Currituck National Wildlife Reserve
The Currituck Sound is the brackish body of water protected from the Atlantic Ocean by the Outer Banks of North Carolina. This massive body of water is surrounded by homes and pleasure boaters, but a few areas have been protected by state and federal government as wildlife refuges. We were lucky enough to experience several of these areas on a visit to OBX with our boats.
The lighthouse in Corolla from Currituck Sound
Currituck Sound Kayaking
Key Features:
-Long distance paddles are possible
-Public put docks or ramp are available
- Can be very windy, watch the weather
-Estuary waters may be salty, rinse gear after your paddle
-Camping is limited and no backcountry options
- Unique estuary environment
- Lots of birds, but hard to photograph from a bouncing boat
-Long distance paddles are possible
-Public put docks or ramp are available
- Can be very windy, watch the weather
-Estuary waters may be salty, rinse gear after your paddle
-Camping is limited and no backcountry options
- Unique estuary environment
- Lots of birds, but hard to photograph from a bouncing boat
One of many duck blinds in Currituck Sound
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Paddling Currituck Sound
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Paddling Currituck Sound
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Paddling Currituck Sound
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Sunset on Currituck Sound from Duck's boardwalks
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Kayaking Currituck Sound
Waterfowl on Currituck Sound
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Currituck NWRPaddling on the CS offers a variety of conditions dependent on wind conditions and direction. Exploring the marsh and estuary borders and tiny islands allows visitors a unique and up close encounter with waterfowl, water snakes, and fish species that can only be glimpsed from on land. If paddlers desire more adventure, they may take off across the sound to explore several of the tiny islands within the Sound. If you don’t mind seeing 2 legged creatures (people watching), exploring the variety of docks and boardwalks up and down the sound is also an option. We don’t opt for that type of paddling, but many people like paddling along the Duck Boardwalks and put in at the public dock access there.
Most of the fauna of the area is comprised of tall grasses that reminded me of snake grass in Indiana. Red winged blackbirds, snowy egrets, and various duck species can be expected as you paddle in and out of the labyrinth of marshy outcroppings. On days when waterfowl are present, the paddle can be exciting at every turn, but on days when wildlife is less evident, the paddle can look much the same at every turn. I found myself quickly tiring of the scenery after an hour of the same foliage. Be careful of renters and jet skiers near the dock access points, but other than that, we find this a very safe and accessible place to paddle. |
Maritime Forest Hiking Trail in Currituck Banks Reserve
The boardwalks in Currituck Banks Reserve
A Carolina green anole asserts dominance over his territory
The sound from Currituck Banks Reserve
The soft trail of the estuary habitat
Plantlife in the estuary of Currituck Banks Reserve
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Currituck Banks ReserveSometimes you just have to hike at a tourist location because you, too, are new to the area and just want to explore a different environment and see what a community has to offer. This was our experience with the Maritime Woods Hiking Trail. This was a simple 2 mile hike adjacent to the city, but offered opportunities to see an estuary habitat and the wildlife present in the Outer Banks. The environment was really interesting as you snake through the low – Oak trees whose branches grow wildly like arms of a Whomping Willow or octopus reaching out everywhere. The pine cones littered the soft trail floor by the thousands, and evidence of wild horses were there, but we didn’t see any during our hike. The highlight of the trail were the Carolina green anoles that seemed to disappear into the foliage with their natural camouflage. We were lucky enough to encounter a few on the boardwalks and watched as they puffed out their pink dewlap throats to assert that we were in their territory. This was a first for us. Perhaps it is like seeing a squirrel in Indiana to the people of North Carolina, but it was a real treat for us. The end of the trail opens up into the sound and the landscape quickly changes into a beautiful waterfront with channels and active insects, birds, and waterfowl.
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The Bob Perry Boat Ramp in Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Reserve
Paddling Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Reserve
Wildlife in Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Reserve
Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Reserve paddle
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Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal ReserveKitty Hawk easily makes my top 3 paddle spots so far. Putting in at the Bob Perry Boat Ramp, it is clear that this area was made with kayakers in mind. The miles of narrow channels give paddlers a sense of ease and seclusion even in the most windy conditions. We found an active amount of wildlife on the morning we paddled- even spotting a deer along side us on shore. Large fish frequently startled us and they preyed on smaller fish in the tall grasses where the sound met the river channel. Birds and ducks flew out of the short trees and hidden corners of the marsh. The scenery was such a unique experience, unlike anything we had ever paddled before.
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A deer along the Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Reserve
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Currituck Coastal Reserve
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The estuary of Currituck Coastal Reserve
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Looking out onto Kitty Hawk Bay
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