*The entrance to the trail is adjacent to Bojangles in Atlantic Beach* See photo below.
Visitors to Atlantic Beach may initially think that the major avenues of natural outdoor entertainment in this region exist solely along the oceanfront, but folks who look for explorations off the beaten paths will find plenty of unlikely surprises along the soundside. The Hope Creek Nature Trail is a prime example of Atlantic Beach's "wild side" which is easily accessible, seldom travelled, and more or less hidden in plain sight
The small half-mile trail may be located adjacent to a major shopping complex, but quickly leads visitors into a world of natural green landscapes and beautiful waterfront views, which are inherently peaceful, but never stray too far from Atlantic Beach's main tourism areas.
An easy walk that is shaded year-round, and can be easily tackled by hikers of all abilities and in virtually any season, the Hoop Pole Creek Nature Trail is a great way for newcomers to uncover the more secluded natural landscapes of this otherwise resort town.
The trailhead is easy to get to but a little tricky to spot, and is located just off of West Fort Macon Road, adjacent to a large shopping plaza, (the Atlantic Station Shopping Center), which features groceries, ice cream, and all the other staples of a great beachside vacation. Visitors who park along the eastern edge of the complex's parking lot, however, and look for the eastern trailhead along the wooded region, can easily start an adventure through the thick of the maritime forests, marshlands, and borders of the Bogue Sound.
From the subtly marked entrance, visitors will follow a well-trodden path that loops for a while through the forest, and features long patches of boardwalk along portions that are significantly marshy and wet in all seasons. This route, although small, is a prime representative of an estuarine ecosystem, and eventually, the trail ends at the mouth of the Hoop Pole Creek, a small estuary off the saltwater Bogue Sound, and a branch of water that was named after the "hoop pole," a long section of bark that was, centuries ago, peeled from young saplings and then used to secure the ends of wooden barrels, years before the metal "hoops" were used.
Though the trail is just a one mile round-trip hike, visitors will find ample opportunities to scope out both a variety of local ecosystems and native wild residents that call this region home. Maritime forests, salt marshes, dune ridges, and estuaries can all be found along the trail, and as a result. There's no shortage of local wildlife that can be spotted, from sky and agile deer to a wide range of butterflies, turtles, and super-speedy racing lizards.
Arguably, the Hoop Pole Creek Nature Trail is best known in bird watching circles, as the abundant range of wildlife is rare for this otherwise populated area of barrier island coastline. Naturalists exploring this trail can expect to spot a wide range of songbirds in the wooded regions, including warblers, cardinals, and mockingbirds, but the true good sightings begin with the borders of the marshy, creek front areas. Here, quiet bird watchers will capture views of herons, egrets, ibises, and a wide variety of other, long-legged shorebirds, who call this small parcel of undeveloped terrain home.
The trail is open year-round, though is most fascinating during the fall and spring months when the local bird population swells with migrating species. Visitors are encouraged to bring a camera along to capture the views, and summer or warm weather hikers should carry along plenty of bug spray as well, as this undeveloped, marshy region is a hotbed for local bugs. Snakes may make an occasional appearance, but are rarely seen along the main route, so visitors who stick to the trail should be free of any scary sightings. Water and additional supplies may come in handy, but with a locale so close to a major shopping center, patrons will find that's it's easy to reward themselves for a good hike with a cold frozen yogurt, or a soda or milkshake to go.
Visitors who want a complete overview of the trail, and of the history behind Hoop Pole Creek in general, can find more information online at http://www.nccoast.org/uploads/documents/Mediarailrailguide.pdf.
The Hoop Pole Creek Nature Trail may only take an hour or two out of an Atlantic Beach or Emerald Isle vacation, but it's a worthy exploration for any vacationing naturalist who wants to learn more about this unique coastal area. A short but thorough exploration through multiple coastal ecosystems, with some fantastic bird watching opportunities and waterfront views along the way, this sweet one-mile exploration is sure to make any newcomer fall in love with Atlantic Beach's inherent but rarely uncovered wild side.
Lawson Creek Park is an active destination that's suitable for nature lovers and outdoors fans of all genres. Encompassing a massive 140 acre site surrounded by the waters of Lawson Creek and Trent River, this park is a perfectly scenic locale that feels worlds away from the rest of Eastern North Carolina, but still has ample amenities to keep its more active visitors hard at play.
