Boating Destination

The Cape Lookout National Seashore consists of barrier islands totally surrounded by water…the Atlantic Ocean on one side and Core and Beaufort Sounds on the other. Thus, boating, in all its myriad forms, can be a wonderful Seashore adventure:

Power Boating: The sounds are all shallow estuaries and water depth of more than 1-2 feet is relatively uncommon and typically limited to marked channels. However, there are sufficient deeper water channels (4-20 feet deep), to provide access to Shackleford Banks (near Beaufort Inlet, in the area of the National Park Service Dock, and near the Wade's Shore area) and South Core Banks (at the Cape Lookout Light Station and inside the Bight). On the ocean side, except for the shoals extending southward from the Cape, the is no water depth concern.

Because of the shallow water and changing depths due to tides, anchoring on the sound side can be challenge. Do not anchor in shallow water on a falling tide or you may find yourself high and dry! And, even with routine tide flow, two anchors are recommended, each spread about 45-degrees off the bow, so the boat will swing with the tide flow.

For larger boats, anchoring in the Bight can be wonderful experience for a day or for several days…see the following section on "sailing" for more details.

Smaller power boats can be launched in Morehead City, Beaufort (east end of Taylor's Creek at Curtis Perry Park), the ramp at the Harkers Island bridge, and at several marina's on Harkers Island for quick access to the Shackleford Banks and South Core Banks. Other launch sites in Straits, Davis, Atlantic, and Cedar Island are also available. Larger power boats (maximum 3 feet draft) can access the Seashore from the sound side through the channels behind Shackleford Banks or through Barden Inlet.

Personal Watercraft: Personal watercraft (PWC) are a special case of power boating and, while great fun on warm days, are much more regulated within the Seashore than other forms of boating. PWC are restricted to 150 feet offshore except in specific, marked areas. For more details on the PWC rules, go to PWC Use.

Sailing: Sailing on the sound side is limited to shallow draft boats simply due to limited water depths. Deeper draft boats (3+ feet of water draft) can access the Seashore from the sound side through the channels behind Shackleford Banks or through Barden Inlet. Even so, only experienced sailors should venture into the sounds at all.

From the ocean side, the Seashore has 55 miles of beaches for view and exploration, thought anchoring near shore is advised only during calm weather and even then only for short periods.

The best sailing destination is the Cape Lookout Bight. This natural, deep water harbor provides an ideal protected anchorage with depths up to 20 feet. From this location, sailors can explore the east end of Shackleford Banks, the Cape Lookout Light Station, the old Coast Guard Station and Cape Village, and Cape Lookout itself. And, the afternoon sunsets can rival those of Key West!

The Cape Lookout Bight rivals any sailing destination on the East Coast for solitude, protection, and beautiful shore. It is often compared to favorite sailing destinations in the Bahamas.

Sailing from Beaufort Inlet to the Cape Lookout Bight is a delight, also. The passage can be very smooth when the winds are northerly and present a challenge to even the most experienced sailor when the winds are southerly.