Aug 21, 2019

Explore the OBX By Land

Choose Your Own Adventure

Blog / OBX Guides
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Explore the OBX By Land

The Outer Banks is a thin strip of land surrounded by water, so there are a plethora of OBX activities in, on, and near the water. But the Outer Banks also offers many exciting adventures on land. If you’re looking to take a break from the beach for a day, or if you have someone in your group that’s “not an ocean person”, there’s a fun OBX adventure waiting for you.

Ropes Course at Corolla Adventure Park Hang Glide at Jockey's Ridge Best Places to Hike Bike the Outer Banks
Corolla Adventure Park

Climb, Zip, and Play at Corolla Adventure Park

Corolla Adventure Park is the destination for adventure seekers who want a birdseye view of Corolla. The aerial adventure park is the largest on the Outer Banks, with 11 courses ranging in skill level from beginner to ninja warrior. The ropes course has 66 obstacles to challenge climbers of all levels. Some obstacles can be challenging, but they are all super fun. Check out the surfboard in the sky! Course guides are available to help you with tips and tricks along the way. Did we mention the view? Climbers are treated to a birdseye view of the Currituck Lighthouse. Once you’ve completed a course, you get to zipline back to the tower. Weeeee!

The aerial adventure park is just a portion of Corolla Adventure Park. They also offer axe throwing, corn hole, and a nature trail. There’s no charge for spectators if you’d like to tag along and watch your more adventurous family members. Spectators will be just fine on the ground, in a shaded area with a beverage from the on-site bar.

Learn to Hang Glide at Jockey’s Ridge

The largest hang gliding school in the entire world is located right here on the Outer Banks. Kitty Hawk Kites has been teaching hang gliding to students of all ages and abilities since 1974. Hang gliding lessons take place at Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nags Head. Hang gliding lessons start with ground training before climbing to the top of Jockey’s Ridge. Jockey’s Ridge is the tallest living sand dune on the east coast and offers stunning panoramic views of the Outer Banks, from ocean to sound. Once you’ve climbed to the top, you are ready to fly! Don’t worry, you’ll have an instructor with you along the way to assist you with gear, launch, and tips.

hang gliding jockey's ridge
deer

Hike the Outer Banks

The Outer Banks offers a unique opportunity to explore ecological preserves and maritime forests. Learn more about the coastal ecosystems that make this area special.

Currituck Banks Reserve borders Corolla to the south and the 4×4 beaches to the north. The out-and-back trail is 0.75 mile and takes approximately an hour round-trip. The trail is boarded and handicap friendly, with benches along the way for taking breaks and enjoying the scenery.

osprey nest

Donal C. O’Brien Sanctuary and Audubon Center at Pine Island has a 2.5-mile nature trail that follows the path of an old dirt road formerly used between Duck and Corolla. Two overlooks are perfect for bird watching on the Outer Banks.

 

Kitty Hawk Woods is a large maritime forest that consists of several trails that meander through the wetlands. Trails on the west side of Kitty Hawk Woods can accommodate visitors hiking, biking, or on horseback. Sandy Run Park, on the east side of The Woods Road, is an easy, approximately 0.5-mile loop perfect for the smallest Outer Banks hikers.

Nags Head Woods is a nature lover’s paradise, with trails of varying lengths and skill levels. Part of an active sand dune, Nags Head Woods is protected from the ocean winds. Due to the dune ridge shielding the area, plant an animal life is diverse.

nags head woods

Bike the Outer Banks

Biking is a great way to explore an Outer Banks town. Most towns are bike-friendly, with sidewalks or designated areas for biking along streets. Corolla is particularly bike-friendly, whether you’d like to explore Corolla Village by bicycle or take a longer ride throughout the town. Wide sidewalks allow bikers to stay safely off Route 12 when traveling from one area of Corolla to another. No room in or on the car to pack your bike? There are plenty of places to rent bikes on the Outer Banks. Electric bicycles are also available for rent for those who want assistance with pedaling for the ultimate OBX cruise.

Fuel Up After Your Adventure

Exploring the OBX by land is a surefire way to work up an appetite! Stop by one of our favorite Outer Banks restaurants on the way home from your adventure to grab a tasty bite to eat.

Twiddy & Company

Twiddy & Company

Aug 21, 2019

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