Elliott Coues Nature Trail, Atlantic Beach: Photos, Reviews & Location

At a glance

#3 of 5 Tourist attractions in Atlantic Beach #3 of 3 State parks in Atlantic Beach

LocalGuideWorld score: 4.71

654.7 km from the center of Atlantic Beach

Rating breakdown

5 ★79%
4 ★15%
3 ★5%
2 ★1%
1 ★1%

2303 E Fort Macon Rd, Atlantic Beach, NC 28512, United States

ncparks.gov

+1 252-726-3775

Photos of Elliott Coues Nature Trail (110)

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Elliott Coues Nature Trail, Atlantic Beach – photo 1

Elliott Coues Nature Trail, Atlantic Beach – photo 2

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Elliott Coues Nature Trail, Atlantic Beach – photo 12

Quick facts

What is the rating of Elliott Coues Nature Trail?: Elliott Coues Nature Trail is rated 4.7 out of 5 based on 110 reviews.
How does Elliott Coues Nature Trail rank in Atlantic Beach?: Elliott Coues Nature Trail is #3 of 5 Tourist attractions in Atlantic Beach by LocalGuideWorld score (rating weighted by number of reviews).
Where is Elliott Coues Nature Trail located?: 2303 E Fort Macon Rd, Atlantic Beach, NC 28512, United States — 654.7 km from the center of Atlantic Beach.
How can I contact Elliott Coues Nature Trail?: Phone: +1 252-726-3775 · Website: ncparks.gov

Reviews (8)

Nyree Lewis 2024 Jan 24

Great trail! Can walk right up to the beach and the other parts of the trail are lined with beautiful trees and sand dunes. Very peaceful.

Sandra Ducat 2023 Nov 12

The trail is gravel and mulch. One part of the trail is a flat walk with information placs describing the area's plants, terrain and wildlife. The other side of the trail is a more rigorous hike that has gentle elevation. Both sides of the trail have plenty of trees, making the majority of the hike shady. The entire trail is 3.5 miles. We enjoyed both sides of the trail.

Randy Parsons 2023 May 20

This trail is nice, it has about everything that you would want to see. I enjoy this trail. It's not a difficult trail but it's also not for the faint at heart. Less than 4 mi through wooded areas and beach dunes. Dune area trails are packed well. Does have restrooms in the center of the journey.

JOSEPH LEONGUERRERO 2022 Dec 05

Nice place to get in a 5K along the trail. Plenty of parking and tables to picnic on. Restrooms available. Trail leads to Fort Macon. Bring water and comfortable shoes. Trail is mostly packed sand and mulch, with some portions paved near the fort.

Ken P 2022 Aug 04

Nice well marked trail. Lots of wooden bridges over marsh area. Connects the big parking lot with a beach area closer to the entrance. One thing to know: be sure to spray yourself with insect repellent. It was a pretty dry day with no rain for days before and we got eaten alive by mosquitoes!

Bridge C 2022 May 19

Love this trail at Fort Macon. It is always very clean and well maintained. The sound side is more flat and less challenging while the dune side feels like you are getting a good bit of exercise. Beware of bugs depending on the time of year and be prepared with bug spray. This trail is a great choice for a windy day. The views from this trail are breathtaking. Parking is free and there are restrooms available. Love this trail.

Daniël 2021 Sep 12

Very nice hiking trail, meandering through the dunes and circling around the eastern most mile and a half of Fort Macon Rd. There’s mulch and gravel on the other, which makes walking much more comfortable than directly on the dune sand.

There is quite a bit of variance in elevation: no steep or long climbs, but the path does dip and climb continuously. More than half of the path is uncovered, so there’s not too much shelter from the sun.

Collin Chambers 2019 Dec 16

This is a delightful 3.2 mile loop that meanders through an enchanted maritime forest and along the tops of ancient sand dunes. A local treasure not to missed when on the island.
The beauty is that you can park at either the fort or at the designated beach parking lot and access the trail. And there are very clean restrooms available at both ends. There is a wide variety of forest and sea flora and fauna.

However, The bugs can be a nuisance in warm weather any time of year, so long sleeves and pants are recommended. Enjoy!