Plan Your Visit
Activities
While visiting the Outer Banks, venture to Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, a hot spot for both birds and birders. Drop by the Visitor Center to view displays on local wildlife. Then, try out one of the scopes trained on North Pond to view various species of birds found there. The best birding is during the fall and winter, when thousands of migratory ducks, geese, and swans rest and refuel on the refuge.
There are two short wildlife trails on Pea Island. The half-mile (one-way) North Pond Wildlife Trail starts near the Visitor Center and terminates at a two level tower which offers spectacular views of the surrounding ponds. The Salt Flats Wildlife Trail is shorter and located on the north end of North Pond, terminating at an overlook providing views of the Salt Flats area and North Pond. There is also a service road that completely encircles North Pond, and visitors may choose to walk the whole route, though thorny vegetation, insect activity, and traffic along the portion on Highway 12 make this less enjoyable for some.
During the summer, join refuge staff for our sea turtle talk or a canoe tour!
Trails
Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge offers three trails that are open year-round during daylight hours. The two wildlife trails have several elevated platforms for wildlife viewing. All trails are relatively flat, but may have areas of drifting sand.
Driving Directions
Driving access is via North Carolina Highway 12, which passes through the refuge.
The refuge Visitors Center is approximately four miles south of the Basnight Bridge over Oregon Inlet and approximately eight miles north of Rodanthe.
In addition, there are several parking areas off of NC Highway 12 that provide access for Oregon Inlet, the Salt Flats Wildlife Trail, and the North Pond Photo Blind. Parking off the shoulders of NC Highway 12 (within the right-of-way) is allowed unless otherwise posted, but be warned that the sand can be very soft. Stuck vehicles are a near-daily occurrence.
Activities
More Activities
Featured Species
Get Involved
Volunteering for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is fun and rewarding in many ways. Master new skills. Meet new friends. Enjoy a sense of accomplishment from doing your part to further wildlife conservation for the pleasure of generations to follow.
Services
Special Use Permits
Some commercial, recreational and research activities are allowed on national wildlife refuges only with a special use permit issued by the local office, and are subject to specific conditions and fees. This permit requirement is meant to ensure that all activities at the federal site are compatible with the refuge’s Congressionally mandated wildlife conservation goals.
About
Established in 1938, the 5,000-acre Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge on North Carolina's Outer Banks provides critical habitat for migratory birds and endangered species like loggerhead sea turtles. Its mission focuses on the adaptive management of natural resources to ensure a legacy of barrier island fish, wildlife, and plants while encouraging wildlife-dependent recreation. The refuge is managed as part of the Coastal North Carolina National Wildlife Refuge Complex and serves as an example of a historic mid-Atlantic coastal barrier island in a relatively undisturbed condition.
