Tracks in the Sand Trail

Best Time to Hike the Tracks in the Sand Trail

Tracks in the Sand is an exposed hike once you're past the trailhead's short shaded stretch: the open dune sections have no shade and get hot and windy fast, so plan for full sun exposure out on the open sand. There's no shelter once you're away from the trees, so exposure to sun and wind — not the trail's short distance — is the main factor to plan around before you go.

Trail Tips for the Tracks in the Sand Trail

• The open dune sections don't hold a worn path, so watch for the wooden posts with directional arrows — they mark the route and are your main way to stay on course once the trees give way to sand.
• The park lists Tracks in the Sand as hiking-only and not ADA accessible, so it isn't a suitable option if you need a wheelchair-accessible route.
• Footing changes throughout the loop — expect firmer ground through the short wooded stretch at the trailhead and the maritime thicket on the return, and looser, shifting sand across the open dune ridges in between.

Getting to the Tracks in the Sand Trail

Tracks in the Sand starts at Jockey's Ridge State Park's Main Access in Nags Head, with the trailhead near the park's visitor center. Because the route is a loop, that same spot serves as both your starting and ending point. This is the entrance point the trail is built around, so it's where to head first to pick up the route.

What to Expect on the Tracks in the Sand Trail

Tracks in the Sand is the signature hiking loop at Jockey's Ridge State Park in Nags Head, a 1.2-mile loop that the park rates moderate. The trail leads through a brief shaded stretch of live oak and loblolly pine before the trees open up into wide, wind-scoured dune ridges, where the terrain shifts constantly underfoot. From there the loop swings along the Roanoke Sound shoreline before cutting back through denser maritime thicket on the return leg. Along the way you'll get views across the open dune field and the sound, with the Atlantic visible from the higher ridges. It's a different kind of visit than climbing the big dune near the parking lot for sunset — this loop carries you into the quieter, soundside half of the park that many visitors never see.