Public Boat Ramps

The Crystal Coast has many boat ramps, large and small, public and private. Below is a short list of just a few of the state-maintained public ramps. Because most ramps don't have names, we've listed them alphabetically according to location. You won't have to pay a fee to launch your boat at any of these ramps.

Morehead City

Municipal Park, behind the Crystal Coast Visitor Center at 3409 Arendell Street (U.S. 70), has several launching areas and lots of parking. While swimming is not allowed, a shady picnic area with grills and tables offers a nice resting spot to enjoy a view of the sound. The park is just east of Carteret Community College.

A boat ramp at 10th and Shepard streets in Morehead City serves as the nearest launch location to Sugarloaf Island, the undeveloped island across from the city waterfront. The launch ramp accommodates boats 16 feet or less, and parking is available. Locals say Sugarloaf Island "is a nice place to get away from it all while being close to everything."

Beaufort

Curtis A. Perry Park is a public ramp with four launching areas into Taylor's Creek. The park is at the east end of Front Street near the tennis courts. Two ramps and docks, as well as a fishing pier and comfort station, are offered at the Town Creek Water Access at Turner Street and West Beaufort Road. These are maintained by Carteret County Parks and Recreation Department. The Grayden Paul Jaycee Town Park, on Front Street at the south end of Pollock Street, provides a short, wide pier. Boats may be launched from a soft-sand area and docked on the west side of the pier. Diagonal parking is available on Front Street.

Down East

The Salters Creek Wildlife Ramp is available on the east side of the high-rise bridge on U.S. Highway 70 just before you get to the Down East community of Sea Level. Access to the Oyster Creek Wildlife Ramp at the Oyster Creek Bridge just northeast of Davis is also available from U.S. 70.

Harkers Island

At the Cape Lookout National Seashore Picnic grounds, there is a small sand beach adequate for launching canoes and kayaks. Let the park rangers in the Visitors Center know that you're going out on a trip. A public launch ramp is located on the Straits at the north side of the Harkers Island bridge. Another small launch site with a parking area is at the western end of Harkers Island at Fisherman's Inn fish camp. Fees are charged for overnight parking.

Cedar Island

A ramp is beyond the Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge office on Lola Road at the south end of the island. The refuge also maintains a ramp on the west side of (and almost below) the high-rise bridge, on N.C. 12, just west of the island.

Cedar Point

A ramp maintained by the N.C. Wildlife Commission is on the south side of N.C. Highway 24 between Cape Carteret and Swansboro. The Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge maintains a boat ramp on the west side of the high-rise bridge (on N.C. 12) that crosses Thorofare Bay.