Kayaking and Camping on Masonboro Island in North Carolina

Have you ever wanted to camp out on an uninhabited barrier island in the Outer Banks of North Carolina? Then kayaking to Masonboro Island for an overnight camping trip is for you.

Masonboro Island is the southernmost uninhabited barrier island in North Carolina. The 8.4-mile beach stretches the length of the narrow island between Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach. To have the pristine beach all to yourself in the morning is an incredible experience. A friend and I kayaked out to the island and camped overnight to explore the beaches and the salt marshes.

When is the best time to kayak and camp on Masonboro Island?

The spring is an excellent time to kayak to the Masonboro Island Reserve due to the bird life. The birds are in full migration so you can identify many flying through. Also, the summer crowds have not arrived so you can have a chance to have the whole beach to yourself.

Visiting in the fall is also advised. The water temperatures are warm and the mosquitos have moved on. Collecting shells is excellent after the fall storms have pitched them up on the beach.

How do you get to Masonboro Island?

The only way to access the remote island is by boat. There is a ferry in the summer, but the best way to arrive is by paddle craft. Kayaking through the narrow estuaries is adventurous and full of glimpses of nature. You could also contact a local boater to bring you over but this post is about kayaking over.

Launch sites for the paddle over to Masonboro Island are at Trails End Boat Ramp on
621 Trails End Road, and the Municipal Marina in Carolina Beach. Wrightsville Beach also has a boat ramp to use to access the north end of the island. Trails End Park is directly across from the middle of Masonboro Island so it is a particularly good put-in to explore the middle or north end of the island. Put in at the Municipal Marina if you want to camp on the south end of the island.

Kayaking to Masonboro Island

We put in at the Trails End Park boat ramp. Since there is no overnight parking at the ramp, we had a friend drop us off and pick us up. After launching we crossed into the Intracoastal Waterway behind the dredging spoils islands that were in front of the ramp. From experience, we knew to stick to the side of the waterway as the speeding motorboat traffic is no match for a tiny kayak.

Most people kayaking and camping out on Masonboro Island head north (left) to the Big Bay area. There is a well-used landing on the back of the dunes and camping on the beach. However, since we wanted to explore some of the tidal estuaries and camp among the trees for shade, we headed south (right) from the Trails End ramp. We ducked into one of the larger channels in the salt marsh and followed the estuaries until they ended at a beautiful stand of red cedar trees. There were signs of previous camping on the sandy area near the trees so we set up camp there. The beach was a pleasant five-minute walk away.

Pay attention to the tides when kayaking to Masonboro Island

Since many areas around Masonboro Island turn into mud flats at low tide, it’s important to coordinate your paddling with the tide. Start your kayaking trip with the rising tide so you will arrive at the island around high tide. If you are camping, you will need to wait for another high tide to leave the island so plan accordingly. This is especially true in the estuaries which become oyster shell-laden mud flats starting at the half tide.

Beware of storms when kayaking to Masonboro Island

Masonboro Island and the surrounding salt marshes offer little protection from fierce storms. In a lightning storm, you are the highest point and there is no shelter on the island. Check the weather report before you go and don’t hesitate to change plans if a storm is forecast.

If you are on the island, listen for the thunder. If the time between the lightning flash and thunder rumble is less than 30 seconds, seek cover. Find the lowest point and crouch low. Separate from other people in your party to prevent ground currents from spreading to everyone in the group.

On the plus side, the shelling on the beach is excellent after a storm. Plan to arrive after a big storm is over if you can.

Kayak rental

If you don’t have your own boats, there are local rentals available. Both Manhanaim Adventures and Wrightsville Beach Kayak rent kayaks and the necessary gear. They will shuttle the gear to the put-in as well.

I did a trip with Manhaim Adventures kayaking the Three Sisters Swamp so I can attest to the quality of their boats and paddling gear.

Camping on Masonboro Island

Kayak camping on a remote island requires more planning than simple car camping. For one, you have to fit all your gear, food, and water in the kayak. My section on sea kayaking camping gear will give you good ideas about gear for packing light.

You also need to bring all your water with you. Plan on one gallon per person for each 24-hour period.

