UPDATED: NPS lists ramps that are open to night driving

Cape Hatteras National Seashore’s resource management staff has prepared a list of ramps open for night driving to keep beachgoers up-to-date on the status of ORV routes.

The seashore opened beaches without turtle nests approaching a hatch window to night-driving on Sept. 16, but buffers continue to keep night drivers at least a half-mile from nests that are expanded and about to hatch.
In cases where the turtle nest that is being protected is closer than a half-mile to the ramp, the ramp is closed tonight driving.

To keep beach drivers updated on ramps that are closed to night driving — from 9 p.m. until 7 a.m. — the park has issued a list of ramps and their night driving status.

Click here to see the chart of ramp status as of Wednesday, Sept. 23.

Many of these ramps are open to driving during daylight hours under the park’s turtle nest buffer guidelines which were modified in June.

Beach drivers can get more information on ORV routes on the seashore’s Google Earth interactive site and the park’s Off-Road Vehicle webpage,   http://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/beachactivities.htm#ORV.

Updates on ORV closures around turtle nests will also be published on the seashore’s Facebook Page.

However, the situation with the turtle nests is constantly changing and drivers are advised that the most current, up-to-date information is signage on the ground.