The Outer Banks are a chain of barrier islands along the coast of North Carolina, including portions of Currituck, Dare, Hyde and Carteret Counties. The beaches along the Outer Banks are a very popular summertime tourist destination.
NC Coastal Reserves are a network of coastal areas protected for conservation and research purposes.
Currituck Banks Reserve - Currituck Banks Reserve, located just north of Corolla, protects maritime forest and estuary along Currituck Sound.
Jockey’s Ridge State Park - Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nag’s Head, protects the largest sand dune system on the east coast. The sandy dunes and steady winds make this park a great destination for hang gliding and flying a kite.
State Game Lands are managed by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Although primarily for hunting, some of the game lands have hiking trails.
Roanoke Island Marshes Game Land - Roanoke Island Marshes protects the wetlands in southern Roanoke Island.
The National Park Service has several units along the Outer Banks showcasing the history and natural beauty of the region.
Cape Hatteras National Seashore - Cape Hatteras National Seashore protects the barrier islands from Bodie Island to Ocracoke Island.
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site - Fort Raleigh commemorates the Roanoke Colony, the first attempt at English settlement in the New World.
Wright Brothers National Memorial - Wright Brothers National Memorial is dedicated to Orville and Wilbur Wright, who conducted the first successful heavier-than-air flights from the windy dunes of Kill Devil Hills.