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Nags Head Woods Preserve, Kill Devil Hills

4.5

#3 of 24 in Things to do in Kill Devil Hills

Forest · Hidden Gem · Wildlife Area

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Nags Head Woods Preserve is owned and operated by The Nature Conservancy.

Nags Head Woods was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1974, and protecting its unique habitats was one of the Conservancy’s first priorities in North Carolina. Between 1978 and 1986, the Conservancy acquired about 420 acres in the northern section of the forest; some of the land was generously donated by John and Rhoda Calfee and Diane St. Clair. Partnerships with local municipalities were formed early in the process, with the leasing of 350 acres from the Town of Nags Head.

In 1992, the Conservancy and the Town of Nags Head jointly acquired an additional 389 acres in the forest from Resolution Trust Corporation. In 1997, the Town of Nags Head agreed to dedicate nearly 300 acres of Nags Head Woods as a permanent conservation area under the State Nature Preserves Act. In addition, the Town of Kill Devil Hills signed a Memorandum of Understanding with The Nature Conservancy, placing another 100 acres in the forest under cooperative management. Working with the towns and other partners, The Nature Conservancy has succeeded in protecting this fragile ecosystem, overseeing both terrestrial and marine research and monitoring programs and providing trails for visitors to enjoy.

In 2011, thanks to Ed Mays, president of North Carolina Handicapped Sportsmen, a multi-use trail was built through Nags Head Woods. What started out as a project for handicapped sportsmen became much more. Now the trail is used by older folks, families with strollers and small children as well as people with mobility issues.

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Nags Head Woods Preserve reviews

TripAdvisor traveler rating

274 reviews

Google

4.7

By shopah2023

Great place to escape the beach chaos! Well maintained paths, friendly and knowledgeable staff, and a peaceful visit with nature…saw a Blue Herron on my very first trip.

Great place to escape the beach chaos! Well maintained paths, friendly and knowledgeable staff, and a peaceful visit with nature…saw a Blue Herron on my very first trip. more »
By Jason G

Nice outdoors area with several walking paths of different lengths. Few birds and other animals around. Pond area has some ducks and scenic spots for photos.

Nice outdoors area with several walking paths of different lengths. Few birds and other animals around. Pond area has some ducks and scenic spots for photos. more »
By themamatravels

We wanted to do some side hiking while at OBX and Nags Head Woods Preserve was FREE and had nicely marked trails. We did the ones near the parking lot and got some good miles in. It was also nice...

We wanted to do some side hiking while at OBX and Nags Head Woods Preserve was FREE and had nicely marked trails. We did the ones near the parking lot and got some good miles in. It was also nice... more »

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Google

By Cassie Bancroft

We had a great time. We brought our stroller and did the ADA trail which was really nice - lots of different types of habitat and some educational stops. We also did trail 4 but it is foot traffic only so that was a little bit more difficult with our son. We did not have our baby backpack which would have made it much easier. It was a little unclear if Trail 5 was an additional 1.5 miles once you reached the trailhead so we stopped there and went back. Very pleasant, well maintained, tons of wildlife - turtles, birds, etc.

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By Ross Twiddy

Incredible! Amazing location considering this is 5 minutes from the beach. Within 2 minutes my girl saw baby turtles, frogs, butterflies, birds, and a nutria. This number of different trees is really unique. I was also impressed by so much elevation change for an ocean forest. Place is a gem!!

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By Becky Riggle

My husband and I loved exploring the trails here. If you are into hiking and/or photography, it's definitely the place for you. The trails are beautiful, giving a nice unique perspective of the Outer Banks you normally don't get to see. They even have a wheelchair accessible paved path which leads to a beautiful pond with a ton of camera friendly turtles. I'll definitely be coming back here.

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By Thomas Smith

Great spot for a quick hike or a whole day in the woods. A beautiful handicap accessible trail around a fishable lake with a nice butterfly garden. Miles of trails through multiple interdunal ecosystems and some breathtaking views of the sound.

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By Michael Greer

Despite the parking lot being nearly full, we saw few people as we hiked 3.4 miles of the trails. It was quiet and peaceful. The trails aren't difficult, but bring decent footwear - the trails are coated in slippery pine needles, and there is the occasional root sticking up that could turn an ankle if you're not careful.

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