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Email UsJockey’s Ridge State Park on the Outer Banks: where enchanting dunes bring peace to all who venture there. People from all over the country come here to let go of stress and just hang out. This is a place of spiritual wonder, and you feel it when you begin to climb the highest dune on the Atlantic coast. Plan on visiting Nags Head and get set up with your Outer Banks vacation home rentals, and be sure to visit Jockey’s Ridge State Park and take the family to the highest dunes in the country.
The dunes here are mesmerizing and are thousands of years old. Moving with the wind, they change and shift in unseen increments. Centuries of changing winds have slowly pushed huge offshore shoals onto the beach and ever inland, creating 100-foot-tall dunes that would seem more at home in the desert areas. Beneath the wispy and blowing top layer of powdery sand lies a dense layer of firm wet sand, held in place by never-ending moisture from the rains that come and go.
Jockey’s Ridge State Park Activities
Outer Banks outdoor activities are many and include kite flying, sightseeing, and beautiful sunsets. Stop by the visitor center and check out the museum, then take a walk or go fishing from the 360-foot-long boardwalk. Learn about the dunes’ ecosystem and the history of the area, and when you are feeling frisky, learn to fly a hang glider at Kitty Hawk Kites or bring a picnic and watch as others take to the sky. For a thrilling ride to the top of the dunes, get aboard the featured all-terrain vehicle and see for miles in all directions.
A distinctive landmark in Nags Head, Jockey’s Ridge State Park, with its 100-foot-high dunes, is home to hang gliders, sand boarders, and those who choose to walk the long peaks and ridges in search of peace of mind. Modern-day explorers make a full day of it as they walk into the dunes to take in the spectacular views and natural wonders the epic dunes never cease to provide.
Kids always love to climb and play on the steep dunes and may often find fulgurites. These naturally occurring vestiges are created when lightning strikes the dunes fusing silica sand into strange and often dark and unique shapes.
Hiking Trails in Jockey’s Ridge State Park
Beyond the dunes, naturalists, bird watchers, and those who just love to hike encounter three separate nature trails that work their way through the park for inquisitive visitors to wander and explore the natural beauty of the Outer Banks state parks. This interesting nature trail is one and a half miles long but an easy walk for all the family to enjoy. While hiking this curious trail, hikers will view large areas of maritime forests and expansive sea views, as well as incredible local Outer Banks wildlife. It is recommended that hikers have a few basic items, such as a great pair of hiking boots, bottled water, and some sunscreen while experiencing the delicate dune landscape.
East of the dunes, lavish in soothing sunshine, and let your worries melt away. When you are ready for a gentle walk, take the one-mile nature trail that leads you to the wetlands where you can view picturesque grassy dunes and coastal underbrush. The days on the dunes are long and provide plenty of time to access the sound of Soundside Road for kayaking, windsurfing, or just hanging out at the beach in and out of the surf. When your family is ready to get out and have some memory-making times together, call ahead for Nags Head vacation rentals and get ready for the best vacation ever. You’ll be glad you did!
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