Hatteras Island Recreation
Hatteras Island’s recreation is a magnet for people who love sporting by the sea: surfing, windsurfing, kiteboarding, standup paddleboarding, sport fishing, bird watching, scuba diving, canoeing, kayaking, camping and roaming the miles of Outer Banks beaches.
The active crowd loves participating in Cape Hatteras’ recreation offerings for a number of reasons -– mild temperatures for about 10 months of the year, abundant and accessible ocean and sound beaches, numerous outfitters catering to the various activities and the very laid-back lifestyle. Most important to Hatteras Island recreation and the outdoorsy personality, however, is Cape Hatteras National Seashore, a 72-mile park that includes parts of Bodie, Hatteras and Ocracoke islands and is left in its almost completely natural state. The National Seashore offers undeveloped ocean and sound beaches where eco-friendly outdoor recreation is encouraged and wildlife can be seen in its natural habitat.
In the seven Hatteras Island villages -– Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras Village —you’ll find many Hatteras Island recreation outfitters offering all the gear, rentals and lessons you’ll need to get out there and enjoy the great outdoors, barrier island style. The villages also offer other recreational opportunities, like mini-golf, movies and bike rentals.
Just a note: Lots of people refer to this entire area as Cape Hatteras. Others call it Hatteras Island. It’s one and the same in the generalized way of thinking about it. So Cape Hatteras recreation is the same as Hatteras Island recreation. Tomaaato, tomoooto.
Hatteras Island Beaches
In North Carolina, all of the beach below the high-tide mark is public property. So you can enjoy any part of the beach as long as you get there legally. Public beach accesses are located along N.C. Highway 12 throughout Cape Hatteras National Seashore and Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, and there are numerous accesses in the villages. Do not access the beach via private property, i.e., cutting through private oceanfront yards to get there.
The only life-guarded beach on Hatteras Island is at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse beach in the summer months. Otherwise, swimming is at your own risk. Many visitors are surprisingly unaware of the dangers of ocean swimming. Always regard the ocean with a sense of caution, no matter how good a swimmer you are.
Rip currents, which suck objects and people from shore toward sea, are the biggest threat swimmers may encounter. The most important thing to remember about rip currents is not to try to swim against them directly back to shore. Let the rip carry you out, then swim parallel to the beach to get out of the current, then swim diagonally into shore. Educational materials about rip currents and other ocean dangers are available in local visitor centers. It’s a good idea to carry some sort of flotation device with you when swimming, like a surfboard, body board or raft, but you can’t totally depend on those for safety. Drownings have occurred when non-swimmers lost the rafts or body boards they were depending on for flotation.
Another important thing about ocean swimming: Never take your eyes off your children, even if they’re just wading in the surf. Children can be knocked down by waves and washed into the sea in the blink of an eye. We’re not trying to discourage anyone from ocean swimming. Most days on Hatteras Island, ocean swimming is safe and wonderful. Just be cautious and educated before going into the water.
If you are unsure about ocean swimming or if the day is particularly rough, you can also swim in the shallower, calmer waters of the Pamlico Sound. The sound is a good place for children and not-so-strong swimmers. It’s a good idea to wear some kind of water shoes, however, so you won’t cut your feet on oyster shells. There are several soundside beaches within Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The most easily accessible are the Salvo Day Use area just south of Salvo and the Haulover area just south of Avon. Otherwise, if you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, there are several sand trails in Cape Hatteras National Seashore that lead back to soundside beaches. Pick up an Off-Road Driving Map, available at National Park Service Visitor Centers.
Note: For disabled visitors, Cape Hatteras National Seashore loans out beach wheelchairs on a first-come, first-served basis. For information call (252) 441-5711 or (252) 995-4474.
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A. S. Austin Company
- 57698 N.C. Highway 12
- Hatteras Village
Located in a cool historic building smack dab in the middle of Hatteras Village, this company can equip your Hatteras excursion. They offer kayak rentals by the hour, day or week as well as kayak tours. All your biking needs are covered here, with a great selection of cruisers (helmets and locks included) for rent or sale. The store offers one-of-a-kind local artwork on display, locally made jewelry, T-shirts, flip flops, hats and more.
Avon Golf
- 41001 N.C. Highway 12, Avon Fishing Pier
- Avon
To practice your putting skills, head over to Avon Golf. This 18-hole, natural-grass putting green is on the oceanfront. Unlimited, all-day play is available for $8, and you can come and go as you please. Get your tickets, putters and balls at the Avon Fishing Pier.
