The island offers a unique experience that combines traditional seaside pastimes and nature. Take in the beautiful coastal environment, from 14 miles of pristine beaches to protected creeks and maritime forests.
The Bald Head Island Conservancy runs a variety of programs for all ages. Budding Naturalists allows kids to catch bugs and critters while the Conservancy Corps lets tweens explore island habitats.
Crab Hunting
With crisp fall mornings and evenings sandwiching warm afternoons, it’s the perfect season to enjoy Bald Head island activities or a relaxing walk along the islands 14 miles of wide beaches. Explore the maritime forest, salt marsh and tidal creek with trails provided by the Bald Head Island Conservancy. Then climb Old Baldy, North Carolinas oldest lighthouse and take in the breathtaking view!
Taking a ghost crab hunt after dark is a popular family activity. It’s more about finding and chasing than catching, since these crustaceans have good eyesight and move much faster across the sand than humans! Look for them in stretches of beach that don’t get a lot of foot traffic. Remember to release any crabs you catch a few minutes later so their gills have time to regenerate.
For a more educational experience, join a turtle walk with a naturalist from the Bald Head Island Conservancy. These guided tours are limited in number and offer a rare opportunity to observe the nesting or hatchling of these endangered sea turtles! Call for reservations. The Conservancy also offers kayaking tours, fishing school, kids camps and more!
Kayaking
The island is home to miles of pristine beaches, salt marshes, and lagoons, offering nature lovers plenty to explore. Enjoy a leisurely paddle through the tidal creeks and maritime forests, or take advantage of the many guided kayak tours offered through the Bald Head Island Conservancy. The Conservancy also offers guided birding adventures, alligator and turtle walks, and kid-friendly programs like Sea Turtle Patrol.
Surfing is a popular activity on BHI, with the waves at East Beach being especially reliable for boogie and surfing. First-time surfers can take 90-minute lessons from Coastal Urge to learn how to hang ten and feel the thrill of surfing.
BHI is also a bird watcher’s paradise, with osprey, eagle kingfisher, and herons spotted around the island’s beaches and lagoons. The Old Baldy Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse open to the public, and you can climb to the top for stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. Learn about the history of the area by taking a guided tour through Smith Island Museum. Then relax with a couples massage at the Island Retreat Spa for a truly rejuvenating experience.
Hiking
Bald Head Island is a unique, beautiful coastal destination with plenty of activities for your entire family. There are miles of beaches perfect for relaxing, swimming, and sunbathing, along with scenic golf courses and pretty beach homes.
Take a walk on the Maritime Forest Trail, which is a 3-mile loop great for walking, jogging, or biking. You can also explore the winding creeks and wetlands on a kayak tour offered by Coastal Urge or Riverside Adventure Co.
Learn more about the natural beauty of BHI by taking a guided nature tour from the Bald Head Island Conservancy. Their weekly programs include excursions to different habitats on the island, birding adventures, 2-hour guided kayaking tours, fishing schools, night surf fishing, and kids camps. You can also join a turtle walk during nesting season to see the newly hatched baby loggerheads scramble from their nests towards the ocean! (This occurs between the first week of June and September). This is a truly memorable experience.
Bird Watching
A nature lover’s paradise, this barrier island is home to a wide variety of birds. Bird-watching opportunities are easy to come by, with a hike along the half-mile Kent Mitchel Nature Trail or kayaking through the marshes of Bald Head Woods and Fishing Creek.
Bald Head Island is also an important nesting ground for loggerhead sea turtles. In early August and September, join a guided turtle walk with the Bald Head Island Conservancy.
If you’re traveling with kids, check out the Conservancy’s Kid Adventure Programs. Budding Naturalists camps for kids ages 4-6 give young explorers the chance to catch bugs and critters, hold snakes and make island-oriented crafts. Junior Scientists, a program for rising 2nd-6th graders, lets children kayak, go on a nature hike and learn about the sea turtles that call this coastal sanctuary home.
Spring and fall are quieter times to visit, when the crowds are smaller and temperatures hover in the high 60’s. Coastal Urge and Riverside Outdoor Recreation offer kayak rentals for the day or week, while a two-hour guided kayak tour of Bald Head Creek or Fishing Creek is also available through the Conservancy.
Tours
The island’s natural beauty and wildlife are best explored with a guided tour. The Bald Head Island Conservancy has a host of weekly tours and programs, from birding adventures to 2-hour kayaking trips. Guided by expert naturalists, these excursions will take you to different habitats and teach you about the flora and fauna of this unique island.
Whether you’re interested in history, the environment or a little bit of both, a tour is a great way to learn more about the area. A must-see is Old Baldy Lighthouse, the island’s most recognizable landmark, which you can visit through a variety of tours. If you’re up for the challenge, climb the 108 steps to reach the top for breathtaking views of the coast.
With 14 miles of pristine beaches, there’s no shortage of places to relax and soak up the sun. The waters at East Beach are known for their waves and boogie boarding, while South Beach has calmer waters perfect for shelling and strolling. The island is also a great place to sail, with the gentle breezes creating an idyllic setting for both kids and adults to experience the joy of sailing.
