Nags Head Woods Preserve
A maritime forest behind ancient dunes, with free trails winding through oaks, beeches and freshwater ponds.
Nags Head Woods is one of the best-preserved maritime forests on the U.S. East Coast, managed by The Nature Conservancy. Ancient dunes block sea wind and salt spray, creating a deciduous forest of oaks, beeches and hickories. The forest contains freshwater ponds, wetlands and multiple trails 1 to 4 kilometers long, where visitors can see deer, turtles and many songbirds. Entry is free, and the scenery is quite different from the beach. Mosquitoes are abundant in summer, so bring insect repellent, and cycling is not allowed in the forest.
Opening hours
Daily, sunrise to sunset
Nearby sights
- Jockey's Ridge State Park
- Wright Brothers National Memorial
- Fort Raleigh National Historic Site
- Roanoke Island Festival Park
- The Lost Colony Outdoor Drama
- Elizabethan Gardens
- Manteo Waterfront & Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse
- North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island