Just about everything on Hatteras Island is nature and outdoor-oriented. The natural beauty of the island just beckons people outside, and almost everything on the island is an accessory to the outdoorsy lifestyle. If you want to find things to do in Hatteras nature, you’ll have opportunities at every turn.
Featured for Your Visit
Nature & Outdoor Oriented in Hatteras
57698 N.C. Highway 12, Hatteras village
In the heart of Hatteras village, Slash Creek Outfitters strives to make your Hatteras vacation the best one yet. This is the place to rent a four-person or six-person golf cart for tooling around the village, bikes of all sizes (kiddos and adults), kayaks for exploring the Slash Creek or the Pamlico Sound, beach chairs for relaxing and more! Have your rental items delivered to your beach house (for free) or stop by to pick them up and grab a vacation keepsake in their specialty curated, ever-expanding retail shop. Slash Creek Outfitters also offers the ever-popular sunset kayak and eco-tours.
In the heart of Hatteras village, Slash Creek Outfitters strives to make your Hatteras vacation the best one yet. This is the place to rent a four-person or six-person golf cart for tooling around the village, bikes of all sizes (kiddos and adults), kayaks for exploring the Slash Creek or the Pamlico Sound, beach chairs for relaxing and more! Have your rental items delivered to your...read more
In the heart of Hatteras village, Slash Creek Outfitters strives to make your Hatteras vacation...read more
Nature & Outdoor Oriented in Hatteras
At the end of N.C. Highway 12 just past the ferry docks, Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum attracts attention with its composite of ship shapes, porthole windows and curved timbers. One of three North Carolina Maritime Museums operated by the North Carolina Division of Natural and Cultural Resources, the museum focuses on the maritime history and culture of North Carolina’s Outer Banks. The Outer Banks’ stretch of sea is...read more
Nature & Outdoor Oriented in Hatteras
Hatteras Island Beaches Safety Information
The Cape Hatteras National Seashore beaches are routinely named on Dr. Steven Leatherman's (aka Dr. Beach) annual Top 10 list of the nation's best beaches. It's a worthy honor – the beaches here are wide and flat with white sand and few crowds.
In North Carolina all of the beach below the high-tide mark is public property. So you can...read more
Nature & Outdoor Oriented in Hatteras
If you're a fan of horseback riding, you've probably dreamed of riding along a wide-open beach. Here's your chance! These folks take you out for private rides and can accommodate all ages and skill levels. Call them in advance to talk about weight limits and to make an appointment, which is required. They're near the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum and the Hatteras ferry docks.read more
Nature & Outdoor Oriented in Hatteras
Hatteras Island Ocean Center is an indoor/outdoor nature center that provides a wide variety of interactive educational activities for people of all ages. Nature programs are held on weekdays all summer long, including Sea Turtle Patrol, Kayak Nature Tours and Marsh Madness. Call or see the website for the schedule and prices. The Ocean Center's exhibit room is open from 12 to 5 p.m. Monday...read more
Nature & Outdoor Oriented in Hatteras
The Hatteras Island Park Store is located on the grounds of Cape Hatteras Light Station. No visit to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is complete without a stop at the Park Store for seashore-related gifts. Lots of parking and restrooms are on site. The Hatteras Island Park Store is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Christmas.read more
Nature & Outdoor Oriented in Hatteras
Hatteras Village Park is a nature preserve with a trail that winds through a maritime forest and salt marsh. You'll see high marsh and tidal marsh and cross an elevated boardwalk. Self-guided booklets will point out the plants and animals you might see. Parking and bike racks are available. read more
Take your family on a horseback riding journey on the beach or in Buxton Woods. Lighthouse Horse Rides offers something for everyone, from walks on the beach for more experienced riders to cart rides pulled by a miniature horse or pony for the little ones. Available rides vary by days of the week. The owners of this business love the Outer Banks and their horses...read more
Nature & Outdoor Oriented in Hatteras
Miss Hatteras, a 75-foot head boat, makes daily trips in season to the fishing grounds, with individuals paying a per-person fee to go along. All the gear and tackle you’ll need, along with instruction from the helpful crew, is provided. On Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays Miss Hatteras takes full-day (6:30 a.m to 4 p.m.) trips to the Gulf Stream to bottom fish for triggerfish,...read more
Nature & Outdoor Oriented in Hatteras
A monument at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras honors Hotel De Afrique, the first safe haven for African Americans during the Civil War. The wooden house was approximately 1.5 miles west of where the museum now stands. A predecessor to the Freedmen's Colony on Roanoke Island and part of the National Underground Railroad, the building and surrounding barracks housed former slaves on...read more
Three vehicle ferries bring cars, trucks, RVs, motorcycles and bicycles to Ocracoke Island. The free Hatteras-Ocracoke Ferry offers multiple trips daily year-round, and the crossing takes 60 minutes. The ferry operates on a first-come, first-served basis, and reservations are not accepted. The Hatteras terminal is at the southern end of N.C. 12 on Hatteras Island, and after crossing Hatteras Inlet the ferry deposits riders on...read more
Over the last 70 years, Oregon Inlet Fishing Center has earned legendary status for its celebrated charter fishing fleet and proximity to the best fishing grounds. It earned this reputation as a no-frills facility, but big changes in 2024 have brought modernizations and upgrades to match its iconic status. A beautiful new, climate-resistant, two-story building elevated 11 feet above ground is now home to a...read more
Want to enjoy a roaring beach bonfire but you don't know where to start to make that happen? Outer Banks Beach Fires will take care of everything. They get the permit, gather up all the supplies and do all the work. All you have to do is relax by the fire, maybe roast a marshmallow or two and enjoy the moonrise. They can accommodate a...read more