Hatteras Watersports
- 27130 N.C. Highway 12
- Salvo
Hatteras Watersports, located on the sound in Salvo, rents Yamaha 4-stroke Waverunners and Jet Skis right on site. They also rent flatwater and ocean kayaks, which you can launch here or take to your own location, and they lead kayak eco-tours in the sound. Hobie Wave 14-foot sailboats are available for rent as well. Between your adventures on the water, this is a great place to hang out, with a big lawn, sound beach, volleyball court, picnic area and restroom with hot showers. The house is actually the former Pea Island Life-Saving Station and you’ll find it at milepost 42.5.
Island Cycles & Sports—Avon
- 41934 N.C. Highway 12, Hatteras Island Plaza
- Avon
- (252) 995-4336
- map
Island Cycles & Sports rents kayaks, surfboards, skimboards, boogie boards and other fun stuff for the beach. They sell Flexifoil kiteboarding gear. Island Cycles is a full-service bike shop selling and renting bikes and scooters for the whole family, and they will deliver bikes to your location. They also sell cycling gear and make repairs.
Kitty Hawk Kites
- 39432 N.C. Highway 12, Island Shops
- Avon
Kitty Hawk Kites offers both ocean and sound kayak rentals at its Avon store. You can launch at their site or take the kayak to your own location. Kitty Hawk Kites also offers a variety of kayak eco-tours on Hatteras Island, including a tour of the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. For tour information and reservations, call (877) 359-8447.
Kitty Hawk Kites
- Hatteras Landing, Marina Way
- Hatteras Village
Kitty Hawk Kites offers kayak rentals and kayak tours from this waterfront store location. For information and reservations, call (877) FLY-THIS.
Kitty Hawk Kites Climbing Wall
- Hatteras Landing, Marina Way
- Hatteras Village
If all this flat land has you craving a vertical view of things, Kitty Hawk Kites has a sport rock-climbing wall set up on the porch at Hatteras Landing Marina. It tops out at 32 feet high, and there are beginner and advanced routes. The staff is there to assist beginners with their first climb. It’s usually only open in the summer season, so call before stopping by.
Kitty Hawk Kites’ Waves Village Kiteboarding Resort
- 24502 N.C. Highway 12
- Rodanthe
Kitty Hawk Kites’ Waves Village is an all-in-one, one-stop shop for watersports fun. Take kiteboarding lessons with some of the top teachers in the world, rent kiteboarding equipment or participate in a host of other activities like stand up paddleboarding, windsurfing or kayaking. Waves Village’s launch site is free and open to the public, not just to customers. The center is on the sound, so launching and lessons are right on site. Waves Village also has hot showers, a coffee shop, a candy store and several shops that offer apparel, gear, equipment and accessories.
Koru Village
- 40920 N.C. Highway 12
- Avon
- (252) 995-3125
- map
Koru Village’s campus serves as the epicenter for renewal of health and wellness on Hatteras Island. Koru features a spa, salon and fitness center, including a spacious yoga studio and villa accommodations. The spa offers a wide range of services, including massages, facials, body wraps, body treatments, manicures, pedicures, bridal services and much more. Their focus is to create an experience that promotes renewal of life and spirit in every facet of the campus. The Koru is a spiral-shaped Maori symbol that represents new life, growth, strength and peace, and it is with these elements in mind that Koru has created and developed all of its services and programs.
Moneysworth Rentals
- 23466 N.C. Highway 12
- Rodanthe
- (252) 987-1002
- map
Moneysworth rents bikes for all sizes and ages, including pull-behind carts and child seats. They also rent beach gear and watersports gear. They offer free delivery and pickup anywhere on Hatteras Island.
Ocean Atlantic Rentals
- 40809 N.C. Highway 12
- Avon
Ocean Atlantic Rentals rents bikes for the whole family. They have large and small frame bikes for men and women plus kids’ bikes, pull-behind carts, child seats, tricycles and helmets for adults and children. They also rent kayaks, surfboards, boogie boards and beach gear. Delivery and pickup are offered to all Hatteras Island villages, for free on orders more than $99 and for a small charge for orders less than that amount.
