Getting There 



• By Your Own Power 

 or Water Taxi 



You don't have to be 

 Olympic-svelte to take a self- 

 propelled journey among Bear 

 Island's marshes and creeks. With 

 a reasonable amount of coordina- 

 tion, patience and good humor, 

 anyone can make the trip in a 

 canoe or kayak. Thanks to a local 

 Cub Scout troop, the trail from 

 the park office to the island is 

 clearly marked with signs on 

 pilings. It's a more sheltered route 

 than the ferry channel, so motor 

 boat traffic is minimal. You may 

 see a few fishermen checking 

 their crab pots, but other than 

 that, you'll be a small audience in 

 a watery amphitheater. If you're 

 curious, you could spend a few 

 hours going over, but the trip can 

 be made in as little as an hour. 

 The protected marsh isn't rough 

 like the ocean, but keep tabs on 

 the weather before you launch. 

 Excessive wind, rain and light- 

 ning aren't good travel partners. 



Bring your own craft or rent 

 one there. You can find several 

 rental outlets for skiffs, pontoons, 

 canoes or kayaks in Morehead 

 City, Bogue Banks or Swansboro. 

 Outside of regular ferry hours, 

 you can pay the park's licensed 

 private concessionaire for water 

 taxi service. The park's boat ramp 

 is closed to other motor traffic 

 when the ferry is operating. For 

 information, call the park office at 

 910/326-4881 or taxi operator 

 Tim Simpson at 919/393-8008. 



• By Ferry 



For a nominal fee, you can 

 enjoy a guided tour to the island 



by ferry. The park operates a 36- 

 passenger pontoon boat that treks 

 through the Intracoastal 



It operates on a limited 

 schedule April through October, but 

 daily from Memorial Day through 

 Labor Day. In the summer, arrive 

 early. The ferry departs at least 

 hourly. But when the island has filled 

 to capacity, the park stops service to 

 ensure that everyone can be returned 

 by day's end. On busy days, it's not 

 unusual for the ferry to cut off 

 service by 2 p.m. 



It's a 25-minute ride and you'll 

 likely see bottlenose dolphins, a 

 variety of marsh birds and maybe an 

 eastern diamondback terrapin coming 

 up for air. At the Bear Island dock, 

 it's a half-mile walk to the bathhouse 

 and swimming beach. Lifeguards are 

 on duty in the summer, and there are 

 drinks, snacks and cold-water 

 showers at the pavillion. At it's peak, 

 the beach is lively here, but you can 

 walk a mile in either direction and 

 find a quiet spot for surf fishing, 

 shelling or meditation. 



Dogs are prohibited on the park 

 ferry but alternate arrangements may 

 be made by private taxi. 



• Camping 



Forget those exotic tropical 

 getaways. If you like scenery and 

 solitude and can do without the frills. 



a night at Bear Island is a privilege 

 and a bargain at $5 or less. The 

 park has three group sites that can 

 accommodate 12 people each and 

 14 family sites that will hold six. 

 The daily fee at a family site is $5; 

 group sites are $ 1 per person per 

 day. During the summer and on 

 weekends throughout ferry season, 

 campsites go fast. Your best bet to 

 nab a spot is on a weekday. Only 

 affiliated civic or environmental 

 organizations may reserve 

 campsites in advance; otherwise 

 camping is first-come, first- 

 served. Maximum length of stay is 

 14 days. You must register with 

 the park office and pick up a 

 permit and parking pass to leave 

 your car in the lot overnight. If 

 you're traveling by canoe or 

 kayak, consider the location of 

 your campsite. Depending on 

 where you pull out, you may have 

 to haul your boat some distance. 

 Though there's a bathhouse in the 

 middle, camping on the island is 

 primitive. Carry water and food, a 

 first aid kit, sunscreen and bug 

 juice. Depending on the tempera- 

 ture, mosquitoes and no-see' urns 

 can spoil the mood. In case of 

 emergency, there's a phone at the 

 bathhouse. 



• Special Programs 



During the summer, there's a 

 daily program at Bear Island on 

 topics ranging from sea turtles to 

 horseshoe crabs. On the mainland, 

 you can fish from the bulkhead or 

 peruse nature displays in the park 

 office. Also, park personnel will 

 provide special presentations and 

 learning experiences for school 

 groups. For information, call 910/ 

 326-4881. □ 



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