Explore the best rated trails in Jacksonville, NC, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Jacksonville-Camp LeJeune Rail-to-Trails and River to the Sea Bikeway . With more than 5 trails covering 46 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
Rode the bike trail from the Visitors Center to the point. Make sure you go to the point. It is beautiful.
please don’t do this. me and my mom biked from downtown wilmington to wrightsville beach and it’s pretty generous to call it a trail when the trail is just well traveled roads with the occasional sign to share the road. people do not pay attention and go well over the speed limit. also says it will take 1 hour when it took 3. do not attempt this. just go to the beach in your car.
The lack of adequate parking for walkers along the trails is a glaring oversight by the planning board. It’s evident that they were aware of this shortfall when they designed the parking options. Unfortunately, the influence of developers and boards dominated by politicians and investors continues to overshadow the needs of the community.
As a result, trail users are forced to park in neighborhood easements near trailheads, creating tension with local residents. The planning board must prioritize the addition of sufficient parking areas rather than catering to commercial interests that prioritize land sales over community needs.
Effective planning should involve acquiring land for parking during the trail development process, yet they ignored this critical issue—particularly on Rose Ave, where the only available parking area was eliminated through land sale. The barriers residents have erected in easements are a direct response to this neglect.
These politically motivated decisions are not just disappointing; they are detrimental to the community. It’s time for the planning board to take a stand for the citizens they serve and make informed, responsible choices for our shared spaces.
With all the beauty of Wilmington and beaches, why can't our government spend money on a legitimate bike path from Leland/Wilmington to the beach? Instead, we get Dollar Trees and Car washes!! C'mon Wilmington Government, we can do better!!
A third of the ride is designated bike trail, the other two thirds are streets, and a few are very busy streets! Many street crossings, and signage is fair. Had to check the map several times to make sure we were on the bikeway. Won’t ride this ever again.
Perfect little path! Parking at the bus stop (1300 N marine blvd) is easiest to get on the trail (lil sketchy for the first mile or so). Theres a park you pass that has restrooms! And trash cans throughout the trail. Def more people biking than walking/running. The mile markers every 0.5 miles are great!!! Can easily get 8 miles going down and back and could probably make it ~10.
A good portion of this trail presents as a sidewalk along a busy road. Still decent park views, old trolley lines and water side rides at this end. The real beauty is at the Halyburton Park end. Wooded, all natural, rolling hills, the smell of pine and lots of critters. Peaceful and rewarding.
The bike path is really a sidewalk down the peninsula. As you ride there are rows of houses to the left obscuring any water view and 3 rows of houses to the right obscuring any ocean view. Every 50 to 100 feet there is a crossroad with a bike stop sign so don’t expect to get any long pedaling in. If you like stop and wait and go crossroads this is for you! The homes you see are typical beach houses, all new builds, nothing spectacular. The business sections look a little run down. It is hardly worth taking the bikes off the car let alone driving all the way there. If you don’t mind leaving your bike and walking thru a beach access, the ocean view is pretty. But this trail can be scratched from your list. Sorry. We wanted to like it.
This cross-city trial is really just a sidewalk that runs alongside high traffic roadways and through constructions sites, and dangerous intersections. Beware! Drivers will run you down! There is no wildlife or nature to enjoy along the way. Just traffic buzzing by. If sniffing noxious fumes from passing vehicles is your thing you will love it!
The actual trail head is just beside the Jacksonville Station (it’s a bus transit station) 1300 N Marine Blvd Great place to park in the long term area and get on. Wonderful benches along the public side of the military base fence all along the trail. We took our four year old the whole way on his bike and enjoyed it. It was work on the way back, but good. Def park at the bus station.
Another place to park and start the trail is at the new (old) Jacksonville Station on Marine Blvd. It has plenty of free parking and the trail passes right in front of the station. From there it is 4.9 miles to another public parking area just outside of one of the Camp Lejeune gates. At about the halfway point, just after crossing on the elevated pedestrian walkway you can take the side trail which takes you app. 3 miles to the Memorial Gardens . This whole section of the trail is well paved and well maintained.
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