When most people picture hiking in North Carolina, they imagine long climbs, crisp mountain air, and overlooks stretching across the Blue Ridge. And sure — the western part of the state earns its praise.
But here’s the thing longtime locals already know: you don’t have to drive to the mountains to find incredible trails. The Wilmington area has some truly one-of-a-kind hikes, and two of them were just named among the best in the entire state by The Nature Conservancy.
These spots aren’t just “nice for the coast.” They offer something you literally can’t find anywhere else in North Carolina — or in the world.
Let’s take a look.
Green Swamp Preserve (Brunswick County)
Just outside Supply sits nearly 16,000 acres of wild, protected land known as the Green Swamp Preserve. The trail itself is an easy 1.3-mile out-and-back, but don’t let the short distance fool you — this place is packed with life.
This preserve is a mix of wetlands and longleaf pine savanna, home to black bears, deer, countless bird species… and the real celebrities of the swamp: carnivorous plants.
At least 14 species grow here naturally, including pitcher plants and sundews. After a major fire in 2023 — part of the preserve’s controlled burn strategy — the ecosystem bounced back stronger than ever, with new growth that now makes the landscape even more vibrant.
If you want a hike that feels truly untouched and uniquely coastal, Green Swamp is hard to beat.
Flytrap Trail (Carolina Beach State Park, New Hanover County)
Flytrap Trail (Carolina Beach State Park, New Hanover County)If you’re looking for something shorter, easier, and extremely family-friendly, Flytrap Trail is a gem. It’s only a half-mile loop — fully wheelchair accessible — but it showcases some of the most fascinating habitats in the region.
Boardwalks carry you across wetlands, pine forests, and wiregrass savannas. And right off the path, tucked into the pocosin, you’ll spot the trail’s namesake: the Venus flytrap.
Here’s the fun fact: this world-famous plant grows naturally only within about 75 miles of Wilmington. Nowhere else on Earth.
They typically bloom in late spring, so if you want to see them at their best, May and June are prime time. But even off-season, it’s a beautiful and unusual coastal trail that hikers of all levels can enjoy.
The Mountains May Draw the Attention — But the Coast Has Its Own Magic
The Nature Conservancy highlighted nine top trails across the state, and the fact that two of them are right here in the Wilmington area says a lot. Our corner of coastal Carolina has landscapes you won’t find anywhere else — wide-open savannas, rare plant life, wildlife-rich wetlands, and ecosystems shaped by fire, water, and salt air.
- Discovery Trail, Nags Head Woods Preserve,
- Outer Banks Jockey’s Ridge State Park,
- Outer Banks Green Swamp Preserve,
- Wilmington Flytrap Trail, Carolina Beach Cape Fear River Trail,
- Fayetteville Weymouth Woods, Sandhills Nature Preserve Calloway
- Forest Preserve Trail, Sandhills Occoneechee
- Mountain Loop Trail, Hillsborough Moore Cove Falls Trail,
- Pisgah National Fores
- Green Swamp Preserve (Brunswick County)
For homebuyers, that means the outdoors is part of everyday life here. Whether you’re in Brunswick County, New Hanover County, or anywhere in between, you’re never far from a trail that feels like a hidden treasure.