I hiked this area on own on December 18th, 2022.

This loop covers most of the major trails in Goose Creek State park. You start on the Palmetto Boardwalk, then bear east on Tar Kiln Trail. As a warning, AllTrails currently has this route, but does not have the trails properly labeled, so be sure to get a map at the visitors' center before you start.

The Tar Kiln Trail returns you to (mostly) solid ground, leaving the swampy biome of the boardwalk for an eastern pine forest, which contains information about the history of tar pine harvesting and production in North Carolina.

After some time on the Mallard Creek Loop and the aptly-named Live Oak Trail, you'll pass through the common swimming/beach areas of the park; after this, the hike follows Goose Creek Trail and the main road for a while, before dropping you back off on the Palmetto Boardwak via Ivey Gut Trail.

You can see a map of the trail here.