Gallery photos coming soon

Recreation

Wright Brothers All-Purpose Trail

A paved path through Kitty Hawk, the town that gave the Wright Brothers their first foothold in 1900

(3)
Kitty Hawk, NC

About

Wright Brothers All-Purpose Trail is a paved, multi-use path in Kitty Hawk, tucked into the maritime woods along Moor Shore Road on the sound side of town. Google lists it simply as a park and point of interest — no dedicated visitor center or facilities on record, just a straightforward stretch for walking, jogging, or biking away from the Beach Road traffic.

The name is a nod to the town's place in flight history, not a claim about a single spot. Kitty Hawk is where Wilbur and Orville Wright set up their very first camp in 1900, testing glider designs on the dunes and drawing on the area's steady winds. The following year they relocated their operations south to Kill Devil Hills, where they spent the 1901-1903 seasons perfecting their designs and where the first powered flight actually left the ground on December 17, 1903. So while Kitty Hawk's name is permanently linked to that achievement, the trail itself sits in the town that hosted the Wrights' opening chapter rather than the liftoff site.

With no listed hours, phone, or admission details, treat it as a low-key stop: a quiet, walkable break in the Kitty Hawk stretch of the northern Outer Banks, best paired with the beach or a drive down Beach Road rather than planned as a destination on its own.

4.7

3 reviews

Write a review
Aaron Desmarais
Aaron Desmarais

2 years ago

Great paved path for bikes and pedestrians, beautiful views of the sound.

Terry Mahlon
Terry Mahlon

9 years ago

Short stroll with a great view of the bay.

Tim P
Tim P

9 years ago

Biking-walking Short-cut along the Sound

Powered by Google