National Seashore Updates for the Week of August 17

The Cape Hatteras National Seashore (CHNS) announced several recent updates related to beach driving and recreational activities on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands. Changes related to the National Seashore for the week of August 17 include the following:

Over the next year, Cape Hatteras National Seashore will evaluate plans for minimizing the potential for flooded conditions on the south end of Lighthouse Road in Buxton. The area close to ORV ramps 43 and 44, as well as the Cape Point Campground, still have standing water from record rainfall in the latter half of July.

Off-road vehicles (ORV) can currently travel 0.71 miles south of ORV ramp 44. Beach walkers can walk south of Ramp 44, walk outside of the currently closed area, and connect with the southwestern boundary of the closed area, which is approximately 0.3 miles west of the tip of Cape Point. Beach walkers can also walk 1.2 miles east of the South Beach Road parking area.

The tip of Cape Point remains temporarily closed due to a mixed tern (Least Tern and Black Skimmer) colony in various stages of nesting and chick-rearing. Staff monitor the area daily and will restore additional access when possible.The resource protection area at the tip of Cape Point is approximately a quarter mile in size. Seashore-wide, there are around 28 miles out of 29 miles to drive on and around 36 miles out of 38 miles available for beach walking.

Visitors can sign up for ocean safety text messages by texting “Join OBXBeachConditions” to 30890. The text messaging system is operated by Dare County with support from lifeguards and rescue squads operating on the Outer Banks