Outdoor Recreation:

Parks and Activities:

There is a plentiful amount of outdoor activities that can be done while in Brunswick County. Including:

• Bird Watching – More than 200 species of birds can be seen in the area, including the wood stork. Visit the Twin Lakes Section of Sunset Beach or Bird Island for prime bird watching. Battery Island, managed by the National Audubon Society, rests in the middle of the Cape Fear River and is a nesting area for ibises and pelicans.
• The Green Swamp – This area is 15,000 acres preserved by the Nature Conservancy and is known for dense vegetation and wildlife. The Swamp is home to endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers and black bears. You can also find 14 species of carnivorous plants, including the Venus flytrap, here. For a trail map and driving directions, visit www.nature.org or call 910.395.5000.
• Ev-Henwood Nature Preserve – This 174-acre area is located near Winnabow and features 15 trails. Ev-Henwood is open to the public for hiking, photography, bird watching, nature appreciation and research. Visit www.uncw.edu/ba/pplant/arboretum/evhen.html or call 910.962.3107 for more information.
• Oak Island Nature Center and Ocean Education Center – The Nature Center offers live animals on display, movies, games, activities, walking trails, a floating dock, a T dock and a sheltered picnic area. The Ocean Education Center features information about the Sea Turtle Protection Program, movies, games and create your own Pet Rock. Call 910.278.4747 for more information.
• Boiling Spring Lakes Preserve – The Preserve encompasses 6,600 acres, including a three mile nature trail. This area is owned by the State of North Carolina and managed by the Nature Conservancy. For a trail map and driving directions, visit www.nature.org or call 910.395.5000.
• Southport Trail – The Southport Historical Society’s Southport Trail is a self-guided one mile walk through the city that winds around the riverfront to the Southport Marina. Visit the Southport Visitors Center for more information.
• Holden Brothers Produce, Inc. – Pick-your-own tomatoes, strawberries and more are offered in-season. You can also buy fresh produce and specialty items. Call 910.579.4500 for more information.

Throughout our county, there are seven public parks.

• Leland Community Park – 910.371.9606 1490 Village Road NE, Leland, NC
• Lockwood Folly Park – 910.754.8414 430 Green Swamp Road, Supply, NC
• Northwest District Park – 910.371.9222 1937 Andrew Jackson Hwy NE, Leland, NC
• Shallotte District Park – 910.754.7710 5550 Main Street, Shallotte, NC
• Smithville District Park – 910.457.9105 8340 River Road SE, Southport, NC
• Town Creek District Park – 910.253.4610 6420 Ocean Highway East, Winnabow, NC
• Waccamaw Park - 5855 Waccamaw School Road NW, Ash, NC.