When you re kayaking in the quieter waters of the sounds, your kayak may not need them. But with foot pedals, you can pull the rudder to one side or the other while delivering a powerful stroke to propel the kayak straight ahead. This combination of islands, just across Taylor Creek in Beaufort, is actually called the Rachel Carson Estuarine Sanctuary. It s a habitat for wild ponies and flocks of shorebirds. Coastal Kayak Outfitters, located on the Beaufort waterfront,rents kayaks and provides life jackets.
Bear Island is home to one of North Carolina s prettiest beaches, Hammocks Beach.
The only way to get there is by ferry or by paddling. A part of the North Carolina state park system, it is closely monitored because the giant loggerhead turtle, an endangered species, nests there. It s possible to kayak to Bear Island and then camp there. The North Carolina park service has marked the three-mile kayak trail with a series of 24 markers that will lead you through the marshes and tidal flats. On your trip, you will see a wealth of shorebirds, as well as crab pots and scallop beds.