OceanAir Sports
- 39450 N.C. Highway 12
- Avon
- (252) 995-5000
- map
Whether you want to learn a new watersport, rent some gear or just hang out with some like-minded people who love and appreciate the Hatteras Island watersports scene, OceanAir Sports is good spot to be. OceanAir Sports is a full-service watersports facility offering lessons and rentals for windsurfing, kiteboarding, standup paddleboarding, surfing, kayaks, sailing and Waverunners. The staff and instructors are experienced, trusted locals who practice their sports regularly and keep up with the latest technical information and trends; they are enthusiastic about sharing their love of the sports with people who stop by. The scene is unintimidating; beginners in all sports will feel welcome here, but there’s plenty for experienced kiters and sailors as well. OceanAir sells gear from premier brands like North Kiteboarding, Jimmy Lewis, DaKine, O’Neill, North Sails, JP, Ezzy Sails, Reef Sandals, Sanuk sandals and clothing. It’s located directly on the Pamlico Sound at the north end of Avon, and you can launch right from their dock.
Outer Banks Diving
- 57544 N.C. Highway 12
- Hatteras Village
- (252) 986-1056
- map
For expert guiding and charters to the Graveyard of the Atlantic wrecks, certified divers should contact Capt. Johnny and Amy Pieno at Outer Banks Diving. This full-service dive shop offers single, group and multi-day rates for trips aboard their large, comfortable U.S. Coast Guard–certified vessel, the Flying Fish. Shipwrecks are predominantly of WWII vintage in the 70- to 110-foot-deep range. The boat is docked at Teach’s Lair Marina, and the shop is about a mile north of there. PADI scuba certification courses are offered here. The shop rents and sells gear for snorkeling and diving, including masks, fins, snorkels, wetsuits and more, and they make repairs. Stop in to ask about their options for snorkeling, which is a great family activity. The gift shop is really neat—you’ll find giant sharks’ teeth, nautical items and souvenirs.
Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge
- N.C. Highway 12
- Hatteras Island
The refuge’s Visitor Center, located on the northern end of Hatteras Island about 4 miles south of Oregon Inlet, is a good place to start a Pea Island visit. It gives an introduction to the ecosystems and wildlife of the refuge and the activities that are permissible there. You may also pick up informational brochures, the National Park Service’s newspaper and trail maps. A restroom and plenty of parking are available. You may start your walk on North Pond Wildlife Trail here.
The Visitor Center is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day. Beyond the Visitor Center, Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge is a 13-mile stretch of pristine barrier island. The beaches are wonderfully devoid of people most of the time, and there are several access points for getting to the beach. Pea Island is also great for surfing, surf fishing, shell hunting, kayaking, photography and other eco-friendly outdoor activities. Driving on the beach is not allowed here. Leashed pets are allowed on the beach, but not on the walking trails or overlooks.
North Pond Wildlife Trail is a good, flat, easy trail that starts at the Pea Island Visitor Center, about 4 miles south of Oregon Inlet. Park in the parking lot and look for the North Pond Wildlife Trailhead behind the restrooms. A sturdy, handicapped-accessible boardwalk leads back into the marshy areas around North Pond where you’ll see a variety of birds and wildlife. The trail turns into a hard-packed natural surface that extends for a half-mile and ends in a two-level observation tower where you can see from sea to sound. After North Pond Wildlife Trail ends, you may keep going on an unpaved service road that takes you all the way around the pond. This service road connects with the Salt Flats Wildlife Trail, and at the end (N.C. Highway 12) you can either turn back and go the way you came or cross over the dunes and walk along the beach to get back to the Visitor Center. The entire loop, if you take the beach route, is about 4 miles. The northern leg of the North Pond circuit is prone to excessive mosquitoes at all times of the year. Don’t let that keep you away; just bring insect repellent.
You may also park at the Salt Flats Wildlife Trailhead, a little over a mile north of the Visitor Center. You’ll see a lot of birds on these trails no matter what time of year you’re here, but this hike is most phenomenal in the fall and winter, when thousands of migratory birds are resting over on the pond. You’ll see snow geese, Canada geese, tundra swan and numerous species of ducks. You may pick up trail maps at the Visitor Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day or from the racks on the front porch after hours.
Guided bird walk programs are offered at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge year round, and other programs — Turtle Talks, Soundside Adventures and Birds and Their Adaptations — are offered in the summer months. Canoe tours are offered during the warmer months as a fee-based program. Click on the link here to see those programs, see www.fws.gov/alligatorriver/spec.html for a list or call the visitors center. Also see our writeup on Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge Activities in this Recreation section.
