Nags Head Woods Hikes Offered This Summer

Hikes Will Be Led By Naturalist

NAGS HEAD WOODS - June 4, 2009 - Explore the largest maritime forest on the East Coast with an expert. The Nature Conservancy is offering naturalist-led hikes at Nags Head Woods Ecological Preserve this summer.

Hikes are scheduled every Tuesday at 9:15 a.m., June 16 through August 11. Hikes begin with a brief indoor orientation, followed by a two mile easy to moderate hike. Hikes last approximately two and a half hours and are limited to 15 participants. Hikes cost $5 per person and $3 for children age 3 to 12. There is no charge for children under three, although parts of the trail are not accessible to strollers. Only cash and checks will be accepted.

Hikes begin at the Pavilion building adjacent to the parking lot. Sturdy closed-toe shoes, pants, socks, water and insect repellant are recommended. Events will be cancelled in case of inclement weather, but will take place in light to moderate rain. Due to the ecological sensitivity of the preserve, pets are not allowed.

Advance reservations are required. To make a reservation call The Nature Conservancy’s Outer Banks Office at Nags Head Woods Preserve (252) 441-2525 or email jgilbreath@tnc.org. Leave your name, phone number, date of the hike you would like to register for, and the number of slots that you would like to reserve.

Nags Head Woods was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1974. Shielded from the ocean winds by dune ridges, Nags Head Woods features a diversity of plant and animal life that is unusual to find on a barrier island. Towering oaks, hickories, and beech trees – some hundreds of years old – rise from the sand and create a canopy of trees more typical of the mountains of the eastern United States. The preserve is an important nesting area for more than 50 species of birds. Fifteen species of amphibians and 28 species of reptiles have been documented as well. The freshwater ponds are inhabited by seven species of fish and many reptiles and amphibians. An extensive marsh system bordering Roanoke Sound on the western side of the preserve supports a wealth of wildlife including river otter, egrets, herons, and many species of migratory waterfowl.

This preserve is open to the public from dawn until dusk every day of the week. To visit, take US 158 to Kill Devil Hills. Turn west near Mile Post 9 1/2 on Ocean Acres Drive and drive through a residential subdivision for a mile until you reach the entrance to Nags Head Woods Preserve.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. The Conservancy and its more than 1 million members have protected nearly 120 million acres worldwide. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.