Corncake Inlet, North Carolina

Corncake Inlet is a natural waterway in Brunswick County that channels water from the Cape Fear region toward the Atlantic Ocean. This narrow passage cuts through coastal terrain and forms a distinct separation between land masses in the area.

The inlet appeared in records starting in the 1930s as an active waterway serving the coastal region. Major hurricanes in the 1990s reshaped its structure and ultimately transformed it into a closed channel.

Native American tribes utilized this waterway for fishing activities and transportation routes before European settlers arrived in the region.

The location sits near several coastal towns and can be accessed from nearby communities. Keep in mind that water conditions here are shallow and changeable, reflecting its current status as a sediment-filled channel.

The water here filled with sand and vanished suddenly in the late 1990s rather than closing gradually over decades. A single tropical storm accelerated this process dramatically, revealing how quickly coastal features can disappear.

GPS coordinates: 33.91906,-77.94443

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:45