This extensive ecological preserve on North Carolina’s Outer Banks protects a remarkable range of unique habitats, including forested dunes, interdune ponds, marshes, and wetlands. The preserve offers a welcome natural respite from the busy coastal scene not only for wildlife, but also for human visitors.
Two of the largest active sand dunes on the East Coast, Run Hill and Jockey's Ridge, run along the northern and southern borders of the preserve respectively. These huge ancient dunes constantly move and change shape as the prevailing northeasterly winds blow sand into the forest, marsh, and sound.
Shielded from the ocean winds by the dune ridges, Nags Head Woods features a diversity of plant and animal life that is unusual to find on a barrier island. Towering oaks, hickories, and beech trees, some hundreds of years old, rise from the sand and create a canopy of trees more typical of the mountains of the eastern United States.
Over 100 species of birds have been documented at Nags Head Woods. The preserve is an important nesting area for more than 50 species, including green heron, wood duck, red-shouldered hawk, clapper rail, ruby-throated hummingbird, pileated woodpecker, prothonotary warbler, and summer tanager. Fifteen species of amphibians and 28 species of reptiles have been documented as well. The freshwater ponds are inhabited by seven species of fish and many reptiles and amphibians in addition to a great diversity of floating aquatic plant life, including the rare water violet. An extensive marsh system bordering Roanoke Sound on the western side of the preserve supports a wealth of wildlife including river otter, egrets, herons, and many species of migratory waterfowl.
During the 19th century and through the 1930s, Nags Head Woods was a thriving village community with 13 homesites, two churches, a school, a store, farms, a gristmill and a shingle factory. There are artifacts remaining of village life: a home foundation, cemeteries and other signs of previous human habitation in the forest.
THINGS TO DO
Hiking / Jogging / Birding / Bow Hunting
Nags Head Woods has several annual events including the Nags Head Woods 5K Run and the Wild Women on the Outer Banks Weekend. There are also hands-on, educational activities for children put on in conjunction with the NC Aquarium during the summer. Please visit our Facebook page for the most up-to-date information.
PLAN YOUR VISIT
Hours: Trails are open daily dawn until dusk. Office is open M-F 9-5, with closings when staff are at meetings or in the field.
Leashed Dogs are allowed on the following trails: Discovery, Roanoke, ADA and Town Trail. Dogs are not allowed on the Center, Sweetgum and Blueberry Ridge Trails. Bicycles and Horses are allowed on Old Nags Head Woods Road only. Thank you for your cooperation.
Trail maps and brochures available at our Outdoor Information Counter.
DIRECTIONS
Take US 158 to the Town of Kill Devil Hills. Turn west near Mile Post 9.5 on Ocean Acres Drive: There is a stoplight with a McDonald’s and Pigman’s BBQ. Drive through a residential neighborhood for one mile; the road becomes gravel and narrows. The road will curve sharply to the right and you will see the white Nags Head Woods Preserve sign and parking area on the left. Walk up the boardwalk where trail maps and preserve guides are available at the outdoor information counter.
