Kayaking on the coast of North Carolina is truly one of the most memorable and exciting experiences you’ll ever have! 
One of our favorite places to launch our guided kayak tours is Zeke’s Island at Fort Fisher in Carolina Beach. Zeke’s Island and the Fort Fisher Basin at the Federal Point Wildlife Access is situated just across the inlet from Carolina Beach, and just south of Wrightsville Beach. Kayaking in this area means that you’ll come across mostly calm, glassy waters, as well as wildlife such as wading birds, egrets, seagulls, brown pelicans, sea turtles, loggerheads, and dolphins. But did you know that a LOT goes into protecting such beautiful places across coastal North Carolina? In this blog, we’ll go over the North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR), which protects more than 10,000 acres of coastal land.
North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve
The North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve protects more than 10,000 acres of coastal land and is an oasis to many diverse species of fish and birds, including osprey, black skimmers, summer flounder, spotted sea trout, red drum, and more. The Reserve’s four sites also support research, education, and stewardship to protect estuarine ecosystems, improve water quality, and make both the ecosystems and communities along North Carolina’s coastlines more resilient to coastal hazards.
What Is An Estuary?
An estuary is a partially enclosed, coastal water body where freshwater from rivers and streams mixes with salt water from the ocean. Estuaries, and their surrounding lands, are places of transition from land to sea, according to epa.gov.
The NERR System
There are 28 NERRs in total across the United States, and Zeke’s Island is one of four national reserve sites which are overseen and managed by the Division of Coastal Management. The other three national sites are the Currituck Banks just north of the Outer Banks, the Rachel Carson Reserve on the outskirts of Beaufort, and Masonboro Island Reserve which is situated just across the inlet from Carolina Beach, and just south of Wrightsville Beach. (There are also six additional state reserve sites which fall under the Division of Coastal Management’s Umbrella.)
What’s So Great About NERR?
All NERR sites conduct research on topics such as water quality, fish and wildlife populations, invasive species, and coastal storms and flooding. NERRS also provides opportunities for hands-on learning experiences in the form of internships, fellowships, and volunteer programs as well as place-based education for K-12 students and teachers.
Zeke’s Island Reserve Kayak Adventure Tour
Our Kure Beach guided kayak tour explores Zeke’s Island and the Fort Fisher Basin at the Federal Point Wildlife Access. This tour is approximately 40 minutes from Downtown Wilmington and 17 minutes from the Carolina Beach Boardwalk. We offer Kure Beach kayak tours at various times of the day throughout the week, and they are great for kayakers of all levels of experience, including children! You have the option of renting a kayak from us, which can be dropped off at any of the locations listed on our site or book a guided tour!
What to Expect on Our Kure Beach Kayak Tour at Zeke’s Island
On this tour, you’ll make your way through the calm, glassy, glistening waters along Zeke’s Island. The effort required on this tour depends on the waters.
If you’re looking for calmer, glassy waters, we recommend that you book during the early morning or evening hours. Keep in mind that the waters are somewhat unpredictable. Your kayak tour guide will take you through the bays and marsh creeks that separate Fort Fisher and Bald Head Island, and you’ll be surrounded by tranquil wildlife and nature. Our Kure Beach guided kayak tours are focused on sight-seeing and exploring, so we’ll stop several times throughout our journey so that you can explore on foot! So don’t worry, this isn’t three hours of intense paddling! The water is also very shallow, ranging from 6 inches to 4 feet deep depending on the tides and time of day you book, and a life jacket will be provided to each kayaker.
All of our tours are led by knowledgeable and passionate guides who will be able to answer any questions that you have about the area’s history, wildlife, plant life, or anything else! We love sharing our knowledge of this beautiful place with our guests and hope that you walk away from your tour feeling inspired by all that this coast has to offer. To book your guided kayak tour at Zeke’s Island Reserve, visit our online booking page!