigates Huggins Island. Once on the island, it is a half-mile walk along a pebbled path from the ferry dock to the beach. Annual ferry passes are available at a discounted rate.
Bear Island is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the south, the Intracoastal Waterway and salt marshes to the north, Bogue Inlet along its eastern edge and Bear Inlet to the west. Once on the island -- which is dominated by large sand dunes and ridges but also has pockets of shrub and sections of maritime forest -- you are likely to see a wide array of wildlife along the shore and in the surrounding waters and wetlands. Animals on or around the island include deer, loggerhead turtles, foxes, raccoons, ghost crabs, bottlenose dolphins, jellyfish and a variety of shorebirds. Despite its name, the island has no resident bears. However, black bears do inhabit North Carolina's central coast, and bear tracks were spotted on Bear Island's beach in the 1990s.
Bear Island's beach is perfect for a number of activities, including shelling, fishing, sunbathing, swimming or simply a relaxing stroll along the shore. Anglers can cast their lines into the ocean or inlet creeks in search of sand sharks, bluefish, drum, flounder and trout. Facilities on the island include a bathhouse, picnic tables and a small concession operation that is open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. No ice is available on the island but may be brought in coolers.
If you'd like to stay overnight and be lulled to sleep by the sounds of the Atlantic, Bear Island has 14 primitive campsites set along the beach and Bogue Inlet. Six people and two tents are allowed on each campsite, but keep in mind that if you arrive by ferry you must carry all provisions from the dock to your campsite. Campers must bring all necessities with them from November to March, including drinking water, and always remove all trash at the end of their stay. Open campfires are not allowed on the beach, but cooking on propane stoves or charcoal grills is permitted. Campers must register ahead of time with the park office and may camp on numbered sites only. Nearby Swansboro has additional overnight options, including hotels and inns.
