Fort Macon State Park

Ashley and I also had the opportunity to visit and explore was Fort Macon State Park, near Emerald Isle North Carolina. Ashley and I both loved visiting Fort Macon and learning about the history of the fort during the Civil War and its use in World War II. The area surrounding the fort was newly renovated when we visited and it was very nice and we both highly recommend a visit to Fort Macon especially for history buffs.

Directions to Trailhead: Fort Macon State Park is located in Carteret County on the eastern end of Bogue Banks. From I-95, take US 70 east to Morehead City, and turn south on Atlantic Beach Causeway. Cross the bridge to Atlantic Beach, and turn left on NC 58. The fort is located at the tip of the island. For a map of the area click Here. For a specific map of the Fort Macon State Park click Here.

Description of Hike: This is not so much of a true hike, but is more of an outdoor adventure in Coastal North Carolina. There is currently no cost to enter and explore Fort Macon State Park. Visiting Fort Macon is well worth the visit and will take you back to a different period in American History. There is minimal elevation gain to exploring the fort. However, there are stairs at the fort and some of them are rather steep (Fort Macon was designed for war, not tours, so be careful when using the stairs). Your walk will be under a mile to explore the fort, however a majority of that time will be outside so make sure to use sunscreen, inspect repellent, and maybe bring water on a hot day. A couple of the rooms at the fort are air conditioned/heated, which will provide relief from summer heat and winter cold. For the state park brochure on Fort Macon click Here. For a map of Fort Macon State Park click Here.

Further Thoughts: Ashley and I really enjoyed our trip to Fort Macon State Park. We loved exploring the fort and learning about the rich history of this area in Coastal North Carolina. Fort Macon State Park offers public access to the surf, sun, and sand of the Crystal Coast. It is located at the eastern end of Bogue Banks, one of a series of barrier islands along the North Carolina coast, the park is surrounded on three sides by water—the Atlantic Ocean, Beaufort Inlet and Bogue Sound. This area of undisturbed natural beauty is the perfect place to explore salt marshes and estuaries vital to the coastal ecosystem. But the best thing to explore is Fort Macon itself. Here, is a little history on the fort to continue reading more about the history of the fort click the link below:

The five-sided Fort Macon is constructed of brick and stone. Twenty-six vaulted rooms (also called casemates) are enclosed by outer walls that average 4 1/2 feet thick. In modern times, the danger of naval attack along the North Carolina coast seems remote, but during the 18th and 19th centuries, the region around Beaufort was highly vulnerable to attack.

Blackbeard and other infamous pirates were known to have passed through Beaufort Inlet at will while successive wars with Spain, France and Great Britain during the Colonial Period provided a constant threat of coastal raids by enemy warships. Beaufort was captured and plundered by the Spanish in 1747 and again by the British in 1782. To continue reading about the history of Fort Macon click Here. Additionally, if you are looking for a list of activities click Here.

Ashley and I both highly recommend a visit to Fort Macon State Park. It is very educational and is something that the whole family will enjoy doing together and best of all it is Free!

Rating: Elevation Gain: Minimal (Very Easy), Distance: 1 Mile Roundtrip (Easy).

Time to Complete Hike: 1 - 2 hours.


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