Improvements Begin at Devil Shoals Road Soundside Access on Ocracoke Island

The Cape Hatteras National Seashore (CHNS) recently announced that a series of improvements have begun at Devil Shoals Road on Ocracoke Island.

The road, which is located across from the Ocracoke Campground, provides access to soundside recreational activities, and is one of several projects conducted by the CHNS to improve sound access on Ocracoke.

“This is a project we planned for in 2016 / 2017 [as part of the] Final Rule for off-road vehicle (ORV) management,” said National Parks of Eastern North Carolina Superintendent David Hallac. “We wanted a soundside access on Ocracoke Island where the public could get to the sound without an off-road vehicle permit.”

During the project, Devil Shoals Road will be widened, and the parking area will be increased to accommodate 3 to 5 vehicles. The road will also be hardened using sand, shell, and clay, which will improve ease of passage to the parking area for non-4WD vehicles.

Prior to the Devil Shoals Road project, the CHNS also improved soundside access at South Bitter Squash Creek, by adding a parking area and kayak launch at the site.

“Unlike Hatteras Island where we have the Salvo Day Use Area, the Haulover Day Use Area, and the Sandy Bay Day Use Area, there were no [soundside] day use areas on Ocracoke,” said Hallac. “So we did two things to enhance access. The parking and kayak launch at South Bitter Creek, which has been open for about a year, and the enhanced access at Devils Shoal Road.” 

Devil Shoals Road will be closed during the project, however, it may be temporarily reopened on some weekends, or if there are delays in construction. While the road is closed, visitors can still access the Pamlico Sound using Prong Road, Borrow Pit Road, Scrag Cedars Road, and Shirley’s Lane.

The Devil Shoals Road project is anticipated to finish in two months.