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Nags Head Woods Town Trail and YMCA Trail

Trail near Nags Head

(5)

Nags Head, NC

Trail Information

1.5

Miles

Ft Elevation

easy

Difficulty

1 hour

Est. Time

Free Entry

No Dogs

Trail Type: Point To Point

About

The Town Trail and YMCA Trail are two connected routes through Nags Head Woods Ecological Preserve, one of the largest remaining maritime forests on the East Coast, jointly protected by the Nature Conservancy and the towns of Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head. The Town Trail is an easy 1.5-mile route starting near the preserve's visitor center, while the YMCA Trail is a shorter connector beginning behind the Outer Banks Family YMCA that links up with the Town Trail, passing views of Roanoke Sound along the way.

Town Trail: 1.5 miles, easy
Visitor center and main trailhead: 701 W Ocean Acres Dr, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
YMCA Trail access: behind the Outer Banks Family YMCA, 3000 S Croatan Hwy, Nags Head
Visitor center office open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; trails open daily, dawn to dusk

More than 550 plant species and over 100 bird species have been recorded in the preserve's 1,000-plus acres of dunes, ponds, marsh, and forest — an unusually diverse mix for a barrier island. Both trails are flat, shaded, and well-suited to birding or a slower nature walk rather than a workout.

Best Time to Walk the Town Trail and YMCA Trail

Spring and fall bring the most comfortable temperatures and the best birdwatching, as migrating species pass through the preserve's diverse forest and wetland habitat. Insect repellent is worth packing in warmer months, since the ponds and marsh areas draw mosquitoes.

Tips for Nags Head Woods' Town Trail and YMCA Trail

Start at the visitor center on Ocean Acres Drive for trail maps and the main parking area.
The YMCA Trail is the shorter option if you're starting from the Outer Banks Family YMCA on Croatan Highway.
Bring binoculars — with over 100 recorded bird species, this is one of the better birding spots on the Outer Banks.

Getting to the Town Trail and YMCA Trail

The main trailhead and visitor center sit at 701 W Ocean Acres Dr in Kill Devil Hills. A second access point, the YMCA Trail, starts behind the Outer Banks Family YMCA at 3000 S Croatan Hwy in Nags Head and connects into the same trail system.

What to Expect on the Town Trail and YMCA Trail

These two connected, easy trails run through Nags Head Woods Ecological Preserve, a 1,000-plus-acre maritime forest jointly protected by the Nature Conservancy and the towns of Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head. Expect flat, shaded walking beneath towering oaks and pines, with ponds and marsh visible along the way and glimpses of Roanoke Sound from the YMCA Trail side — a quiet contrast to the beach a few minutes east.