Founded in 1710 at the confluence of the Trent and Neuse rivers, New Bern was settled by Swiss and German adventurers led by Baron Christopher de Graffenried from Bern, Switzerland. New Bern is the second oldest town in the state. Royal Governor William Tryon made this seaport his colonial capitol and residence, Tryon Palace, was built in 1770.
Located in the heart of Atlantic Beach, this pet-friendly, first-floor condo is close to everything. The lifeguarded beach at the Atlantic Beach Circle is a short 5 min. walk (just 3 blocks!), as are multiple eateries, a pet-friendly biergarten w/ food, surf stores, and gift stores. We have a pool surrounded by palm trees open from May-October and complimentary parking onsite!!---THE PROPERTY---King Junior Suite unit 113 features a King bed, full bathroom with bathtub, refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, granite countertops, tile floor, and designer tropical decor. Owners have placed an HD flat screen TV in the unit for your convenience!Wanting to bring your family pets with you?No problem! All of our rooms are pet-friendly. We accept up to two dogs (no cats) per room for a pet fee of $20 per pet per nighttime.---POOL AND AMENITIES---Your suite is part of the condotel Island Inn of Atlantic Beach, which means you can savor all of the fabulous amenities this community offers. Soak up the sun and feel the beach vibes at our private-to-the-community pool surrounded by palm trees. We provide tables, chairs, loungers, pool towels, and cornhole for your relaxation and enjoyment.Savor the fast 3 block walk to the beach! When coming back from the beach, take advantage of our outdoor shower to rinse off sand from your feet and your furry friend’s paws. Need a soda or some ice? Ice is complimentary, and a soda vending machine is onsite. Wrap up the day spending some quality time and grilling out at our charcoal grille and picnic table area.---GUEST ACCESS---Park and walk to everything you need from the beach to the eateries to the surf stores! Free parking for one car onsite. Plus limited boat trailer parking available! Be sure to confirm boat trailer parking upon booking.------------------------– HOME RULES –**MUST BE 21 YEARS TO BOOK.PET POLICYPlease let us know if you will be bringing your pet with you. We accept up to two dogs (no cats) per room for a pet fee of $20 per pet per nighttime. The pet fee is not supplied in the total price and is a separate transaction that is collected prior to check-in. Animals cannot be left unsupervised in a room unless crated, and they also must be kept on a leash when in the hotel common areas. Guests are responsible for cleaning up after their pet on hotel property and in the neighborhood. The use of hotel towels or linen to clean pet's urine and feces is not allowed. Please contact the front desk if you need additional cleaning materials to clean your dog's mess. Guests agree to be held accountable and will accept all liability for damages suffered. The hotel reserves the right to charge guests in excess of $100.00 for the cost of any damages.SMOKING POLICYALL rooms at this hotel are non-smoking. Smoking will not be allowed in any of the rooms. A penalty of $200.00 will be applied to a guest bill for violating this policy.DAMAGE POLICYWe reserve the right to charge guests the cost of rectifying any damage caused by the deliberate, negligent, or reckless acts of guests to the hotel’s property or structure. Should this damage come to light after the guest has departed, we reserve the right to make a charge to the guest’s credit/debit card or send an invoice for the amount to the registered address. We will however make every effort to rectify any damage internally prior to contracting specialists to make the repairs, and therefore will make every effort to keep any costs that the guest would incur to a minimum.COOKING POLICYDue to strong odors, please refrain from cooking and cleaning fish inside the rooms. A penalty of $200.00 Will be applied to a guest’s bill for violating this policy.REMOVAL OF HOTEL PROPERTYWe reserve the right to charge guests the cost of replacing any items that are removed from the premises by them. The charge will be the full replacement amount of missing items, including any carriage charges. Should the fact that the item is missing come to light after the guest has departed, we reserve the right to make a charge to the guest’s credit/debit card or send an invoice for the amount to the registered address.ITEMS LEFT BEHINDItems left in rooms or on premises will be held for 24 hours. We will not be responsible for items lost or stolen.LATE CHECKOUTCheckout is at 11am for all rooms with a 10 min. leniency window before being charged $50 per person per hour. We do offer a pre-approved late checkout for a smaller fee, based on availability.OTHER DETAILS TO NOTEThere are outside security devices placed throughout the property that are on all the time.
- Atlantic Beach
- 1 Bedrooms
- 1 Bathrooms
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