Take Your Family For An Outer Banks Hike During Your Stay

The Outer Banks offers plenty of breathtaking nature to explore, and one of the best ways to see it all is with a hike. If you’re new to hiking, don’t worry! Our Outer Banks vacation home rentals are near some incredible hiking trails, perfect for all ages and skill levels. Hiking is not only a great way to see the local nature, but it also allows you to escape the worries of everyday life, reconnect with your family, and get some exercise all at the same time. Check out a couple of these hiking spots while you’re in town!

Buxton Woods

Buxton Woods and its trail stand out as an ideal place to hike. Big or small families enjoy it, as do solo people and couples. Whether the goal is to get some exercise or just explore, Buxton Woods should perfectly accommodate both needs with its tranquil high-up and mid-level viewpoints. You’ll see people of different ages, skill and fitness levels, and sizes, all going at their own chosen pace. You’ll also get to witness firsthand just how the amazing Cape Hatteras Lighthouse got started and why it’s such a cool beacon of hope to those living here today.

Indeed, there’s plenty of fun, historical learning, social interaction, and much more to be had here at Buxton Woods. The only thing missing is a vivid imagination and a plan for how you want to check it out, both of which only you can provide. Make sure to walk down to Hatteras Island, too, where you can learn even more about the local area and its preservation.

woman photographing nature on a hike — Photo from Shutterstock

Jockey’s Ridge State Park

Come in to explore Jockey’s Ridge State Park any day of the week. You’ll find the elevation to only be 100 feet (or 30 meters). Here, you’ve got nearly 430 acres to get through, so get to it! This trail is designed for the fit guru or expert hiker, those with a clear goal in mind and who have no fears at all with climbing and moving about. A “true adventurer’s” state park established in 1975, Jockey’s Ridge State Park offers plenty to see and snap with your camera, from birds, to trees, to bees, and everything in between. You and your team will have the time of your life here, and all while staying in great shape. Make sure to pack plenty of energy bars and power drinks!

Jockey’s Ridge State Park is also one of the most committed state park areas around, making an ongoing effort to keep all guests from littering or overnight parking. It’s time to take care of nature and keep all green life beautiful, right? They do accommodate all visitors by offering plenty of wheelchair boardwalks, picnic tables for lunch or sitting down, and restrooms.

Bodie Island Lighthouse

Also open 24/7, this towering lighthouse looks down at you from 156 feet up (and you won’t forget it). It’s truly breathtaking, and the only thing more breathtaking, perhaps, is climbing the stairs and enjoying the view. It’s well worth it, so put this attraction toward the top of your list of “must see things” when you’re out on the Outer Banks. This tower was opened in 1872 and automated in 1940, so you’ll get some amazing history while you’re here. This Dare County lighthouse dares any group or individual to scale it from ground up and feel the wind rush across their face (typically, if it’s Spring or Fall time, it gets a little windier than usual).

Adults pay $10 to get in (kids 11 and older, plus seniors or handicapped individuals, just $5). Kids must enter accompanied by adults. Make sure to be at least five minutes early before each lighthouse tour so your guide can give you a rundown of what to expect.

Duck Town Park and Soundside Boardwalk

Are you familiar with the one and only Duck Town Park and Soundside Boardwalk? This town park and boardwalk is found right in Duck and features 10+ acres of incredible beauty in the way of trails, forests, willow swamps, and much more. The park itself is open from sunrise to sunset, while the boardwalk opens dawn to 1 a.m. If you walk soundside throughout the area, what you’ll notice is nothing short of amazing, the marshes are incredible. It’s quite a sight, and words alone can’t do it justice. You’ll simply have to plan a hike here to see it for yourself!

There are 21 benches spread throughout the park (great for taking a quick break on your journey) as well as 15 trash cans, 5 picnic tables, and even 3 dogipots (so you can clean up after your pet). With all the amenities you’ll find along the trail, you can truly take it at your own pace and soak up the sights at your leisure.

Nags Head Woods Preserve

Kill Devil Hills’s “Top Nature Preserve,” as some like to call it, the Nags Head Woods Preserve is open from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily. Within this preserve, you’ve got a blend of marshes and ponds, some perfectly acred forested ridges, and overall, plenty of great bird watching opportunities. If you come with your binoculars, you’re in for a treat! Get a bird guide for this area, and you’ll be sure to have a good time and learn some fascinating things. Hopefully, you can spot a rare canary you’ve never seen before! You can also hike, jog, and even bow hunt (with license, permission, and special admission).

At the Nags Head Woods Preserve, you can spot some of the largest towering hickory and oak trees you will ever see. In fact, they say some of these trees are centuries in the making and are still growing after all this time! You’ll also find more than 550+ kinds of plants, big and small. The best part is you can walk these trails for free (no fees for hiking). Just bring plenty of water!

In Search of Nags Head Vacation Rentals?

If you need great Nags Head rentals, we at Cola Vaughan Realty know a thing or two about that — we offer rentals of all sizes to suit any group or occasion. Just ask us what you need ahead of time, and we’ll help you find the perfect available unit on the Outer Banks. We’ve got plenty of cozy rental homes and would love to open one up to you and your family. Plus, if you ever need our assistance while you’re in town, we’re just a phone call away.

Our Outer Banks vacation rentals are waiting. Reach out today to book your trip!