North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands is a picture-perfect destination year-round, but winter is an especially underrated time of year for visitors hoping to witness spectacular sunrises and sunsets at the beach. Unlike most East Coast beaches, the Brunswick Islands’ beaches face south and run east to west, meaning that in the wintertime you can witness the unique phenomenon of a sunrise and sunset over the ocean. This meteorological marvel is special to the Brunswick Islands and is just one of the reasons that make our winter sunrises and sunsets so stunning.
What else makes winter sunrises and sunsets in North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands so special? Keep reading for more, including some insider tips on where to go for the best winter sunrise and sunset spots in NC’s Brunswick Islands.
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The Right Kind of Winter Weather
Our mild year-round climate is one of the things that makes North Carolina’s Brunswick Islands the perfect vacation spot for all seasons. In the winter, the average high air temperature sits between 60- and 50-degrees Fahrenheit. Combined with lower levels of humidity, this means a clearer atmosphere that allows the winter sky’s sharper and vivid colors to shine. The sun’s lower position on the horizon also allows the light to travel at a shallower angle, naturally enhancing the fiery colors of a winter sunrise and sunset.
Best Spots to Watch a Winter Sunrise
Our six island beaches are some of the most serene and beautiful places to watch and photograph a winter sunrise. Witnessing the world wake up as sunlight blankets the shore is one of the most magical moments of a beach trip.
Pictured: Oak Island at sunrise
Photographer’s Note: A little planning can go a long way! Make sure to check the tide schedule the night before. A beach sunrise is best witnessed in combination with a low tide when the beach is at its widest. With more space, look out for structures like ocean piers and sand fencing that allow you to create depth in your photographs.
If you can’t make it to the beach in time to watch the sunrise above the waves, don’t fret. There are several other spots that make for an excellent photo.
Sunset Beach Town Park off the island of Sunset Beach is a particularly picturesque spot in the early morning. Situated along the Intracoastal Waterway, you can still witness the sun’s beautiful colors dancing over the water and filtering through the branches of mature live oak trees. The park’s swinging benches are also excellent spots to take in the view.
The waterfronts of coastal towns like Southport and Calabash are other cute spots to witness the sunrise in the winter.
In Southport, you can watch the sunrise over the mighty Cape Fear River. Head to the City Pier and Southport Waterfront Park for the best views.
Pictured: An early winter morning along the Calabash waterfront
In Calabash, head down to the historic waterfront docks. While the sun won’t be rising directly over the Calabash River, the vivid morning colors paint the sky over the waterfront with breathtaking effect.
Of course, there’s always the option of witnessing the sunrise over the ocean without having to leave the house. Booking a stay in an oceanfront vacation rental home means waking up in the coziest spot to witness a winter sunrise. Even better, discounted winter rates mean your winter beach trip dreams are closer to reality than you might think.
Best Spots to Watch a Winter Sunset
No need to turn your chair around come sunset. Remember you can witness the sunset over the ocean in the winter months too. The beach remains a picturesque spot to watch the winter sun set below the horizon.
Pictured: A winter sunset on Holden Beach
Photographer’s Note: Check the tide once again. Peak tide cycles are typically spaced about 12 hours apart in the winter, meaning you should expect similar beach conditions as seen in the morning. Consider taking photos from an ocean pier where the heightened perspective can add to your photo’s composition.
The charming coastal town of Southport remains an excellent place to witness a winter sunset too. Grab dinner at a waterfront restaurant along the Cape Fear River or historic Yacht Basin and enjoy as the sunset adds to your evening’s ambiance.
Pictured: A winter sunset over Jinks Creek on Ocean Isle Beach
We couldn’t forget the other side of our islands. While often overlooked, the marshes of our barrier islands are some of the most mesmerizing places to witness a sunset. Whether admired while crossing the bridges onto one of the islands, while staying in a vacation rental home along the Intracoastal Waterway, or while visiting the various overlooks along our islands a marsh sunset is a quintessential NC’s Brunswick Islands experience.
