Seasonal ORV access for beaches in front of the villages of Hatteras Island has reopened for the off-season, beginning on Thursday, October 15. These routes, which run parallel to the towns of Hatteras, Frisco, Avon, and the Tri-villages, open to ORVs annually in the winter months when the visitor population is lower, and the routes [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Seashore) experienced a 42% increase in recreational visitation* last month compared to September 2019. The 345,249 visits amounted to the 2nd-highest level of September visitation since the establishment of the Seashore in 1953. Top 5 Highest September Recreational Visits by Year 2002: 466,686 2020: 345,249 2000: 334,909 1997: 300,377 2015: 298,610 [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

A fall foal has been spotted among the wild horses at Cape Lookout National Seashore. Crystal Wasley recently captured a photo of mare and foal for the National Park Service with a zoom lens. Cape Lookout’s wild horses live on Shackleford Banks, the southernmost barrier island on the national seashore, in a herd of about [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

The Cape Hatteras National Seashore (CHNS) announced several recent updates and news items related to recreational activities and seashore conditions on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands. News items and events related to the National Seashore for the week of October 8 include the following: Seashore Updates Two acts of vandalism at the Ocracoke Light Station were [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

Two acts of vandalism at the Ocracoke Light Station were recently discovered by Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Seashore) Rangers. The Seashore has launched an investigation and seeks tips from the public to help catch those responsible for the vandalism. On Sunday, September 27, Rangers noticed that a wooden ventilation slat was missing from the Ocracoke [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

F Four storm-related repair projects at Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Seashore) are scheduled to begin over the next two months. Ocracoke Boat Slip Utility Pedestal Replacement (Ocracoke, NC) On October 13, Achuti LLC (Raleigh, NC) will begin a project to install 15 new utility pedestals and utility lines at the Seashore’s Silver Lake boat slips [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

The Crystal Coast Stargazers Club members and Cape Lookout National Seashore rangers are working together to preserve the night sky by having the seashore certified as an International Dark Sky Park. A group of astronomy and space enthusiasts in eastern North Carolina that organize and participate in stargazing activities, the Crystal Coast Startgazers Club approached the seashore about applying for [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

The National Park Service held informational webinars this week to discuss the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a 20-year sediment management framework for the Cape Hatteras National Seashore (CHNS), and to solicit the public’s feedback on the preferred plan for future beach nourishment, dune restoration, and breach repair projects. “This is a very dynamic [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

The National Park Service (NPS) is seeking public review and comments on the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Sediment Management Framework at Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Seashore). The 45-day comment period began on September 18, 2020, with the publication of the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register, and ends on November 2, [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

As N.C. Highway 12 was battered by ocean overwash for nearly a week, crews from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) worked day and night to try to remove the inundation of saltwater and sand, and to reopen the highway as quickly as possible. Luckily, they also had a little help. The National Park [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

The National Park Service (NPS) seeks public review and comment on the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Sediment Management Framework at Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Seashore). The 45-day comment period begins today, September 18, 2020 with the publication of the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register and ends on November 2, 2020. [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

The Ocracoke Campground will stay open at Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Seashore) after its customary seasonal closure. The campground usually closes after Thanksgiving weekend, but this year the campground will stay open the entire year. All 136 sites will be open for use. Reservations and payments for camp sites at Ocracoke, Oregon Inlet, Cape Point, [...] Seashore News |  Full Article