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A protected stretch of ancient maritime forest behind the dune line in Kill Devil Hills
Nags Head Woods Preserve sits on the western, soundside edge of Kill Devil Hills, a few minutes off the main Beach Road corridor and a world away from it in feel. Where the rest of Region 1 is open sand, dune grass, and ocean views, this preserve protects one of the last substantial maritime forests remaining on the mid-Atlantic coast — a stand of ancient, wind-sculpted trees rooted in dune ridges that have been building here for centuries. The Nature Conservancy owns and manages the land, keeping it open to the public as both a working conservation site and a trail network.
The preserve's defining feature is the terrain itself: forested dune ridges running parallel to the sound, with low, swampy hollows between them that hold water for much of the year. That combination — old dunes, freshwater wetlands, and a canopy of oak, holly, and loblolly pine — supports plant and animal communities that don't exist anywhere else on this stretch of the Outer Banks, including species more typical of forests much farther inland. It's a genuinely different ecosystem than the beach towns around it, and worth visiting for that contrast alone.
Nags Head Woods Preserve is a wooded, wetland-adjacent environment, and insects can be active in the swampy sections during warmer months. If that's a concern for you, factor it into when you visit and what you bring.
Nags Head Woods Preserve sits on the western, soundside edge of Kill Devil Hills, just a few minutes off the main Beach Road corridor. Plan for a short detour off that main corridor to reach the preserve entrance.
Nags Head Woods Preserve protects one of the last substantial maritime forests remaining on the mid-Atlantic coast — a stand of ancient, wind-sculpted trees rooted in dune ridges that have been building here for centuries. Where the rest of the surrounding beach towns are open sand, dune grass, and ocean views, this preserve is a world away in feel: a genuinely different ecosystem worth visiting for the contrast alone. The Nature Conservancy owns and manages the land, keeping it open to the public as both a working conservation site and a trail network.
The defining feature is the terrain itself: forested dune ridges running parallel to the sound, with low, swampy hollows between them that hold water for much of the year. That combination of old dunes, freshwater wetlands, and a canopy of oak, holly, and loblolly pine supports plant and animal communities that don't exist anywhere else on this stretch of the Outer Banks, including species more typical of forests much farther inland.
290 reviews
in the last week
1400 acre beautiful nature preserve only a mile or so from the hustle and bustle of route 158 (bypass) in Nags Head.The day we went was not real humid, though temp's were in the upper 80's. That being said, insects were very minimal but I'm sure that isn't always the case. The trail maps state that there is a total of 7 miles on various trails.( 6 separate trails I believe). We only did approximately a mile or so but definitely will be back when time is available.
in the last week
2 weeks ago
Peaceful and quiet walk in the park. NEED bug spray first.
3 weeks ago
Great place for a walk
4 weeks ago
Perfect place to spend an afternoon of you don't want the heat, very shady and lots of wildlife. Trails are not intense so you can look around a bit more. Saw a gecko, couple frogs, hawk, and whole lot more. Friendly staff walked us through which trails to do so we did 4 and 5