Are you looking for a beautiful place to go running? If so, you may have thought about the outer back. Often abbreviated to OBX, many people think about the Wright brothers, Kitty Hawk, and Hatteras Island when they imagine the outer banks. At the same time, there are plenty of running routes that put you on a beautiful nature trail or let you take advantage of a multi-use path. Even though there are plenty of beautiful places to explore, the Southern Shores are really where it is at. If you want to take advantage of everything these wetlands have to offer, learn more about the best running trails and running routes in the area!
1. Explore the Southern Shores
If you want to go for a run on the Southern Shores, there are a few great options to consider. They include:
An Easy Path To Follow
If you are looking for a running route that gives you an easy path to follow, then you may want to consider running along North Dogwood and South Dogwood. This is a fun, easy run because the roads do not have a lot of traffic. Therefore, you won’t have to worry as much about cars going by at high speeds. Furthermore, running this route is a convenient distance, as it is about length of a 5K. You might even want to pick a shop or restaurant at the end that you can stop at for water.
Aim for the Shade
If you are visiting the Outer Banks during the summer, it can get humid, so you might be looking for a run that gives you a bit of extra shade. If that is the case, you may want to choose some of the residential streets. There are lots of side streets you can use to add some distance to your running. You might want to begin at the Outer Banks Visitor Center, and then pick a lot of residential streets that have some extra shade. That way, you don’t have to worry about yourself baking in the sun.
Challenge Yourself on the Beach
Of course, what is a run at the Outer Banks if you do not get to enjoy the views? You can push yourself a bit harder if you decide to run on the sand. The closer you get to the water, the harder the sand is going to be. Therefore, it will be easier for you to run. There are plenty of public beach access points, but you need to wear a GPS so you remember where you started. That way, when you turn around and come back, you remember where you parked your car or your bike!
2. The Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Reserve
If you want to enjoy the scenery of the Outer Banks, then you probably want to get off the main road. If you are looking to switch up your running route a bit more, then you may want to check out the Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Reserve. There are plenty of hiking and running trails you can explore back in the woods. Keep in mind that many of these are multi-use trails, so you may see a few mountain bikers depending on the path you choose.
This Reserve can be found in the middle of the Outer Banks. If you see where US 158 meets the OBX, this Reserve is located just south of this point. There are lots of woods, so you should have plenty of shade, which can prevent you from dehydrating yourself too quickly.
There are several trails marked throughout the reserve. Most of them have set distances, so you don’t have to worry about tracking how far you run. Just follow the sign, add up the mileage, and figure out how far you want to run. When you are finished with your run, you may want to grab a kayak and explore some of the scenery! You might want to do some hiking as some cross-training as well!
3. Go For a Run at the Wright Brothers Memorial: Kill Devil Hills
People come from all over the country to check out the Wright Brothers Memorial. This is the site of the first ever human plane flight. It took place in 1903, and the Wright Brothers Memorial has become one of the biggest attractions in the region. In addition to checking out the memorial, you can also go for a run here!
There are countless roads and paths that create great running opportunities. If you begin at the Park Visitor Center, run along the walkway path toward the memorial. You will pass by a lot of historical exhibits that pay homage to the Wright brothers. Then, continue to run around the memorial paths, which should give you approximately three miles.
If you would like to add a couple more miles, you can extend the run along Colington Rd, follow the creek, cross over the bridge, and run out to one of the most popular restaurants in the area, Billy’s Seafood. If you follow this path and then come back, your running route should be approximately five miles.
There are a few other winding paths in the area as well, so consider exploring the area around Kill Devil Hills a bit more! There is also the opportunity to work in some beach running if you head east for approximately one to 1.5 miles.
4. Tackle the Hills at Nags Head Woods Ecological Preserve
If you are in the mood to try a few hills, then consider heading out to Nags Head Wood Preserve. Here, you will have the opportunity to run through some marshes, wetlands, and sand dunes. The entire preserve is more than a thousand acres. It is also considered a national natural landmark.
As soon as you enter the preserve, you will see a lot of signs for countless trails you can try. Some of the trails have a boardwalk that makes it a bit easier. Some trails are made out of sand. You may even encounter a few trails that are made out of gravel. Because there are so many miles of trails from which to choose, you can customize your running route to meet your needs. If you only want to run a couple of miles, there are a few trails that are short. If you want to map out a longer running route, you can certainly do that as well. Just be sure to keep your eyes on the sides. Because there are so many trails, it can be easy to get lost in this area.
5. The Town of Kitty Hawk Bay Running Trail
If you are looking for another run you can take on the water, you may want to consider this bay run opportunity in Kitty Hawk. If you go for a run in the evening, it won’t be nearly as hot outside, and the waterfront roads should be a bit quieter. This is a very large bay, so you can make this run as long or as short as you want it to be.
If you are looking for the best views of the water, then you should start the run at Morse Shore Rd., just a few miles south of Route 158. You should see a back path there, and you can follow this during your run. Just be sure to keep your eyes open for bikers. As you follow the bike path, take Bay Drive, and follow this road through a residential area that is filled with a lot of historic houses. Finally, you can follow this road all the way to the Wright Brothers Memorial.
Depending on the exact path you take, this run is approximately five to six miles long. If you want to make your run just a bit longer, you may want to start the running route back at US 158 instead of Morse Shore Rd! Keep in mind that you might have to get back as well, or you may want to ask someone to come and pick you up!
6. The Cape Hatteras National Seashore
What would a trip to the Outer Banks be if you didn’t take a look at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse? The good news is that you can incorporate the lighthouse into your running routes! Cape Hatteras is a bit south of Kitty Hawk, and it is one of the most popular locations in the southern area of the Outer Banks. If you want to explore some beach running, there are dozens of miles of beaches from which to choose. Because this is one of the most popular locations in the Outer Banks, there are plenty of parking lots and access points as well. You may need to pick your time carefully, as the beaches can get a bit crowded.
If you want to go on a lighthouse run, you may want to check out the Buxton Woods and Hatteras areas. If you start at Highway 12 and run to the old lighthouse historic site, you’ll get some amazing views. Then, if you run from there to the new lighthouse site, it’s about three miles in one direction or six miles round trip.
Get Ready for a Fun Adventure in the Outer Banks of North Carolina
These are just a few of the many running trails from which to choose. Regardless of whether you are looking for some trail running with some trail maps or looking for some beach running, there are plenty of outer banks running trails available. Consider challenging yourself with a few hiking trails as well!