Sugarloaf Trail, Carolina Beach State Park
Clip: Special | 2m 17sVideo has Closed Captions
Take a walk along the sandy paths, riverbanks and boardwalks of the Sugarloaf Trail.
North Carolina’s coastal trails may not get as much attention as those farther inland, but they have much to offer in the way of ecological diversity and natural beauty. The Sugarloaf Trail, a three-mile loop at Carolina Beach State Park, offers a great alternative to crowded beaches nearby. Join local coastal naturalist Cathy Meyer as she explores her favorite places along the trail.
Ten to Try is a local public television program presented by PBS NC
The series was produced in partnership with the Great Trails State Coalition for the NC Year of the Trail and with generous support from the SECU Foundation.
Sugarloaf Trail, Carolina Beach State Park
Clip: Special | 2m 17sVideo has Closed Captions
North Carolina’s coastal trails may not get as much attention as those farther inland, but they have much to offer in the way of ecological diversity and natural beauty. The Sugarloaf Trail, a three-mile loop at Carolina Beach State Park, offers a great alternative to crowded beaches nearby. Join local coastal naturalist Cathy Meyer as she explores her favorite places along the trail.
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[birds singing] [upbeat music] - [Narrator] Weaving through forest canopy over marsh and dune lies the perfect coastal trail for those seeking refuge from the bustle of nearby beaches.
[footsteps crunching] Carolina Beach State Park spans nearly 800 acres along the Cape Fear River banks in Southeastern North Carolina, with almost nine miles of trails to explore, including the crown jewel, Sugarloaf Trail.
- [Cathy] The Sugarloaf Trail is a unique North Carolina trail because there are so many different ecosystems and biomes that you move through.
- [Narrator] Beginning and ending in the marina parking lot, the three-mile Sugarloaf Trail loop crosses through maritime forest, over tidal wetlands, and by riverside dunes.
[water flowing] Well marked and accessible, it's a popular spot for hikers, joggers, sightseers, birders, and nature lovers of all kinds.
As the trail parts the riverbanks, it enters a maritime forest of longleaf pine and oak.
Shade cools the air and birds flutter about in the treetops.
[bird flapping] - [Cathy] It seems like every 20 yards or so, you come around a corner and something's totally different.
- [Narrator] Be sure to check out the offshoot Flytrap Trail for a chance to see the rare carnivorous Venus flytrap in its natural habitat.
- [Cathy] There's so much diversity here at Carolina Beach State Park that I don't think people realize what they have right in their own backyard.
[laughing] It's just a great thing to do.
- [Narrator] From maritime forest to river's edge, Sugarloaf is the perfect trail to slow down and soak in the beauty of coastal Carolina at its finest.
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Ten to Try is a local public television program presented by PBS NC
The series was produced in partnership with the Great Trails State Coalition for the NC Year of the Trail and with generous support from the SECU Foundation.