Cape Point reopens to ORVs and pedestrians
On Tuesday, August 8, the popular Cape Point beach in Buxton reopened to off-road vehicles (ORVs) and pedestrians after a seasonal closure for bird nesting, per an update from the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
Cape Point was initially closed to pedestrians and ORVs on June 28, 2023, due to newly hatched American oystercatcher chicks, as well as a number of least tern eggs. Those chicks have fledged, leading to the reopening of the Cape Point area for the summer season.
Other than 2017, (when Cape Point did not fully close during the nesting season), 2023 marks the latest date that Cape Point has seasonally closed since at least 2008. Last year, Cape Point closed to ORVs on May 25, 2022, and reopened to ORVs on August 17, 2022.
A beach driving permit is required to drive on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, and permits are available 24/7 at https://www.recreation.gov/. ORV Ramps 43 and 44 in Buxton are open from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily
For current beach access status and updates, visit the Cape Hatteras National Seashore website at https://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/conditions.htm.
