Cape Lookout is a National Seashore run by the National Park Service. The Seashore is actually comprised of a series of islands on the Outer Banks. It covers the southern portion of the Outer Banks and is largely without paved roads and man made facilities, unlike the Cape Hatteras National Seashore to the north. The narrow seashore runs from Ocracoke in the north to Beaufort in the south.
Located on Harkers Island in North Carolina, the only part that is reachable by car is the visitor center on the eastern end about twenty miles from Beaufort. A personal boat or ferry can be used to reach the multiple islands. Ferries operate from Harkers Island, Beaufort, Morehead City and Ocracoke. Pedestrians and those with 4-wheeler vehicles are accommodated on ferries from Davis and Atlantic. Ferries usually run from March to December.
The lighthouse at Cape Lookout is recognizable by its black and white diamond pattern. It was closed in 2008 to tours due to safety issues regarding the stairway to the top of the lighthouse. While it is closed visitors can still access the Keeper's Quarters Museum and the Cape Lookout Light Station Visitor Center.
Cabins and tent spaces are the available accommodations. There are a total of 21 cabins open from April to December and they use bunk beds to accommodate four to twelve people. Cabins have a hot water heater, table, chairs, kitchen, stove, and private bath. It is suggested that visitors bring their own linens or sleeping bags, cookware, ice and a cooler because there are no refrigerators, and any food or beverages needed. Solar electricity is provided at the Long Point cabins but those staying at Great Island Cabin Camps will need to bring lanterns or other forms of light as there is no electricity. A generator hookup is available for those who bring their own generator.
Camping is on the beach and there are no campgrounds or campsites. Tent camping is very primitive and visitors will need to bring everything they need with them, including drinking water. There are no showers or bathrooms for tent campers.
It is also suggested that visitors plan ahead before visiting Cape Lookout. The National Park Service has put together a list of items to bring that includes sunscreen, trash bags to carry out trash (there are no trash cans), drinks and snacks, swimming or surfing accessories, fishing gear and insect repellant. Insects can be very bad in the early evening to early morning hours on all of the Outer Banks islands.
Cape Lookout is primarily a recreation park for beach goers, boaters and fishermen. There are no marked trails on the islands for hiking but it is not uncommon to see people wandering the island. Ranger programs are usually held at the lighthouse area and cover topics such as ecology, shipwrecks, guided walks and a touch tank. A ranger program at Portsmouth Village explores the life of the historic village.
The waters off of Cape Lookout are a feeding ground for both sea turtles and marine mammals. While there are four species of sea turtle found feeding off the coast only one, the Loggerhead, makes its nest on the beaches of the seashore. Bird diversity is caused by weather and migration and includes egrets, herons, and many other shore birds. Land mammals are uncommon on the islands of Cape Lookout. Otters, rabbits, and raccoons are common, as are rats. Shackleford Banks is home to a colony of wild horses that were once domesticated hundreds of years ago. Tree frogs and toads are found in small pockets of fresh water habitat while the marsh lands are full of terrapin turtles. The grasslands on the islands are home to racerunner lizards and black racer snakes.
Beach driving is permitted for off road vehicles and vehicles with four wheel drive on certain sections of the beach that are not used heavily for swimming.
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