Several ORV Routes Impacted by Erosion, Standing Water

February 10, 2021 | Seashore News | By: Joy Crist

Multiple days of rain, and erosion caused by wintertime swells, have led to the temporary closure of several off-road vehicle (ORV) routes, as well as difficult driving conditions at other beach access points on Hatteras Island.

Per the Feb. 3 Beach Access Status, which is regularly updated by the Cape Hatteras National Seashore (CHNS), Ramp 32 in between Avon and Salvo is temporarily closed to ORVs due to significant erosion at the ramp. Beachgoers can still access the area via ORV Ramp 30 to the south.

Near Cape Point in Buxton, the Inside Road is temporarily closed in between ORV Ramp 44 and South Beach Road due to deep puddles of rainwater. Per Mike Barber, Cape Hatteras National Seashore Public Affairs Specialist, once the water recedes, CHNS maintenance staff will use sand to fill in some of the larger holes along the road. In the meantime, beach visitors can use the paved road through the Cape Point Campground as an alternate route to the Inside Road, but should note that there is standing water along several portions of this area as well.

South of Ramp 44, the short ORV route west of the hook is currently not accessible due to beach erosion. In addition, beachgoers should keep an eye on tide tables, as a number of ORV routes throughout the National Seashore may be impassable at times of high tide.

The full status of all ORV ramps as of Feb. 3 is listed below, and can also be found online at https://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/conditions.htm.

Bodie Island

Ramp 2 (Priority Ramp)
-North: Pedestrian access only

-South: Open to ORVs

Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

Ramp 4 (Priority Ramp)
-North: Open to ORVs

Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

-South: Open to ORVs until vehicle free boundary (roughly 1.3 miles)

Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

Hatteras Island

Ramp 23
-North: Seasonal ORV route open until April 15, 2021

Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

-South: Seasonal ORV route open until April 15, 2021

Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

Ramp 25 (Priority Ramp)
-North: Open to ORVs

Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions.

-South: Open to ORVs

Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

Ramp 27 (Priority Ramp)
–North: Open to ORVs

Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions. Shipwreck visible at ramp.

–South: Pedestrian only access

Ramp 30
-North: Pedestrian only access
-South: Open to ORVs

Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

Ramp 32
-North: Closed to ORVs due to significant erosion at the ramp. See photo below. Travel south from Ramp 30 to access the beach route.

Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

-South: Closed to ORVs due to significant erosion at the ramp. See photo below. Travel south from Ramp 30 to access the beach route.

Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)

Ramp 34
-North: Seasonal ORV route open until April 15, 2021

Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)

-South: Seasonal ORV route open until April 15, 2021

Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)

Ramp 38
-North: Seasonal ORV route open until April 15, 2021

Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)

-South: Open to ORVs for 1.5 miles

Hours: ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access) for 1.5 miles
Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

Ramp 43 (Priority Ramp)
-North: Open to ORVs until the vehicle free boundary

Hours: ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
Conditions: Soft sand and deep ruts along the route. Steep ramp coming on and off ramp.

-South: Open to ORVs

Hours: ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions. Soft sand along route.

Ramp 44 (Priority Ramp)
-North: Open to ORVs

Hours: ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions. Soft sand along route.

-South: Open to ORVs. Cape Point is open. The short ORV route west of the hook is currently not accessible due to beach erosion.

Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
Conditions: Bypass Road is closed due to a large escarpment.

Inside Road
-Open

Hours: Inside Road is available for ORV use 24 hours a day.
Conditions: Closed between between Ramp 44 and South Beach Road due to large puddles of rain water. Use Cape Point Campground as alternate route to Inside Road.

South Beach Road (Old Ramp 45)

-East: Open to pedestrians
-West: Open to pedestrians

Ramp 48 (Priority Ramp)
-East: Open to ORVs until the vehicle free boundary

Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)

-West: Open to ORVs

Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)

Ramp 49 (Priority Ramp)
-East: Open to ORVs

Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)

-West: Open to ORVs

Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)

Ramp 55
-East: Seasonal ORV route open until April 15, 2021

Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)

-West: Open to ORVs

Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions. If you want to cut through to Pole Road, pay close attention to signs.

Pole Road
-Open to ORVs

Hours: Pole Road is open for ORV use 24 hours a day
Conditions: Road is flooded from ocean overwash and rain water

Ocracoke Island

Ramp 59
-North: Pedestrian access only
-South: Open to ORVs

Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

Ramp 63
-North: Open to ORVs

Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

-South: Open to ORVs

Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

Ramp 67
-North: Open to ORVs

Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

-South: Open to ORVs

Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)
Conditions: Beach route may be impassable during high tide conditions

Ramp 68
-North: Seasonal ORV route open until April 15, 2021

Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)

-South: Pedestrian access only

Ramp 70 (Priority Ramp)
-North: Open to ORVs

Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)

-South: Open to ORVs

Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)

Ramp 72 (Priority Ramp)
-North: Open to ORVs

Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)

-South: Open to ORVs

Hours: Entire ORV route is open for night driving (24/7 access)

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