Cape Lookout National Seashore
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Cape Lookout National Seashore preserves a section of one of the most unique natural structures in the world. The barrier islands that protect much of the American eastern seaboard serve as a guard against the turbulent weather and create a haven for waterfowl while establishing extensive and beautiful beaches. These islands were more of a nuisance for early European settlers than a help, creating a navigation hazard that blocked the way for easy settlement and resupply. Today, the three main islands that make up the Cape Lookout National Seashore — North Core Bank, South Core Bank, and Shackleton Bank — and a series of small islands such as Portsmouth Island, protect 56 miles of beach and 28,283 acres of land from development. Reachable only via ferry from coastal towns or via private craft, these islands offer visitors the chance to enjoy horizons created by the forces of nature. The Harkers Island Visitor Center, lying outside the seashore area, is located 62 miles north of Jacksonville, NC, preserving the integrity of an area that holds Cape Lookout Lighthouse as its only human-constructed operational structure.
Things To Do Near Cape Lookout National Seashore
The list of activities available to visitors at the Cape Lookout National Seashore differs depending on the island on which travelers find themselves. One small island — Portsmouth Island — is famous for Portsmouth Village, a deserted community that was once one of the most active ports on the North Carolina coast and is now a perfectly preserved ghost town. ATVs and four-wheel-drive vehicles may drive the beaches of North Core and South Core Banks but nowhere else. Beachcombing is a favorite activity for visitors on every island who are eager to watch the waves and birds while seeking shells washed up on the shore. Vehicles are not allowed on Shackleton Island as the island preserves a herd of rare Shackleton Horses, but hikers love that island over all others for its lonely and elegant shores, high sea oats, and deep forests.
Hiking Trails
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Cape Lookout Trail
Near the famous Cape Lookout Lighthouse on South Core Bank, the Cape Lookout Trail is a loop that navigates along both sides of the small peninsula that juts southward into the Atlantic. The trail runs along the beaches where seagulls and other waterfowl build their nests. Here, Atlantic waves pound the rocks on the Atlantic side of the peninsula and gently lap onto the sandy beach of the landward side.
Location
South Core Bank
Length
4.2 miles
Intensity
Easy
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Willow Pond Trail
Photographers love to hike the Willow Pond Trail because of its diverse habitat and attraction for elegant migratory birds. The trail is a loop that circles Willow Pond, where an alga topped swampy area draws wildlife. There is a blind where hikers stand unnoticed, leading to great photos of birds hunting in their natural habitat.
Location
Harkers Island
Length
0.33 miles
Intensity
Easy
Sightseeing
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Cape Lookout Lighthouse
The most iconic lighthouse in the country, the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, is painted in a distinct black and white diamond pattern, and it's the only lighthouse in the nation allowed to use this design. Visitors climb to the top via a 207-step narrow stairway to see the Atlantic and the North Carolina coastline from 210 feet in the air.
Location
South Core Bank
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Fort Macon State Park
Fort Macon State Park holds a perfectly preserved antebellum-era fort. Visitors hike around the exterior defense, then through the interior to see the cannon, stone works, and ammunition magazines of a fortress designed to repel invasion from the sea.
Location
2303 East Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, NC 28512
Museums
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Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center
At the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center, visitors learn about the various migratory birds that use the Outer Banks as nesting areas to lay and hatch eggs and protect their young. The center features a three-story tower with a spectacular view of the Cape Lookout Lighthouse and the various inlets surrounding the islands.
Location
1785 Island Road, Harkers Island, NC 28531
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North Carolina Maritime Museum
The North Carolina Maritime Museum displays exhibits that inform visitors of the maritime industry's historical significance in North Carolina. The museum holds events that take you to the days of settlement, piracy, the Civil War, the offshore sinking of ships by German submarines in WWII, and into the present.
Location
315 Front Street, Beaufort, NC 28516
Nearby Shops and Restaurants
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Dee Gee's Gifts and Books
Dee Gee's Gifts and Books features unique gifts commemorating the area. Visit to pick up a "breathing salt-air" towel or a sailor's knot rope bracelet.
Location
508 Evans Street, Morehead City, NC 28557
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Jacksonville Mall
The nearest shopping mall to the Cape Lookout National Seashore is 64 miles south in Jacksonville, NC. The Jacksonville Mall features 56 shops, including national brands such as PINK and Hollister.
Location
375 Jacksonville, Mall, Jacksonville, NC 28546
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City Kitchen
The City Kitchen delivers an excellent eclectic American menu that includes unusual twists such as Korean pork belly tacos or shrimp and grits southern style.
Location
114A Town Group Drive, Unit A, Beaufort, NC 28516
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The Fish Hook Grill
One of the premier seafood restaurants along the North Carolina seaboard, the Fish Hook Grill features the area's unique twist on seafood preparation. Try their Hatteras style clam chowder or fried flounder to get a palate-pleasing meal.
Location
980 Island Road, Harkers Island, NC 28531
How To Get To Cape Lookout National Seashore
For visitors coming from the large urban areas of the South, the best route to get to Davis is through Jacksonville, NC. When leaving Jacksonville, get onto United States Highway 17 (US-17) and travel north for two miles. Take the slight turn to the right to get onto North Carolina Highway 24 (NC-24). Stay on NC-24 for 38.3 miles and then turn right onto United States Highway 70 (US-70) and travel 45 miles into Davis, NC.
Visitors to the Cape Lookout National Seashore must bear in mind that the only way to reach these islands is via a ferry or a private craft out of Davis, NC. Access to this seashore is available year-round, though the ferries and personal craft do not travel the Sound during hurricanes or other intense weather events. Some attractions are only available during a given season; for instance, the Cape Lookout Lighthouse is open from May 13 to September 13 of any year.
Address
131 Charles Street, Harkers Island NC 28531
Fee: Entry fee $0
Though you cannot access this seashore in an RV, you can travel there in an RV and camp in one of the many RV parks that lie along this section of the North Carolina coast. Taking the trip as a family and then accessing the park via ferry is an adventure that those taking the trip will remember for a lifetime. Remember, the comfort you enjoy in your RV will always be there after you return from a long hike on one of the islands that make up the Cape Lookout National Seashore.