Rodanthe Watersports and Campground
- 24170 N.C. Highway 12
- Rodanthe
- (252) 987-1431
- map
Rodanthe Watersports offers affordable rentals of Waverunners, kayaks, surfboards, sailboats, standup paddleboards, skimboards, bodyboards, wetsuits, beach chairs, bikes, umbrellas and more. Right on the sound, it offers easy, uncrowded access to the water. Look for this business next to the Chicamacomico Water Tower. Sailing OBX is the sailing program at Rodanthe Watersports, offering Hobie Cats, Sunfish and Daysailers. You can rent the boats, book or charter, take sailing lessons or have a sailboat delivered locally.
Studio 12
- 40534 N.C. Highway 12
- Avon
- (252) 995-7899
- map
When you’re looking for something to do beyond the beach, get creative at this art studio that includes pottery painting, mosaics and glass fusion. You can walk in any time to make some art or sign up for one of their many classes. Shop their gallery filled with art that includes wheel-thrown pottery, hand-crafted tiles, paintings and jewelry by Studio 12 owners Carolyn and Gary Schena. Studio 12 is open Monday through Saturday in the off-season and seven days a week in the summer.
Wind-NC
- 41074 N.C. Highway 12
- Avon
- (252) 995-4400
- map
Wind-NC is a full-service windsurfing, standup paddleboarding (SUP) and skateboarding specialty shop. Wind-NC offers rentals, lessons and sales of high-quality new and used gear and waterwear. Windsurfing and SUP lessons are offered for all ages and all levels, from beginner to expert; reservations are recommended.
Angelo’s Pizza Arcade
- 46903 N.C. Highway 12
- Buxton
- (252) 995-6364
The game room and arcade at this restaurant is enormous, great for kids and adults who are looking for something to do. There are several pool tables, air hockey, tons of video games, pinball and much more. Little kids have their own section.
Avon Sail House
- 39235 North Kinnakeet Drive
- Avon
- (252) 995-7954 or (541) 806-4117
Avon Sail House sells high-end windsurfing equipment in the local shop and online. Stop by the shop in the windy seasons (spring and fall). They ship products year round.
Avon Surf Shop
- 40136 N.C. Highway 12
- Rodanthe
- (252) 995-4783
Avon Surf Shop rents and sells surfboards. They also offer individual surf lessons for all ages and all levels. The owners are longtime surfers dedicated to the sport, so you’ll know you’re in good hands. They also have a full skate shop with a great clothing section. The shop is located just south of the Dolphin Den in north Avon.
Beach Driving
- Hatteras Island
Driving on the beach is allowed in many areas of Cape Hatteras National Seashore. However, some areas of the beach may be closed to driving (but open to pedestrians) during the bird-breeding and turtle nesting seasons (mid-March to late August for birds and as late as November for turtles).
You may have heard rumors that all of the Hatteras Island beaches are closed to beach driving, but that simply is not true. In July 2009, in the height of bird-breeding season, Cape Hatteras National Seashore still had more than 23 miles of beach open for ORV use and more than 48 miles of beaches open to pedestrians. Only about 19 miles of beach were closed for resource protection in 2008.
To protect nesting sea turtles, night driving (10 p.m. to 6 a.m.) is not allowed on any Cape Hatteras National Seashore beaches between May 1 and September 15. Night-driving permits will be available for beach drivers between September 16 and November 15. For more information on Cape Hatteras National Seashore see www.nps.gov/caha.
These beach-driving closures are in effect to protect the breeding birds and turtle nests, so the areas of closed beaches vary greatly depending on where the birds and turtles decide to breed and nest each season. To see the most up-to-date information about closed beach areas, visit http://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/googleearthmap.htm. The website is updated continuously during the summer months so it is the best source of current information. This interactive map is very easy to use and offers a wealth of information at a glance. If you don’t have access to the web, call the National Park Service Headquarters at (252) 473-2111.
Off-Road Driving Maps are available at the National Seashore Visitors Centers at Bodie Island Lighthouse, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse or the campgrounds. You can access the beach by vehicle at one of several sand ramps along the island. Be sure to read any signage concerning beach driving! There are also several soundside off-road-vehicle trails listed on the maps. Driving on the ocean beach or the soundside trails can be very convenient, especially for anglers looking for the perfect spot to
fish. It’s also nice for families to be able to park and spend the day at the water’s edge.
