Cape Lookout

Cape Lookout Cape Lookout National Seashore North Carolina National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Black skimmers (above) © BRITT BROWN A Loggerhead turtle hatchling crawls to the sea. (above left) Red Knots (above right) stop here during spring and fall migration. © BRITT BROWN Surf fishing is a popular activity. Knobbed whelk shells (top right) and horseshoe crabs are sometimes washed ashore. HORSESHOE CRAB © PAUL OESCHGER FISHERMAN © BRITT BROWN The present lighthouse, completed in 1859, can be seen 15 miles out to sea. Its diamond pattern (day mark) and flash pattern tells mariners their location. Fishing was the main occupation of the islanders. Shackleford Banks is home to more than 100 wild horses. People have been returning to these islands for generations. Clam and cockle shells ALL IMAGES NPS UNLESS OTHERWISE CREDITED © BRITT BROWN Looking towards Portsmouth from the top of Cape Lookout lighthouse. © BRITT BROWN A n d so in my min l e i d os c op i c p a t t er n a k , g n i t f i h s f i x e d r e a l i t y - Ea r t h b e c o na d’s eye these c i d n a d e n t e a l b m i t d l n min g f l u o a s t a l fo r m s m er g e a in which there i s no finality, no ui d a s t The Edge of the Sea Rachel Carson Cape Lookout National Seashore is wild, beautiful, and remote. This isolated strip of sand is one of the few remaining undeveloped barrier island systems in the world. The rhythm of nature is evident here. Waves crash, winds blow, currents shift, and storms batter this dynamic landscape, where change is certain and survival difficult. The last residents left in 1971, but some of their homes can still be seen, and their sense of community and love for this place can still be felt. In the midst of this changing landscape connections to the past and the renewal of life are evident. Sea turtles, piping plovers, and American oystercatchers return, laying eggs on the same THER A E W WIND, This 1780s map shows Shackleford Banks connected to Cape Lookout and Portsmouth. beach where their lives began. People travel back to visit historic villages, cast their lines, and swap stories about the catch of the day and previous generations who fished from these shores. he Sea it self. your toes in the sand, gather shells, and surf cast. Watch the sunrise and sunset and see one of the best night sky views on the east coast. Connect with the rhythms of nature on the southern Outer Banks. Step off a ferry and into a world where birds outnumber people and wild Shackleford horses roam. Enjoy the beach and ocean views, wiggle , A N D WAV E S Stand anywhere along North Core, South Core (named for the Coree Indians), and Shackleford Banks and you can be assured of one thing—it is changing. Undeveloped and controlled by the forces of nature, inlets open and close, shoals advance and retreat, sands shift, and islands roll. Sometimes the change is small, other times dangerous, dramatic, and life-altering. Waves, currents, tides, winds, sea level, and storms continually build, erode, and sculpt this ribbon of sand. Barrier islands are the first line of defense during storms; absorbing the impact of surges, they protect coastal communities and marine life. At Cape Lookout National Seashore beaches, dunes, grasslands, maritime forests, and salt marshes provide home and refuge to a rich variety of vegetation and wildlife. Oysters filter water as they feed in the intertidal zone, the area covered by water at high tide and exposed at low tide. One oyster can clean 50 gallons of water in 24 hours. Fisherman harvesting oysters © NORTH CAROLINA MARITIME MUSEUM Eastern oyster © SMITHSONIAN MARINE STATION USMA LIBRARY, SPECIAL COLLECTIONS SHARE Loggerhead hatchlings Sea turtle hatchlings head straight to the ocean. Closing beaches to vehicles, about 10 days before hatches, smooths ruts helping the hatchlings reach the ocean. © BRITT BROWN American oystercatcher chick THE BEACH Shackleford horses need protection too. Please stay 50 or more feet away to avoid disturbing these wild horses and endangering yourself. The beach is a special habitat. People come here for recreation, but for wildlife this is home, a place to find food, rest during long migrations, and have their young. Sea turtles and shore birds build their nests on the beach. It’s their nursery. Park staff monitor the shore and set up buffers to preserve nesting sites. © BRITT BROWN Help us protect their babies: • Respect protected areas and follow regulations. • Pets must be kept under control on a six-foot leash at all times. • Dispose of fishing line properly. Thanks for caring. Thanks for sharing the beach. Piping plover chicks and eggs © BRITT BROWN © BRITT BROWN Shore birds build their nests in the sand, making them difficult to see. Closures help protect these nests, eggs, and baby birds. “You have to go out, you don’t have to come back,” was the unofficial motto of the US Life-Saving Service that rescued shipwreck victims. Stations were located at Portsmouth, Core Banks, and Cape Lookout. WAV E S O F G E N E R AT I O Since prehistoric times people have been drawn to these barrier islands. American Indians hunted and fished along these banks and in 1753 a planned community, Portsmouth Village, was laid out. For over one hundred years it was the busiest seaport in North Carolina. Over time, storms and the constant NS motion of sea, sand, and wind narrowed the entrance into Ocracoke Inlet. In 1846 a hurricane opened a new, deeper inlet at Hatteras and shipping routes shifted north. Fishing became the primary occupation for the islanders who stayed. Generations of “Bankers” have hunted and fished on these islands. Here a group of anglers prepare to fish along the coast. Exploring Undeveloped Barrier Islands npf_black.pdf START YOUR VISIT to Cape Lookout National Seashore at the visitor center on Harkers Island, open daily except Thanksgiving, December 25, and January 1. From I-95 take US 70 east to Otway, NC, turn right on Harkers Island Road and continue to the visitor center, located at the end of the road. PLAN AHEAD FOR AN ENJOYABLE VISIT All access