National Seashore · North Carolina

Trails in Cape Lookout National Seashore

16 named trails · 45 miles. The lines, trailheads and points are the Park Service's; the write-ups are the Service's own words; the climbing is read from USGS elevation along each line.

Open on the parks map Every park with trails Park on nps.gov

16 trails, A to Z.

Camp Trail

0.4 mi one way · 2 ft–12 ft · hiking

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

CP BW Boardwalk to Lighthouse Keepers Quarters

0.1 mi one way · 4 ft–6 ft · wood surface · hiking

Picnic areas

Along the way Picnic Area

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

CP BW Codds Creek Boardwalk

0.1 mi one way · 1 ft–2 ft · wood surface

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

CP BW Concession Shelter Boardwalk

0.2 mi one way · 2 ft–4 ft · wood surface · hiking

Picnic areas

Along the way Picnic Area

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Ferry Terminal Sidewalk

0.2 mi one way · 1 ft–4 ft · hiking

Picnic areasVisitor centers

Along the way Picnic Area Harkers Island Visitor Center

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

German Pond Trail

0.3 mi one way · about 10 ft of climbing · 3 ft–17 ft · hiking

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

HI TR Harkers Island Nature Trail

0.5 mi one way · 3 ft–7 ft · hiking

Picnic areas

Along the way Picnic Area

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Lighthouse Boardwalk

0.2 mi one way · 1 ft–7 ft · hiking

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Mid Island Trail

0.6 mi one way · 4 ft–12 ft · hiking

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Nature Trail

0.1 mi one way · 1 ft–2 ft · hiking

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Passenger Ferry

15 mi one way · -4 ft–8 ft · water surface · ferry

Picnic areasVisitor centers

Along the way Picnic Area Harkers Island Visitor Center

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Sidewalk to Visitor Center

0.1 mi one way · 2 ft–5 ft · hiking

Picnic areasVisitor centers

Along the way Picnic Area Harkers Island Visitor Center

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Sirfer Trail

0.4 mi one way · 2 ft–8 ft · hiking

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

South Core Back Road

19 mi one way · 3 ft–10 ft

Picnic areasRanger stations

Along the way Picnic Area Great Island

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Vehicle Ferry

7.4 mi one way · -3 ft–4 ft · water surface · ferry

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

Western Trail

0.1 mi one way · 3 ft–8 ft · hiking

On the parks map · Drive to the trail's end

About these trails

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-14 and simplified for the map. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do", unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.