Shown below is the map of the Hoop Pole Creek Nature Preserve Walking Trail. It is 1-mile round trip out and back trail to Bouge Sound with a short side trail to a marsh view. It was here on March 29, 1862, that a detachment of the 4th RI landed after crossing Bogue Sound from Carolina City. They established a base camp on Bogue Banks, five miles from Fort Macon, from which General John G. Parke conducted the siege of the fort during the Burnside Expedition. Over the following two weeks a total of 22 companies of Union infantry and artillery crossed over from Carolina City. Three batteries of siege cannons and mortars along with their ammunition were also ferried across the sound using old barges, scows and one light-draft stern-wheel steamer. Parke could only transport his troops and equipment at high tide since Bogue Sound and Hoop Pole Creek were so shallow.

The next four images are of Hoop Pole Creek. The first is looking across toward Carolina City. The following three images were taken right to left following the landing path of Union troops.

This image was taken at the end of the trail looking toward where Carolina City was located on the mainland at the current site of the Carteret Community College.

The metal sign below is located 0.6 miles further southeast on West Fort Macon Road.