to the national seashore is by ferry or private boat. These islands are wild and undeveloped—no paved roads, concession stands, stores, restaurants, or trash cans. Restrooms are few and far between. Be Prepared: Please bring everything you need with you, including snacks/food, hand sanitizer, protective clothing/hat and sunscreen. Water: Please bring two liters of water per person per day. Insects: May to October mosquitoes, sand gnats, and chiggers can be a problem. Bring plenty of repellent. Ticks live on Shackleford Banks, check yourself often. Trash: Bring a trash bag and carry out all trash with you. Comfort: Wear comfortable clothing and shoes that can get wet. Weather: Check the weather and plan for high and low tides. Pets: Pets must be kept under control on a six-foot leash at all times. Firearms: For regulations, check the park website. MORE INFORMATION Cape Lookout National Seashore 131 Charles Street Harkers Island, NC 28531 252-728-2250 www.nps.gov/calo GETTING TO THE ISLANDS Nearby towns offer ferry services to these islands. For ferry schedules and toll information contact the park or check the Ferry Services page at www.nps.gov/calo. ACTIVITIES Camping: Primitive beach camping only. For information go to the camping page at www.nps.gov/calo. Swimming: There are no lifeguards. Rip currents occur along the beach creating dangerous water conditions. Boating: Make sure you have current navigational charts on board and follow marked channels. The sound is shallow; it is easy to run aground. Monitor the tides. Cabins: Rustic cabins at Long Point and Great Island offer beachfront views of the pristine, undeveloped barrier islands. Make reservations online at Recreation.gov. Join the park community. www.nationalparks.org Cape Lookout National Seashore is one of over 400 parks in the Na­tional Park System. To learn more about national parks and National Park Service programs visit www.nps.gov. 1 8/26/22 12:33 PM Accessibility We strive to make our facilities, services, and programs accessible to all. For information go to the visitor center, ask a ranger, call, or check our website. Ocracoke Lighthouse has a passenger ferry. Portsmouth Village has information, a passenger ferry, and restrooms. It is open seasonally. The historic U.S. Life-Saving Service Station is located there. Tidal flats may flood quickly at high tide—depending upon winds and seasons. IGPO: 2015—388-437/30558 New in 2015 Vehicle ferries travel between Cedar Island and Ocracoke, Hall Point to Long Point, and Davis to Great Island. US Life-Saving Service Portsmouth Methodist Church © MICHAEL HALMINSKI Portsmouth Village Historic District Portsmouth Village was established as a lightering port, to move cargo from heavier seagoing ships to lighter boats moving inland. Visit this village for a glimpse of what life was like on a barrier island from the 1750s to 1971. Long Point has information, lodging, a picnic shelter, restrooms, showers, drinking water, and a sanitary disposal station. It is open seasonally. Rustic rental cabins Harkers Island The main visitor center is located on the eastern end of Harkers Island. This is a passenger ferry departure site. Dock at Portsmouth Village North Core Banks The northernmost point of the park is on this southeast facing island. North Core Banks also contains the Long Point cabins. Great Island has information, lodging, a picnic shelter, restrooms, showers, drinking water, and a sanitary disposal station. It is open seasonally. Shipwreck remains Beaufort includes the Beaufort Visitor Information Center, North Carolina Maritime Museum, and Rachel Carson Reserve/salt marsh. The Beaufort Visitor Information Center has information, restrooms, and a passenger ferry. Harkers Island Visitor Center has information, a picnic area, restrooms, and a passenger ferry. Fort Macon State Park is southwest of Beaufort and has a salt marsh. South Core Banks The Cape Lookout lighthouse, Cape Lookout Historic Village, and Great Island cabins are all located on this southeast facing island. Cape Lookout Lighthouse has information, a picnic shelter, restrooms, and drinking water. It is open seasonally. There is passenger ferry nearby. The historic U.S. Coast Guard Station is southwest of the lighthouse. Red drum US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE ARTWORK BY DUANE RAVER Wading in the surf © STEFANIE RICHARDSON Cape Lookout Village Historic District This historic village is about two miles south of the Cape Lookout lighthouse and has the Cape Lookout US Life-Saving Station and a US Coast Guard Station. Cape Lookout lighthouse, circa 1898 Helmet shell ALL IMAGES NPS UNLESS OTHERWISE CREDITED Shackleford Banks Shackleford Banks is about nine miles long and has the largest maritime forest in the park. Its wide southwestern shore is left exposed to the threat of southwest storms. It is home to a herd of wild horses which is monitored by the National Park Service in partnership with the Foundation for Shackleford Horses, Inc. Surfing off Shackleford Banks Natural areas within Cape Lookout NS. Shackleford horses © BRITT BROWN The salt marsh (pictured below and shown as light green on the map above) is one of the most diverse ecosystems at Cape Lookout. Marsh grasses provide food for insects as well as Shackleford horses. In the fall grasses break down, becoming a food source for crabs, shrimp, and fish Water depths from 0 to 6 feet (0 to 2 meters) are typical in Core and Back Sounds. New shoals and channels form continually. National Ocean Survey charts are essential for safe navigation in these waters. Ocean coastline derived from Landsat 8 imagery taken on October 10, 2014. There are no roads within the national seashore; a 4-wheel-drive vehicle is highly recommended for driving on the beach. Some land within the park remains private property; please respect the owner’s rights. The salt marsh is a vital nursery for many species of crustaceans and fish. It provides abundant food and protection from predators. Many species of birds flock here to feed on insects, fish, crabs, and other invertebrates. © BRITT BROWN