Facility 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, universally accessible 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 a disabled-accessible 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!

Fishing is allowed in both the ocean and sound; however, the ponds and impoundments are closed to all activities. There is a fishing pier at Oregon Inlet on the north end of the refuge. Many visitors also enjoy bank fishing in Oregon Inlet from the rocky terminal groin. And, of course...

 Pea Island is a world-renowned hotspot for birders. Over 370 species of birds have been recorded on the refuge, including annual concentrations of thousands of wintering ducks, swans, and geese. 

Birds of the Outer Banks Brochure

There are many popular areas for birding on...

 Bicycling is allowed only on designated public access routes and on the (unimproved) service road around North Pond (the lower area below the dike). Bicycles are not allowed on walking trails. 

e-Bikes

In general, electric bicycles (e-bikes) are permitted wherever bicycles are...

A boat ramp at New Inlet approximately 5 miles north of Rodanthe and 3 miles south of the refuge Visitors Center provides shallow-draft boat access. No kite boards, wind-surfing or personal watercraft (jet skis, etc). 

Off and on, the NC Department of...

    See the refuge from a marshbird’s perspective by canoe or kayak in the sound. A boat ramp at New Inlet approximately 5 miles north of Rodanthe and 3 miles south of the refuge Visitors Center provides shallow-draft boat access. No kite...

     Crabbing and shell fishing is allowed in open areas of the refuge pursuant to state regulations. Crabbing and shell fishing in the impoundments is prohibited except during the annual Crabbing Rodeo, when the refuge opens North...

     All domestic pets must be properly confined, leashed (10-foot maximum), and under owner control at all times. Pets are not allowed on the west side of NC Highway 12, except in and adjacent to parking areas (not on trails). 

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge offers a wide variety of interpretive and educational programs.  Most are open to the public for no cost and do not require pre-registration.   

Bird walks are scheduled weekly year-round and twice weekly during the warmer months....

The Coastal Wildlife Refuge Society offers educational opportunities for K-12 grades, providing educational grants to schools in Eastern North Carolina. Guided canoe tours and Refuge programs on topics including sea turtles, bird adaptations, and animals found in the sound are available...

Hiking is allowed in all areas open to the public. The refuge has two trails that are open year-round during daylight hours. Both wildlife trails are relatively flat and are fully disabled-accessible. There is also a four-mile loop service road that completely encircles North Pond, and...

Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge is an excellent place for photography. Between the ocean, beachfront, dunes, and impoundments, which draw tens of thousands of migratory birds, photographers have unlimited opportunities for wildlife photography. Its unique location, situated where sunrises...

Many refuges champion wildlife viewing as a key recreational activity.