Check out such spots as:
- 40th Street overlook on Sunset Beach
- Jink’s Creek overlook on Ocean Isle Beach (off Causeway Drive)
- Intracoastal Waterway along Holden Beach (accessible at Bridgeview Park and the public boat ramp)
- SE 20th Street scenic walkway on Oak Island
- Veterans Park on Oak Island
- Marina Park on Bald Head Island
For a list of other parks in NC’s Brunswick Islands, visit our Parks and Recreation page.
Pictured: Lingering colors after sunset on Sunset Beach
Photography Tips and Checklist
- Check the tides before deciding whether to see the sunrise or sunset from the beach. Low tide is often the best time to head towards the ocean as the beach is at its widest. Meanwhile high tide is the best time to head towards waterways, marshes, and rivers because the waterways are visibly fuller. Visit our Tide Chart.
- Arrive early! The colors seen at sunrise and sunset start as early as an hour before the sun begins to appear or completely descend below the horizon. Often this is when the colors are at their most vivid.
- Bring gloves to keep hands warm. Camera gear such as a tripod and remote are great for colder mornings and evenings when you’d rather keep your hands free and warm.
- Create depth in your photos by creating focal points in your photo’s foreground. Look for leading lines in your composition to direct the eye to points of interest. Follow the rule of thirds, placing your photo’s point of interest on one of the intersecting points of the viewfinder grid.
Photo Checklist
- Sunrise/sunset on a beach
- Choose from one of the six beaches in NC’s Brunswick Islands.
- Sunrise/sunset over the marsh
- Sunrise/sunset from an ocean pier
- Choose from one of the five ocean piers in NC’s Brunswick Islands. Please note which piers are closed during winter in the FAQ section below.
- Sunrise/sunset from a coastal town
- Sunset at dinner at a waterfront restaurant
Come See It for Yourself
Consider staying in beach front accommodation so you can grab photos without leaving the comfort of your room. Plan your trip to witness winter sunrises and sunsets at www.ncbrunswick.com.
FAQs
1. Where are the best sunrise/sunset views?
The answer depends on the tides, so check a tide chart before you head out. Generally, the beach is one of the best spots for both sunrise and sunset in NC’s Brunswick Islands thanks to our islands’ south facing orientation and the sun’s position in the sky in the winter.
2. What time is sunset in December, January & February?
The earliest sunsets in the winter happen in early December at around 5 p.m. By mid-January, sunset occurs around 5:30 p.m. The latest sunsets in the winter happen in late February at around 6 p.m.
3. What time is sunrise in December, January & February?
The latest sunrises in the winter happen in early January when sunrise occurs around 7:20 a.m. The earliest sunrises in the winter happen in late February at around 6:45 a.m.
4. Are piers/parks open after dusk?
The Sunset Beach Pier is not open in the winter. It is closed from late November until the first Saturday in March.
The Ocean Isle Beach Pier operates on limited winter hours. Call ahead to ensure the pier is open to fishermen and walkers.
The Holden Beach Pier is closed for site upgrades.
The Oak Island Pier is open 7 days a week from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. daily.
The Ocean Crest Pier is open Monday through Sunday from 12 p.m. until 9 p.m. in the winter.
Operating hours for all parks and recreation areas on Oak Island are from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Veteran’s Park (mentioned above) is open from sunrise to midnight, 7 days a week.
5. Where can I park for sunset photos?
Please refer to each of our islands and towns’ parking pages for specific information regarding beach access parking.
Sunset Beach Parking Rules: Parking in designated spaces on the island is free from October 31 until April 1. Overnight parking is not allowed. Parking is free at Sunset Beach Town Park.
Ocean Isle Beach Parking Rules: Parking in designated spaces on the island is free from October 31 until April 1. Overnight parking is not allowed.
Holden Beach Parking Rules: Paid parking is in effect on Holden Beach year-round from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily. Parking is free before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. year-round.
Oak Island Parking Rules: Parking in designated “Visitors” spaces is free from October 1 until April 1.
Caswell Beach Parking Rules: Parking in designated lots is free year-round on Caswell Beach. Overnight parking is not allowed. There is a 1-hour limit for parking in the Oak Island Lighthouse lots.
Bald Head Island Parking Rules: Parking on the island is free year-round.
Parking in Southport is free year-round.
Parking in Calabash is free year-round, but please be considerate of restaurants’ operating hours and patrons.