Cape Lookout National Seashore
Harkers Island, NC
Cape Lookout National Seashore is a string of undeveloped barrier islands south of Harkers Island, reachable only by passenger ferry, with wild horses roaming Shackleford Banks and the black and white diamond patterned Cape Lookout Lighthouse marking the seashore's southern tip. There are no roads, no cars, and no permanent structures on the islands themselves.
Wild horses, a genuinely undeveloped seashore, and one of the coast's most photographed lighthouses make this a real destination in its own right, though the ferry and the 50 foot horse rule mean it takes planning, not a spontaneous stop.
How we score beachesPick your ferry by what you want to see. The Beaufort ferry lands on Shackleford's west end for the beach itself, while the Harkers Island ferry lands on the east end, closer to the wild horses.
Free parking is available near the ferry docks in both Beaufort and at the Harkers Island Visitor Center.
Ferries carry gear but the islands themselves have no paved paths, just open sand and dune.
Leashed dogs (6 feet max) are allowed on the ferry (for a $7 fee) and on the islands, but must stay at least 50 feet from the wild horses at all times.
Water reaches the upper 70s by August, during the same June through November hurricane season as the rest of the Crystal Coast. Ferry schedules thin out considerably in winter, so a summer or fall trip is easier to plan.
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