Doggin' The Outer Banks - Where To Hike With Your Dog On Cape Hatteras

Aviation enthusiasts from around the world make thebeaches. With only four such beaches in more than
pilgrimage to Kitty70 miles there is plenty of ocean
Hawk, North Carolina on Cape Hatteras to celebratesand for your dog to roam.Cape Hatteras National
the birth of powered manned flight. If you go, makeSeashore, designated America's first such beach in
sure to take the dog.Your dog is welcome at the1953, is actually comprised of three islands
Wright Brothers National Memorial and she canconnected by a free bridge and a free
walk along the rubber mats that mark the paths offerrry. Unlike many other national seashores, Cape
the first four flights by OrvilleHatteras permits dogs on its
and Wilbur Wright on December 17, 1903. there isnature trails. There is a short 3/4-mile nature trail on
more canine hiking back behindeach of the three islands.These interpretive trails
the flight path on Big Kill Devil Hill where the twoemphasize the harshness of the saltwater
Dayton, ohio bicycleenvironment
mechanics tested their experimental fliers on theand the struggle of the plants and animals that
high dunes with the promise ofcolonize the dunes. These rolling,
soft, sandy landings.While famous for flight, the skieswooded walks on soft sand are a shady treat for
over Kitty Hawk are quiet now. Not so justdogs after a day of sun and surf.
south of the Wright Brothers Memorial at JockeyDogs are not allowed on the trails in the Pea Island
Ridge State Park. Flamboyant kites,National Wildlife Refuge on the
model planes and hang gliders frequently fill the skiesnorthern end of Hatteras Island.For centuries storms,
here. On the ground, Jockey'sshifting sands and war have visited the turbulent
Ridge is one giant sandbox for a playful dog.Thewaters
deep sands, steep dunes and brisk breezes can makeoff the coast of the Outer Banks. More than 600
for invigoratingships have wrecked in the seas
canine hiking at Jockey's Ridge. Your dog can playoffshore that have earned Cape Hatteras
anywhere on these dunes - somerecognition as "the Graveyard of the
of the highest on the Atlantic Ocean - or for thoseAtlantic."Each of the three islands sports its own
who like their walking on thehistoric lighthouse to help steer ships
structured side there are two interpretive naturesafely. The queen of the trio is the 208-foot
trails marked by posts across theHatteras Light,the tallest brick
dunes.While you are in Kitty Hawk rememberinglighthouse in America. The Ocracoke Lighthouse, a
famous firsts, travel a bit furthersquat 75-foot tower tucked into
south to Roanoke Island and the Fort Raleigha residential neighborhood, has been in service since
National Historic Site. Here an1823 and is the oldest
expeditionary force in the 1580s established the firstoperating lighthouse in North Carolina.The least
English settlement in America.known of the Hatteras lighthouses is the Bodie Island
The group was well represented by scientists,Lighthouse, the
merchants and other gentlemen ofnorthernmost. Located away from shore behind a
prominent social standing but conspicuously missing,freshwater marsh and partially
however, were farmers andringed by pine trees, the Bodie Light's beam reaches
craftsmen whose skills might have made the colony19 miles out to sea from its
work.When a supply ship returned to the settlement156-foot crown. You can hike with your dog on the
on Roanoke Island there was nogrounds of all three historic
trace of the "Lost colony." Your dog can explore thelights.Cape Hatteras looks much different today than
mystery with you, including thein the days when pirates like
recreated earthworks of Fort Raleigh and the birthBlackbeard, who favored Ocracoke Island as a
site of Virginia Dare, the firsthideout, cruised these shores.
English-speaking baby born in the New World.TheHundreds of dunes have been built along the beach
Thomas Hariot Nature Trail, named for a scientist onto protect the Cape. And with
that first voyage, is aso much for your dog to do here, you will want to
rollicking ramble through a maritime forest thatreturn again and again to monitor
emphasizes the natural riches onthe future changes.copyright 2006I am the author
the island that the doomed English settlers hoped toof over 20 books, including 8 on hiking with your dog,
exploit for riches rather thanincluding the
adapt for survival. The sandy trail pops out ontowidely praised The Canine Hiker's Bible. As publisher
peaceful Roanoke Sound for someof Cruden Bay Books, we
superb dog-paddling.All this to do with your dog onproduce the innovative A Bark In The Park series of
the Outer Banks and you haven't even traveledcanine hiking books found at
the two blocks east to one of the great oceanDuring the warm months I lead canine hikes as
beaches of the world yet - Capetour leader for tours, leading packs of dogs and
Hatteras National Seashore. Dogs are allowedhumans on
year-round on the non-swimmingday and overnight trips.