Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Cape Hatteras

Cape Hatteras National Seashore is a 72-mile stretch of the Outer Banks from Nags Head to Ocracoke Island. The waters off these barrier islands, once marauded by Black Beard the Pirate, now serve as an outdoor adventure paradise, where fun is powered by the sun, sea, and wind. Surfers, surf casters, body surfers, wind surfers, kite boarders, and hang-glider pilots all migrate to the Outer Banks like waterfowl along the eastern flyway. The seashore boasts miles of white beaches for the beachcomber, sunbather, and wader. Further inland, hikers can explore nature trails that meander through sand dunes, marshes, and woodlands. Read More »

Cape Hatteras National Seashore Highlights

  • Cape Hatteras National Seashore is a 72-mile stretch of the Outer Banks from Nags Head to Ocracoke Island. The waters off these barrier islands serve as an outdoor adventure paradise where the fun is powered by the sun, sea, and wind.
  • The park has four campgrounds run by the National Park Service. They are located on the southern tip of Bodie Island at Oregon Inlet, in Buxton (Cape Point), at Frisco, and down in Ocracoke.
  • Bird lovers will find nirvana at the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge located on the north end of Hatteras Island. The refuge is situated on the eastern flyway and lures some 265 species of birds that seek out this oasis.
  • The park offers interpretive programs at its campgrounds and various other locations during the summer. For a schedule of events, pick up a copy of "In the Park" at the visitor centers or campground kiosks. If you'd like to check the schedule before you leave home, contact the park superintendent's office.

By Travel Expert: Mike Sigalas

  • Go kiteboarding in the East Coast's Hurricane Alley, where big wind and big waves equal big air. Pamlico Sound is where the best action is, although the choppier Atlantic Coast also offers some stiff challenges. Get schooled at the world's biggest kite school, Real Kiteboarding, which will take you from starter waves to monster chop in three short days.
  • Scuba dive the "Graveyard of the Atlantic," where more than 600 ships scuttled by extreme weather, lurking German U-boats, and captain error rest beneath the waves. The warm currents, courtesy of the Gulf Stream, create Caribbean-worthy conditions and visibility.
  • Explore laid-back Ocracoke Island, where you can beachcomb, paddle, and hike in quiet seclusion. Camp at the island's 137-site campground, nestled among cedars and sand dunes.
  • Find birding nirvana at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, on the north end of Hatteras Island, where some 365 bird species—terns, swans, herons, egrets, and brown pelicans, among others—seek shelter and food as they migrate along the Atlantic Flyway.
  • Paddle the five miles from Spence Creek to Avon along the Pamlico Sound, a great place to kayak because of its sheltered location from the wind and waves of the Outer Banks' Atlantic shore. Weave through salt marshes, stop at secluded beaches, and keep your eyes peeled for wading shorebirds.

By Travel Expert: Alistair Wearmouth
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