Swanquarter Bay is a coastal bay on the mainland side of North Carolina's Pamlico Sound, accessible via the Swanquarter Boat Landing. This public launch features a concrete ramp with three approximately 14-foot-wide lanes, courtesy docks, and parking for around 40 boat trailers. The landing is wheelchair-accessible, though no restrooms are available on-site; facilities can be found a short distance away at the Swan Quarter Ferry Terminal. The bay provides direct access to the expansive Pamlico Sound and connects to several protected canals. The bay's channels are marked by lights, and a well-marked cut through Judith Marsh provides a navigable route into the bay. As part of Pamlico Sound, the bay is subject to significant wind exposure, particularly from the southwest, which can generate choppy conditions on the open water. Southwest winds between 6.7 and 11.2 mph with gusts higher are common. Vessel traffic can be moderate to high in the sound, especially from fishing vessels. Regulations designate the waters within 50 yards of all public boat launches accessing Pamlico Sound as no-wake zones, and the Swan Quarter Canal, Carawan Canal, and Fodrey Canal also have no-wake speed limits. These canals offer calm, protected paddling environments in contrast to the open bay. Suggested routes include a scenic loop exploring the bay and the entrances to the Swan Quarter and Carawan canals, an out-and-back paddle into the narrow Fodrey Canal, or an open-water exploration towards the marsh islands and shorelines of the Swanquarter National Wildlife Refuge, which offers excellent birding opportunities. The area is characterized by a working waterfront, with a commercial fishing port and a fleet of wooden fishing boats noted in the creek north of the ferry terminal.