Four-wheel-drive vehicles are an absolute necessity when driving in sand. You’ll certainly be the subject of derisive snickering if you attempt it in a two-wheel-drive car and get stuck. But even four-wheel-drive vehicles get stuck from time to time. If you’re going to attempt driving in sand, most people recommend lowering the air pressure in your tires to about 20 to 25 pounds to give the vehicle a little flotation on the sand. Try to follow in the tracks of vehicles that were there before you, and try to maintain a steady pace in the softer, deeper sand. If you do get stuck, a fellow off-roader will usually help you out. If not, call Cape Point Exxon Towing Service in Buxton at (252) 995-5695.
Blue Marlin Display
- 57690 N.C. Highway 12, Hatteras Village Library and Community Center
- Hatteras Village
Hatteras Village is the offshore fishing capital of the Outer Banks. Big-game marlin fishing began here in the 1930s. To see a blue marlin (one that’s been mounted and preserved), go over to the Hatteras Village Library and Community Center. On the outside wall, encased in a glass box, is a world-record, 810-pound blue marlin that was caught on June 11, 1962, off Hatteras Island. The world record has since been broken, but this is still an impressive specimen.
Burrus Flying Service
- Billy Mitchell Airport
- Frisco
- (252) 986-2679
For a totally different perspective on Hatteras Island, see it from the air. Burrus offers air tours over Hatteras and Ocracoke islands for sightseeing, aerial photography or historical tours. Air tours prices are reasonable, starting at $40 per person for a party of three and varying from there depending on your chosen tour. The owners will do custom tours of the Outer Banks (prices vary).
Buxton Woods – National Park Service Nature Trail
- 46375 Lighthouse Road
- Buxton
- (252) 995-4474
Near the lighthouse on the NPS grounds is a 3/4-mile trail through the maritime forest of Buxton Woods. From N.C. Highway 12, turn onto Lighthouse Road and continue around the curve to the right past the lighthouse. The trailhead is on the right at the picnic area. A pine needle-covered path leads back into the forest. Along the way there are informational signs about the maritime forest ecosystem and the health of Buxton Woods. You’ll pass Jennette’s Sedge, a naturally occurring freshwater pond. This is a mostly flat, easy walk, though the terrain is uneven in places. Bring bug spray.
Buxton Woods Coastal Reserve
- Off N.C. Highway 12
- Buxton
- Contact the North Carolina Coastal Reserve office in Kitty Hawk at: (252) 261-8891
Buxton Woods is one of the largest remaining maritime forests in the Southeast. It consists of pine- and oak-covered dune ridges interspersed with maritime swamp forest and unique marshy wetlands known locally as sedges.
It’s a very rare ecosystem for a barrier island, and most visitors don’t even realize it exists. The North Carolina Coastal Reserve, a program of the N.C. Division of Coastal Management, maintains more than 900 acres of the woods for research, education and recreation and offers some great hiking trails for the public to experience this amazing ecosystem.
On a walk here you might see one of 360 species of birds, including bald eagles and peregrine falcons, along with gray fox, white-tailed deer, mink, river otter, box turtles, salamanders or snakes.
A great hiking trail can be found just west of Buxton. Off N.C. Highway 12, turn south onto Old Doctor’s Road. If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, keep heading straight back on that sand road until it dead ends. If you don’t have four-wheel-drive, park your car on the little turnout off to the side of Old Doctor’s Road. At the end of the sand road is a trailhead sign for a 1/3-mile hike, called Lookout Loop, that takes you up to a high dune ridge. From this ridge you can look down at Jennette’s Sedge, a beautiful interdunal pond teeming with life. If you walk from the beginning of the road to the trail and back, it will take you about an hour.
Another set of trails through Buxton Woods is a little west of the one on Old Doctor’s Road. Turn south off Highway 12 on Water Association Road and take the road all the way back until you reach a 90-degree bend in the road. At the corner of Water Association Road and Great Ridge Road, you’ll find the trailhead with parking.
Though trail use is restricted to walkers and some designated trails to horses (horseback tours are only available through a private company, Equine Adventures; see separate writeup), some traditional use is accommodated within the reserve. Seasonal hunting is allowed, per state and local regulations (call the reserve office for additional information). Licensed vehicles are allowed only on the dirt roads within the reserve. Target shooting and camping are prohibited.
The Coastal Reserve staff maintains a kiosk at the Old Doctor’s Road entrance with a map of hiking trails. Buxton Woods does not offer any facilities so please wear appropriate clothing to protect against biting insects and poisonous plants. Bring water, snacks and sunscreen to ensure an enjoyable visit to the woods.
For additional information about hiking, hunting permits and reserve rules call the reserve office in Kitty Hawk at (252) 261-8891.
