Soundside Ramp 59

Best Time to Visit Soundside Ramp 59

Soundside Ramp 59 sits along the same Pamlico Sound wind-sports corridor as Canadian Hole and Kite Point a bit to the north, so the best time to visit really depends on the wind. A good wind day draws kiteboarders and windsurfers to this stretch, and you should expect company in the water and parked along NC-12. Calmer, low-wind days leave the sound quieter, which suits a slower, low-key visit better than a windy one.

Soundside Ramp 59 Access Tips

• Vehicle access requires a Cape Hatteras National Seashore off-road-vehicle permit, purchased through Recreation.gov, before you drive onto the ramp.
• Like every ramp on Hatteras Island, Soundside Ramp 59 can close on short notice for storms, maintenance, or resource protection — check the NPS beach access status page before you head out.

Getting to Soundside Ramp 59

Soundside Ramp 59 is located on Hatteras Island, in the stretch between the villages of Avon and Buxton — an area known for wind sports. The route cuts directly from NC-12 across the dune line to reach the Pamlico Sound side of the island.

NC-12 is the only road connecting Avon and Buxton, and it floods here more readily than the beaches further north, so check road conditions before you make the drive, especially after heavy rain or a storm.

What to Expect at Soundside Ramp 59

Soundside Ramp 59 is one of Cape Hatteras National Seashore's designated soundside ORV routes, putting you on the calm, shallow, brackish water of Pamlico Sound rather than the open Atlantic that ocean-side ramps lead to. The National Park Service lists it as a canoe/kayak/small-boat launch, and the ramp itself is unassuming — undeveloped rather than a built-out facility.

The shallow, warm water supports a wider mix of activities than a typical ocean-side beach ramp: kiteboarding and windsurfing, stand-up paddling, kayaking, wading, crabbing, and bait-fishing. Watch the shallows while you're out for great blue herons, egrets, white ibises, and occasionally a bald eagle.