Every doorway to the sand, pinned and described. A map and directory that grow one visit at a time, yours included.
Open the mapThe island numbers its beach accesses, starting at 1 on the northwest side and wrapping the whole shoreline. Every access we've cataloged with confirmed coordinates is pinned below. Tap a pin for what's there, or read the full directory further down.
35 of 35 cataloged accesses are pinned so far. The same pins, alongside dining, trails, and the lighthouse, sit on the full island map.
Each entry lists only what's been confirmed first-hand, with the date it was last checked, and the form below feeds what you know back into the guide.
West Beach
Features not yet cataloged.
The furthest north public beach access on West Beach. West Beach faces the Cape Fear River, so the water is calmer and better suited to wading and other activities than to surfing.
West Beach
Features not yet cataloged.
A public West Beach access. West Beach faces the Cape Fear River, so the water is calmer and better suited to wading and other activities than to surfing.
West Beach
Features not yet cataloged.
A public West Beach access on the north side of the marina access inlet. West Beach faces the Cape Fear River, so the water is calmer and better suited to wading and other activities than to surfing.
West Beach
Features not yet cataloged.
A public West Beach access on the south side of the marina access inlet. West Beach faces the Cape Fear River, so the water is calmer and better suited to wading and other activities than to surfing.
West Beach
A public West Beach access near public restrooms and the marina restaurants. West Beach faces the Cape Fear River, so the water is calmer and better suited to wading and other activities than to surfing.
West Beach
Features not yet cataloged.
A public West Beach access off Green Teal Trail. West Beach faces the Cape Fear River, so the water is calmer and better suited to wading and other activities than to surfing.
West Beach
Features not yet cataloged.
A public West Beach access off Seagull Trail. West Beach faces the Cape Fear River, so the water is calmer and better suited to wading and other activities than to surfing.
West Beach
Features not yet cataloged.
A public West Beach access off Cape Fear Trail; the furthest south on West Beach. West Beach faces the Cape Fear River, so the water is calmer and better suited to wading and other activities than to surfing.
South Beach
Features not yet cataloged.
A public South Beach access on the bend toward West Beach, off Sand Piper Trail.
South Beach
A public South Beach access near the Bald Head Island Country Club, off South Bald Head Wynd. A wooden staircase and walkway carry you over the dune to the sand.
South Beach
A public South Beach access off South Bald Head Wynd, with handicap access.
South Beach
Features not yet cataloged.
A public South Beach access off South Bald Head Wynd.
South Beach
A public South Beach access off Starrush Trail, with turn-out parking and wooden stairs and a walkway over the dune.
South Beach
Features not yet cataloged.
A public South Beach access off Sandspur Trail.
South Beach
Features not yet cataloged.
A public South Beach access off Sandspur Trail.
South Beach
Features not yet cataloged.
A public South Beach access off Silversides Trail.
South Beach
A public South Beach access off Silversides Trail. An emergency telephone is available nearby.
South Beach
A public South Beach access off South Bald Head Wynd. An emergency telephone is available nearby.
South Beach
Features not yet cataloged.
A public South Beach access off Peppervine Trail.
South Beach
Features not yet cataloged.
A public South Beach access off Peppervine Trail.
South Beach
Features not yet cataloged.
A public South Beach access off South Bald Head Wynd.
South Beach
Features not yet cataloged.
A public South Beach access off South Bald Head Wynd.
South Beach
Features not yet cataloged.
A public South Beach access off Brown Pelican Trail.
South Beach
Features not yet cataloged.
A private South Beach access.
South Beach
Features not yet cataloged.
A private South Beach access.
South Beach
Features not yet cataloged.
A private South Beach access.
South Beach
Features not yet cataloged.
A private South Beach access.
South Beach
Features not yet cataloged.
A public South Beach access off South Bald Head Wynd. The walk crosses more grass than sand and can be buggy.
South Beach
Features not yet cataloged.
A public South Beach access off South Bald Head Wynd. The walk crosses more grass than sand and can be buggy.
South Beach
A public South Beach access off South Bald Head Wynd. An emergency telephone is available nearby.
South Beach
Features not yet cataloged.
A private South Beach access; the furthest access east before the Shoals Club on the point.
East Beach
A short ride down Station House Way from Access 42, close to another bend in the road, and near the Shoals Club. A wooden walkway runs all the way from the parking area over the dunes and onto the sand. Parking at the access is limited, and carts quickly line both sides of the street at this popular spot. Like the other East Beach points, the water generally runs calmer than the south side, and it's shallower here, with a long, accessible sandbar. Access 39 also puts you near the tide pools that form at the point, a favorite with families; near the pools the sandbar can sit fully exposed. Be careful, though: shifting tides can overtake the pools and the bar fast. An emergency telephone is available nearby, and Access 39 is the furthest south of the East Beach accesses.
East Beach
Features not yet cataloged.
A public East Beach access.
East Beach
Arguably one of the best access points on the island, and the last East Beach access heading north before Middle Island. It sits on the wrap-around turn where Station House Way connects with South East Beach Drive. The parking lot is large but fills during the busy season. The access itself is sand only with no wooden walkway, and the sand gets extremely hot; wear something on your feet so you aren't stranded halfway up the dune with burning feet and an armful of beach gear. Conditions vary with the weather, but East Beach generally runs calmer than the south side, with a gradual depth and a sandbar an easy reach for a comfortable swimmer. The sandbar drops off at its north and south ends. A favorite for families, and this guide's favorite sunrise surfing spot.
East Beach
Features not yet cataloged.
A private East Beach access, restricted to Middle Island residents.
There are more than forty numbered accesses on the island and we're cataloging them one at a time. If you know an access by number, what's there (boardwalk, parking, outdoor shower, a good sandbar at low tide), or just that our notes are out of date, thirty seconds in this form makes the guide better for the next visitor.
Submissions are reviewed before anything is published, and each entry shows the date it was last confirmed.