Cape Lookout National Seashore is an undeveloped barrier isle inwards North Carolina that is a must see for whatever outdoor enthusiast. Ashley in addition to I visited Cape Lookout National Seashore on our most recent see to North Carolina this past times summer. Cape Lookout National Seashore is a low, narrow barrier isle that runs for 56 miles from Ocracoke Inlet on the northeast, to Beafuort Inlet to the southwest. There is plenty for the whole theatre unit of measurement to create when visiting Cape Lookout National Sea Shore, from hiking, swimming, exploring the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, seeing wild horses, in addition to so much more.
Directions to Trailhead: Ashley in addition to I got to Cape Lookout National Seashore past times using the Harkers Island Visitor Center, which is located on the eastern terminate of Harkers Island, to a greater extent than or less 20 miles (30 km) eastward of Beaufort, NC in addition to xxx miles (50 km) due south of the Cedar Island terminus of the North Carolina State Ferry road from Ocracoke Island to Cedar Island. This visitor centre is 1 of ii Ferry Gateways to the Cape Lookout Light Station in addition to Shackleford Banks. There are several other Ferry options to acquire to the Island, but this is the shortest Ferry ride to acquire to
Cape Lookout Lighthouse. There is no fee for parking at the visitor center, but in that location is a cost to ride the Ferry to see the Cape Lookout National Seashore. Cost hit from $15-$20 per individual to ride the Ferry in addition to the ferry ride is to a greater extent than or less xv minutes. For to a greater extent than data on taking a Ferry to the Cape Lookout National Seashore, click
Here.
The Cape Lookout Lighthouse is alone opened upward is opened upward for climbing from the 2nd calendar week inwards May to the tertiary weekend inwards September. Self-guided tours of upward to 10 people will get down every xv minutes during the hours of operation. The electrical current costs for admission when nosotros went was $8 per person, in that location are discounted prices for children in addition to seniors. The lighthouse may unopen at whatever fourth dimension if conditions (i.e.: temperature/humidity, lightning, or high winds) are determined to live on unsafe. The climb to the top is strenuous. It may live on hot, humid, noisy in addition to dim within the lighthouse. Climbing the 207 steps to the gallery is roughly equal to climbing a 12-story building. The stairs are narrow in addition to groups going upward volition part the stairs amongst groups returning to the bottom. Make certain to acquire your tickets to climb the lighthouse early on because on busy days the bring out of tickets tin sell out. There is a laid bring out of people able to climb the lighthouse each twenty-four hours in addition to the quota exists because the lighthouse is a really quondam construction in addition to tin alone safely accommodate so many people safely. For to a greater extent than data nigh seasonal hours of operation, click
Here.
Description of Trail: This is a niggling dissimilar of a write-up than our normal posts equally in that location is non laid trail to explore, per se. When yous get down your ferry ride from Harkers Island to Cape Lookout National Seashore, yous volition locomote along side Shackleford Banks, which is some other uninhabited barrier island. If yous are lucky, yous volition live on able to grab a glimpse of the wild horses that inhabit this island. Ashley in addition to I saw several horses spell on the ferry ride to Cape Lookout. Our ferry driver was overnice plenty to come upward to a total halt to allow visitors the chance to receive got pictures. These horses are descendants of Castilian horses that washed ashore subsequently shipwrecks to a greater extent than or less 400 years ago. There are an estimated 110 wild horses living on Shackleford Banks.
During the ferry ride over, yous volition receive got Cape Lookout Lighthouse firmly inwards view. The ferry docks correct close Cape Lookout Lighthouse in addition to yous acquire out the ferry correct past times Cape Lookout Lighthouse. You in addition to so hike along a wooden boardwalk to the visitor center, which has a minor gift shop, restrooms, in addition to is the gateway to Cape Lookout Lighthouse and Cape Lookout National Seashore. You purchase your tickets to climb the lighthouse at this visitor center. At this indicate yous are a curt walk to the Cape Lookout Lighthouse in addition to less than a 0.4 mile hike to the Atlantic Coast. There are wooden boardwalks about the visitor centre in addition to the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, but exterior of that yous are walking on apartment sandy trails.
