Carolina Beach State Park – Sand Live Oak Trail

The Sand Live Oak Trail at Carolina Beach State Park is an easy 1.5-mile quasi-loop that splits off from the Sugarloaf Trail and takes you into one of the park’s quieter areas. If you want a more peaceful walk away from the crowds, this trail is a great choice. One end connects to the Sugarloaf Dune, so you can easily add a visit to this well-known spot.

The trail winds along the Cape Fear River through an old sand dune forest, where tall sand live oaks form a twisted canopy above. This special area shows off the park’s long natural history and stands out from the pine and pocosin areas you’ll see elsewhere. Along the way, you’ll find spots with great views of the river, perfect for stopping to enjoy the scenery.

The trail is mostly easy and accessible, but it has the most elevation gain in the park at about 95 feet. This gives hikers a bit more variety as the path goes up and down through the old dunes.

If you want some quiet time, want to explore the park’s different habitats, or just enjoy walking among old trees, the Sand Live Oak Trail gives you a memorable hike and shows a new side of Carolina Beach State Park.