Wildlife Refuge Hikes

Sunday morning, we woke up early and broke camp before daybreak.  Then we crossed the dunes and went for a hike on the beach at Cape Hatteras before the storms came in.  The Mountains-to-Sea Trail runs along the beach here.  Although cloudy, it was a beautiful sunrise.

The sky really lit up in between breaks in the clouds and generated some beautiful colors.  And it lasted for a while too.

We walked about 2 miles down the beach, turning around at Coquina Beach.

On the walk back, there was a little wintry precipitation, but just a few drops here and there.  Back at the car, we took and started making our way home.

After crossing to the mainland, we made a stop at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge at the trailhead for Creef Cut Wildlife Trail right along US-64.  It's a half-mile paved trail along the wetlands.

At the end was a boardwalk loop through a freshwater marsh.

To the south, we could view the Creef Moist Soil Management area, though visitors are prohibited from entering to protect wildlife.

After some pictures, we headed back.

Our next stop was at the end of Buffalo City Road, a little further into the refuge.  Sandy Ridge Wildlife Trail started across a bridge over a canal into Milltail Creek.

Most of the short trail was a boardwalk and still had a decent amount of snow remaining.

The trail ended after about 0.5 miles at Sandy Ridge Gut, a little channel connecting Sawyer Lake and Milltail Creek.

We turned around here and headed back.

Continuing west on US-64, we made one more stop in Columbia at the visitor center for Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.  The Scuppernong River Interpretive Boardwalk started from behind the visitor center.  The bridge on US-64 across the river was visible from here.

The boardwalk made a short loop along the river.

It looped back along a little tributary.

It started to rain a bit, but was fortunately a very short trail.

This was our last hike so we started making our way home.

Outer Banks Hikes

It was chilly and windy when we woke up Saturday morning.  Despite the weather, I followed a path over the dunes towards the beach.

The heavy surf was very pretty in the morning twilight.

The moon was nearly full and still shining bright in the early light.

As the sun came up, we went for breakfast and then drove to the visitor center at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge.  Alex's hike 39 for #MST40Hike started here and led to the Basnight Bridge.

The Mountains-to-Sea Trail followed the Service Road around the ponds at the refuge, but dogs aren't allowed, so we hiked the beach.  There was a patch of pavement in the water where Highway 12 had been washed away.

It was a beautiful day, but very cold and windy.  We followed the beach north for several miles to Oregon Inlet.

MST winds through the dunes past the Oregon Inlet Lifesaving Station to a parking lot at the base of the bridge.  We found a nice spot by the lifesaving station to have lunch.

After a nice break, we headed back.  The wind died down a little bit so the hike back was a bit more pleasant.

Where the MST split, Sandy and Alex took the shortcut back on the beach and I hiked MST around North Pond.  It started on the short Salt Flats Wildlife Trail.

An elevated overlook between North Pond and the salt flats provided nice views.

From here, I got on the service road that looped around North Pond.

There were a number of birds in the lake but they kept too great a distance for good pictures.  At the southwest corner of the pond was an observation tower.

Climbing to the top, there were great 360° views of the refuge.

From here, I followed North Pond Wildlife Trail back to the visitor center.

There were a couple of overlooks looking south towards New Field Pond, which is otherwise off limits to the public.

The trail followed North Pond back to the visitor center.

I met back up with Sandy and Alex and we took off.

We drove north Nag's Head and stopped at Jockey's Ridge State Park, the eastern terminus of the MST.  The trail is not well defined over the shifting sands.

The end of the MST is the highest point in the dunes, an ever-changing point, but we took Alex there to complete hike 40.

The views were nice up here thought it was still a bit windy - good weather for hang gliding.  We saw a few people doing lessons at the park.

We enjoyed a break up here then headed back.

We had dinner in Nag's Head and then returned to Oregon Inlet Campground for the night.  I walked over the dunes to catch the sunset.

And once the sun went down, it was another very chilly night.

Cape Hatteras MST Hike

Friday, we took Alex to the beach for a long weekend of camping.  We left very early in the morning in order to get to the coast close to sunrise.  Just after the sun rose, we turned onto the Wildlife Drive at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge.  We drove a ways down Milltail Road but had no luck spotting a bear.  We turned around a started heading back and spotted something moving in the canal.  It was three adorable river otters!

They were frolicking and playing in the icy water in the canal.

One of them caught a fish and ate it.

Since the road ran parallel to the canal, we could slowly drive along and follow them down.

They were really enjoyable to watch - difficult to photograph, but easier to video.  From here, we headed to the Outer Banks and drove south into Cape Hatteras National Seashore and parked at the lighthouse.

From here, the plan was to take Alex for hike #38 from the #MST40hike, following the Mountains-to-Sea Trail from the lighthouse to Frisco Campground.

The MST followed Lighthouse Road to the British Cemetery.  British sailors who helped defend the US coast from German submarines were buried here.

From here, MST followed Open Ponds Trail through a beautiful maritime forest.

In just over a mile, we passed by scenic pond nestled between the dunes.

Further on, the trail passed through some sandy areas where intersecting trails from Buxton Woods joined.

The last half mile or so was an old service road that ended at the campground.

We turned around at the campground and hiked back.  Since we hadn't made it to the beach, we made a short stop the original location of the lighthouse to see the ocean.

It was cold and windy and the surf was really strong.

A few brave souls were surfing in these crazy conditions.  But not us, we got some pictures and headed back to the car.

Leaving the lighthouse, there was a pull-off on Lighthouse Road at a pond with a number of ducks and other birds.

We stopped here for a couple quick pictures of the birds.

The redhead drakes were really stunning in their breeding plumage.

Then we headed north, stopping in Avon at Froggy Dog for dinner.  Then we headed to Oregon Inlet Campground and set up camp.  It was very windy but a pretty sunset.