You are primitive camping so there are no water sources or port-a-potties. Make sure to practice Leave No Trace on the island by disposing of waste properly. Carry out all litter.

When selecting a campsite, choose one that has prior use. Camp on durable surfaces such as sand. However, don’t camp in the dunes. Dunes have vegetation that anchors them in place. It’s critical to protect that plant life by not camping or walking on dune vegetation.

Some areas in the dunes are seasonally closed off to protect nesting birds. Oystercatchers, willets, terns, black skimmers, and Wilson’s plovers have camouflaged ground nests that you could easily step on when walking in the dunes.

We enjoyed camping on the sand under a copse of red cedar trees and yaupon holly shrubs. We made our meals on a small camp stove in the shade of the trees. A short walk carefully through the dunes brought us to the beach on the wild Atlantic. It was exhilarating to be the only one on 8.4 miles of deserted beach.

The tiny sanderlings darted in and out of the surf like frantic wind-up toys. Oystercatchers with bright orange bills scolded us. Willets called as they flew up and down the beach. And pelicans dove for their dinner. We didn’t see any sea turtles but they are resident on the island. Both the rare diamondback terrapin and the loggerhead sea turtle can be found.

We did see periwinkle snails attached to the salt grass in the dewy morning. There were hundreds of them. It turns out these snails are the favorite food of the diamondback terrapin.

Sea Kayaking Gear for Camping on Masonboro Island

I use a systems approach to what I bring on a sea kayaking overnight camping trip. My post on The Best Gear for Fantastic Sea Kayaking Camping Adventures will explain the systems in greater detail. Briefly, this is the equipment I bring on an overnight camping trip on Masonboro Island.

Shelter system: Tent and cooking tarp

Sleeping system: Sleeping bag, sleeping pad, camp pillow

Camp kitchen system: Camp stove, pot set, kitchen knife, spice kit, thermos, camp chair

Storage system: Dry bags, chart case, phone case

Accommodation in the Carolina Beach

The put-in for the kayak trip is a short drive from Carolina Beach. After our kayak camping trip to Masonboro Island, I stayed in the area to explore outdoor adventures.

I stayed in a fabulous condo near Freeman Park Beach in Carolina Beach. The property had a pool, tennis courts, and a dedicated private trail to the beach.

There are also ample accommodations in historic Wilmington that are tempting. This small city has endless charm and beauty. Its position on the Cape Fear River adds a nautical vibe to a visit there.

Part of the time I also camped at Carolina Beach State Park. The park has spacious, shaded campsites with centrally located bathhouses in each camping circle. Park entry is free for everyone and there is a senior citizen discount to camp. Wheelchair-accessible campsites and cute camping cabins are also available. The helpful park staff called me back to say a campsite was available when they had all been booked. The trail network at the park is diverse with a hike to a huge sand dune, plus hiking beside the water and through the upland forest. The best hike is the Flytrap Trail to view Venus flytraps and other carnivorous plants. The Venus flytraps only live in the subtropical wetlands within 70 miles of the park.

Related post -> 25 Best Kayaking Day Trips in the US

Wrap Up of Kayaking and Camping on Masonboro Island

Kayaking out to Masonboro Island and primitive camping for the night has been a favorite of locals for many years. When the island reserve was created, the local custom was preserved. Now, careful use of the island for recreation will mean that generations of campers will be able to enjoy the remote natural beauty of the largest uninhabited barrier island on the southern coast of North Carolina.

The island provides many opportunities for research on the unique habitats of salt marshes, maritime forests, sand dunes, and nesting birds and turtles, among others. The island is a perfect example of how recreation and research can be in harmony.

The whole coast of North Carolina has so many outdoor adventures. Kayaking and camping out on Masonboro Island is certainly a highlight for any outdoor adventure seeker.

If you are in the Wilmington area, another fabulous paddling trip is kayaking through the Three Sisters Swamp on the Black River. There are also many fun things to do in Wilmington as it’s a lovely visitor-friendly city.

Related posts:

Amazing Sea Kayaking Adventures on Grand Manan Island

Amazing Sea Kayaking in Sian Ka’an on the Yucatan Peninsula

Sea Kayaking in the Whitsunday Islands in Australia

Best Kayaking Trip to See the Flamingos of Celestun 

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