Enjoy a Hiking and History Tour on Shackleford Banks
The North Carolina Maritime Museum documents and preserves the maritime history, culture and environment of Coastal North Carolina. The main museum is currently closed for repairs, but the Harvey W. Smith Watercraft Center is open and off-site public programs such as the Shackleford Banks Hiking and History Tour are also taking place. If you’re exploring the available new homes in Beaufort NC at Beau Coast West, consider taking part in this upcoming tour to get an even better sense of all that this beautiful region has to offer its residents.
Get your hiking shoes ready and reserve your ticket for the Hiking and History on Shackleford Banks program taking place October 15, 2025, from 9 am to 12 pm. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about and experience Outer Banks history and wildlife with a guided hike on Shackleford Banks, which is part of the Cape Lookout National Seashore.
Shackleford Banks is a barrier island system, and a ferry will take you to an undeveloped barrier island where you may come across a variety of local wildlife, including a herd of the feral horses that are among the most well-known inhabitants. The National Park Service closely monitors and studies these “Banker horses” as they’re known. Part of the fascination is that they offer a glimpse into how horses lived in the wild before their domestication. Their original arrival is unknown, but legends say they are descendents of Spanish mustangs that survived a shipwreck.
The horses aren’t the only wildlife. The beaches provide vital nesting and feeding grounds for birds and sea turtles. The sand dunes and their grasses also provide homes and nesting areas to birds, lizards, snakes, and nutria. In the waters, you’ll find scallops, crabs, and other sea animals.
The tour will also tell you about the history of the barrier islands, including their purchase in 1713 by a Virginia planter, John Shackleford and his descendants’ use of the islands over the years.
The tour requires hiking through sandy terrain for about 1.5 miles, but you get a hands-on experience with North Carolina’s environment, history, and culture. The program is recommended for ages 12 and up. All participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets are $31.50 for friends of the NC Maritime Museum, and $35 for all others. Pre-registration is required by noon the day prior to the program.
Events like this – and there are numerous events all year long – are among the many reasons people love to call this area home. If you’re looking for new homes in Beaufort NC to enable you to enjoy activities like this, reach out and contact us today to learn why Beau Coast West is the ideal place to find your new home.
