Bell Island Pier and Road Closure
Bell Island Pier and Road on Swanquarter National Wildlife Refuge will be closed to all public access beginning March 1, 2026 for the replacement of the decking and railing of the pier. The contractor estimates construction will last until June. Updates on progress and closures will be posted periodically on the refuge website and Facebook page.
Swanquarter National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1932 and protects an extensive coastal brackish marsh on Pamlico Sound in Hyde County, North Carolina. The refuge is composed of both forested wetlands and open marsh and features thousands of migratory waterfowl during the winter, including American black duck, bufflehead, and northern pintail. American alligators, bald eagles, black bear, and secretive marsh birds also reside in the refuge. Approximately 8,800 acres of the refuge are designated as the Swanquarter National Wilderness Area, part of the National Wilderness Preservation System.
We are excited to announce the reopening of the Bell Island Pier and Road
Visit Us
Visitors can enjoy wildlife-dependent recreation, including fishing, hunting, and birding. Access to the refuge is by boat or along a 2-mile gravel road off NC Hwy 264. This road travels across an expansive marsh and a forested area then leads to Bell Island Pier on the shoreline of Pamlico Sound. Beautiful vistas and pleasant breezes make the 1,000-foot-long Bell Island Pier a popular destination.