Further Thoughts: A wealth in addition to multifariousness of activities awaits yous at Cape Lookout National Seashore. From birding, to camping, to fishing, to learning nigh the rich history of Cape Lookout Light Station, in that location is something hither for everyone. The primary affair is yous volition withdraw to convey amongst yous everything yous withdraw for your see to the Cape Lookout National Seashore. Ashley in addition to I brought a total twenty-four hours pack amongst everything from lunch, sunscreen, water, in addition to appropriate clothes. When nosotros rootage got to Cape Lookout, nosotros forthwith purchased our tickets to climb the Cape Lookout Lighthouse. Our scheduled fourth dimension was non for several hours, so nosotros hiked over to the beach in addition to explored the area.
We did a niggling shelling in addition to and so went swimming inwards the warm Atlantic waters, which during the summertime fourth dimension acquire over eighty degrees. One of the nifty things nigh beingness at Cape Lookout National Seashore is in that location is no evolution on the island. It is a completely dissimilar sense beingness on an isle that has no housing correct along the ocean. You await downward equally far equally the oculus tin come across along the coast in addition to in that location is not a unmarried dwelling built on the coastline. It is genuinely a magnificent sight to see!
After enjoying the surf in addition to the sand, Ashley in addition to I headed dorsum over to create our tour of the Cape Lookout Lighthouse. The electrical current Cape Lookout Lighthouse was completed in addition to lit on Nov 1, 1859 in addition to replaced a shorter lighthouse built inwards 1812. The double wall structure--the rootage of its sort inwards North Carolina--allowed the tower to live on much taller than previous designs. The 1859 lighthouse was 163 feet tall in addition to its lite reached to a greater extent than or less xv miles out to sea. Shortly subsequently the improved tower was activated, however, country of war broke out betwixt the states. The lite was extinguished to forbid Union ships from using it to navigate the treacherous North Carolina coast. The lite was reestablished amongst a tertiary gild Fresnel lens inwards 1863 in addition to shone for most of the residual of the war. For more, on the history of the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, click
Here.
If yous receive got to a greater extent than than 1 twenty-four hours to pass at the Cape Lookout National Sea Shore, in that location is primitive camping ground available on the island. Campers should ready carefully for the natural conditions to live on found at the park. We saw ii groups of people that were going to live on camping ground correct on the beach.
The waters surrounding the commons are feeding grounds for marine mammals in addition to sea turtles. Four sea turtle species - Loggerhead, Green, Kemp's Ridley, in addition to Leatherback - are sometimes seen feeding inwards expanse waters. Only the Loggerhead sea turtle regularly nests on the park's beaches during the summertime months. The others are found alone equally juveniles or are but passing through.
Birds are the most easily observed animals inwards the park. Spring in addition to Fall migration brings a bring out of dissimilar species through the park. Stormy conditions tin drive a few pelagic birds inwards from the opened upward body of body of water for a visit. In summer, a bring out of tern species, egrets, dark skimmers, herons, pipage plovers in addition to other shorebirds nest within the park's boundaries.
Mammals are uncommon on the islands; rice rats, rabbits, river otters, in addition to raccoons are some of the native species found here. On Shackleford Banks is a population of horses that has gone wild in addition to adapted to their surroundings over the past times few hundred years. Although common salt in addition to brackish H2O environments dominate the islands, a few fresh H2O habitats back upward tree frogs in addition to Fowler's toads. While diamond-back terrapins prefer the common salt marsh areas, the grasslands are the preferred habitat for five-lined racerunner lizards in addition to dark racer snakes. For to a greater extent than on the ecosystem of this area, click
Here.
Ashley in addition to I spent a niggling to a greater extent than than a one-half twenty-four hours on the isle doing hikes along the beach, exploring the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, in addition to swimming inwards the ocean. When yous see this expanse brand certain to banking company fit the conditions forecast earlier yous acquire in addition to live on prepared for the anticipated conditions conditions. Since nosotros visited during the summery, nosotros got rained on for nigh 20 minutes of our one-half twenty-four hours remain on the island.
Rating: Little elevation gain throughout the whole Cape Lookout National Seashore. You tin brand your twenty-four hours equally relaxing or equally strenuous equally yous would like.
Time to Complete Hike: Ideally, Ashley in addition to I would recommend spending at to the lowest degree a one-half a twenty-four hours exploring the Cape Lookout National Seashore, if non a total day. We spent a one-half twenty-four hours in addition to would have enjoyed having to a greater extent than fourth dimension to pass enjoying the Cape Lookout National Seashore.
