Jeff Dorman
Best Dog Friendly Trails – Although North Carolina’s Crystal Coast is best known for our beautiful beaches and beach activities, there are also many great trails that allow you to explore the maritime forests and marshes. If you’re into the great outdoors with your dog or just want to hang out with your favorite friends, I have great news – most trails in Carteret County are dog-friendly! Here’s an amazing dog-friendly beach on Emerald Island that you won’t want to miss on your next adventure!
After a recent trip to Hilton Head, I was inspired to write a post about great trails in South Carolina, and realized I still needed to share some of my favorite trails from my hometown! Having traveled here all my life and lived here for over 10 years, I researched my favorite trails and they are all dog friendly!
Best Dog Friendly Trails
Although there are plenty of opportunities to stretch our legs in this area, we walk the same wonderful trails over and over again! Read on to discover the best dog-friendly trails in the Emerald Isle and why we love them so much!
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The Emerald Isle Forest Trail is part of the 41-acre Emerald Isle Marine Conservation Forest. The nature reserve includes forests, marshes and scenic areas along Bar Sound. There is also a disc golf course and a picnic area.
You will see the entrance to Emerald Woods and the frontage road to the right of Coast Guard Road. The trail is 2.7 miles in total and has many environments to explore along the way, including forest, sand dunes and mossy areas. My favorite part of the trail is the long dock (including the kayak raft) with the best view of the Emerald Isle Bridge on the island!
There are also great views of Bogue Sound! Watch out for deer and songbirds as you hike! The entrance to the main part of the road has a pavilion suitable for picnics and new toilets. The path is a bit steep in parts, but well maintained. The section to the pier is a combination of sidewalks and walkways and is accessible for the disabled. Several sections of the trail are narrow with moderate climbs (although you can only climb this high on the island).
We like to follow it to the far west to see some wetlands – great fun for reptiles and amphibians! Returning to the entrance via the inner path in the forest section, we often find a nice mossy area. The trail is open year-round from sunrise to sunset.
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The Cedar Point Tideland trail is our favorite! I loved it so much I even wrote my own article about the hidden gems of the Crystal Coast! The well-maintained 1.3-mile loop includes a variety of coastal environments, including marshes, tidal flats, and marine forests! There is also a short 0.6 mile inner loop that you can follow or take the outer loop for a longer route. Both roads have a relatively flat surface. I love this trail because of the wooden path over the swamp and the shallow water where the dogs get their paws wet! The trail has great views of the White Oak River and there are always plenty of shorebirds to catch the dogs’ attention! Tip: Because of its location, this road can easily flood after a heavy storm. Keep this in mind when you go to pack your bug spray, especially during the summer months!
Although not technically on the island, the dog-friendly Emerald Island Trail is just across the bridge. The trail begins at the Cedar Point Campground parking lot near Highway 58. There are washrooms and a public boat ramp in the parking lot just off the road! I prefer to take the first fork on the left when leaving the parking lot. This trail starts from most of the flats and coastal marshes. Be open to horseshoe crabs, invertebrates and raccoon tracks in the mud.
There are points where the dog can get his feet wet. You’ll wind your way down some long boards until you’re back through the sea forest making noise. The forest section of the trail has several small bridges and marsh overlooks that you will pass on your way to complete the loop. The Tidal Trail is always well maintained, human and dog friendly!
The Patsy Pond Trail runs through the Croatian National Forest and is a great way to stretch your legs in the largest longleaf pine forest in the region! There are three different trails, the longest of which is 2.9 miles. I love to walk the trail and enjoy the height of the longleaf pines towering over everything.
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If you’re lucky, there are some small ponds that attract animals like deer, foxes, lizards and even black bears! Fun fact – this area is also home to endangered amphibians, and the gopher toad depends on forest fires to survive in this unique ecosystem! Tip: Always check for supervised burns before heading out, especially in the spring and fall months.
The trail is located off Highway 24 in Newport, across from the NC Coastal Interchange. There is no water or bathroom so bring plenty of water. The trail is easy to follow, but be careful of tree roots and wear sunscreen and bug spray in the summer. The trees provide good shade, but due to their height, there are places where there is no shade! The trail is open year-round from dawn to dusk.
The Roosevelt Trail is located on the grounds of the NC Aquarium in Pine Knoll Shores. The trail is named after President Roosevelt, whose family donated the sea to the state for conservation purposes. The out and back is a total of 1.2 miles through Ocean Forest. The path crosses the ridge of an old sand dune and follows the edge of a marsh to a small, rugged beach. The Roosevelt Path is located just outside the entrance to the aquarium and is open daily until 4:30 p.m.
This dog-friendly trail is free to visit. Although there is an admission fee to the NC Aquarium, if you’re traveling to Crystal Beach with kids, you won’t want to miss it! Although the aquarium is not limited to puppies, the path welcomes them if they lead! After entering the aquarium parking lot, proceed to the end of the main aquarium entrance. There you will find a very clearly marked entrance to the main road. The trail begins in a dense coastal forest between old live oaks.
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After walking through the woods, you’ll find yourself at the tip of the island with Bogue Sound on your right and a small estuary on your left. Rivers are good places to look for turtles and lizards. At the end of the trail is a short loop that opens up to the Sound before returning to the parking lot.
The loop offers great views of the sound and is not only a great spot for bird watching, but also a great quiet swimming spot for dogs. I recommend saving this trail for the cooler months, as the trail is quite narrow, making dogs a magnet for ticks in the summer and the shady woods a haven for insects. This trail is even more enjoyable in winter and offers great views all year round!
The Elliott Quees Nature Trail is part of Fort Macon State Park and is an interesting trail near the Emerald Isle. The Elliott Coues Nature Trail is a 3.3 mile loop through the state park, the longest on my list and one of the most beautiful. The fort was built before the Civil War and was actively used during World War II. It’s fun to go to historical sites, see old cannons and learn a lot about military history. Best of all, entry is free! Although the castle itself is not dog-friendly, the surrounding area is dog-friendly, and bike rentals are available! (Note – although you should never leave your dog in a parked car, it is illegal within city limits).
The fort is located at the eastern end of the Atlantic coast. You can easily access the road from the beach car park
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