Dare: Nature Experiences and History

A trip to Dare offers different perspectives on nature and history. Protected habitats, trails through forests and marshlands, and historic sites provide concrete starting points for planning. Depending on your interests, you can focus on wildlife watching, activities on the water, or the layered history of the Outer Banks.

Nature, Trails, and Water

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge protects habitats for migratory birds and loggerhead sea turtles. The entrance road runs through the refuge along North Carolina Highway 12. Road conditions and temporary closures can change; check the current conditions before setting out. The North Pond Wildlife Trail is 0.6 miles long and follows a one-way route. Along the way, you may spot waterfowl, turtles, and other wildlife, but sightings are not guaranteed, and trail conditions can vary.

A reservation is required to explore the marshlands, islands, and creeks of Pamlico Sound. This is a seasonal program; dates and reservations may change. Check the latest information before planning your visit. The reservation requirement is part of this experience and should be taken into account when planning.

Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge has more than 15 miles of color-coded paddling routes for canoes and kayaks. If you would rather explore on foot, you’ll find two one-way wildlife trails there, each half a mile long: Sandy Ridge Wildlife Trail and Creef Cut Wildlife Trail. Both are accessible. Compared directly, these two trails are shorter than the 0.6-mile North Pond Wildlife Trail; all three follow a one-way route. Murphy Peterson Wildlife Drive offers opportunities to observe wildlife on the mainland of Dare County. Sightings there are seasonal and not guaranteed.

Eight trails wind through Nags Head Woods Preserve, one of which is fully accessible. One trail passes through open forest, over two wooden bridges, past freshwater ponds, and up a densely wooded dune ridge. Its sequence of bridges, ponds, and wooded terrain gives it a different character from trails through marsh and waterfront landscapes.

Jockey’s Ridge State Park is home to the tallest system of living sand dunes on the Atlantic coast. Access to Roanoke Sound allows for paddling, swimming, kiteboarding, and windsurfing; conditions on the sound and seasonal access may vary. A concessionaire in the park also offers hang gliding and kite flying lessons, as well as sandboard rentals. Commercial concession offerings may change, so it’s worth checking the latest information if you plan to take advantage of any of them.

History and Special Places

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site preserves parts of the first English settlements in the New World, dating from 1584 to 1590. It also tells the story of Civil War events on Roanoke Island and the resulting Freedman’s Colony. The Freedom Trail at Fort Raleigh National Historic Site is 1.25 miles long, follows a one-way route, and ends at Freedmen’s Point. Trail conditions may change. This allows you to connect the site’s different historical themes with a specific trail route.

Roanoke Island Festival Park also focuses on the lives of the first English settlers: its 27-acre site shows how they lived in 1585. Wright Brothers National Memorial commemorates the brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright’s first successful flight. Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, in turn, presents the maritime history and culture of the North Carolina Outer Banks. It offers programs year-round; in summer, these include a weekly lecture series and several maritime arts and crafts days. Program details may change by season.

Gardens and lighthouses offer further ways to explore the region’s history and design. The Elizabethan Gardens is a ten-acre garden designed as an Elizabethan pleasure garden; its walking paths cover just over a mile. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was built in 1870. Bodie Island Lighthouse can be climbed during the summer months. Tickets must be purchased online, and certain safety restrictions apply. Check the current dates and requirements for climbing the lighthouse.

The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island includes free daily programs, which are covered by regular admission. Program schedules may change, so check the latest times if a particular program is important to your visit.

Regional Orientation

On a broader regional scale, the Outer Banks Scenic Byway follows Highway 12 through Cape Hatteras National Seashore and continues by ferry to Carteret County. If this route is part of your plans, check the ferry schedule. The Outer Banks of North Carolina is the official tourism authority for Dare County’s Outer Banks.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Manteo, Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, Nags Head, Rodanthe, Duck, Kinnakeet, Wanchese, Hatteras, Southern Shores.

Go to the main travel overview: North Carolina.