National Park Service Beach Access Report for April 7 2011

Date: April 7, 2011
Contact: Outer Banks Group, 252-473-2111

National Park Service Beach Access Report for April 7, 2011

             FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  April 7, 2011

             CONTACT: 252-473-2111, ext. 148

Cape Hatteras National Seashore beaches are being managed under the terms of the U.S. District Court approved consent decree. Park visitors can expect to see resource closures for breeding shorebirds in effect to varying degrees from mid-March to mid-to-late-August and sea turtle nesting closures may occur until early November. Shorebird pre-nesting closures have already been established at the inlets, Cape Point, and South Beach. As soon as subsequent breeding activity is observed, the consent decree requires that automatic, non-discretionary buffers be implemented.  

The Beach Access Report is issued every Thursday throughout the breeding season, and updated news will be reported weekly in bold, BLUE print. *All distances are approximate. The mileage is determined on a weekly basis using GIS data and is divided geographically by island this year. The weekly Beach Access Report is complemented by a Google Earth map, which is updated up to 5 times per week as access conditions change.  The latest Google Earth beach access map can be viewed at: https://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/googleearthmap.htm. For more information, check the National Seashore's website at:  https://www.nps.gov.

Note:  Closure conditions may change in the field on short notice. On-site signage, rather than the Beach Access Report or Google Earth map, is the most accurate and current indication of what is open or closed to the public.  Closed areas are clearly marked in the field with "symbolic fencing" consisting of wooden or carsonite posts, closure signs, string, and flagging tape. Knowledge of tidal changes and caution should be exercised while traveling the beaches of the park. Pets are strictly prohibited in resource protection areas. Elsewhere, pets must be physically restrained at all time on a leash not exceeding 6 feet in length.  For more information, please contact: e-mail us or call 252-473-2111, ext. 148.

Bodie Island  (Ramp 1 to Oregon Inlet; 6.0 miles of ocean shoreline)

Mileage Summary:  4.2 miles open to ORVs and pedestrians; 1.5 miles open to pedestrians only; 0 miles of "limited access" (open to pedestrians between closures); 0.3 of a mile closed to public access due to resource closures. Note: Green Island, southwest of Oregon Inlet bridge, is closed to public entry.

Ramp 1 - Ramp 2 (Coquina Beach Area)  (1.2 miles)

Status: The beach is open for pedestrian access, but not for ORV access.

Ramp 2 - Ramp 4   (2.4 miles)

Status: Ramp 2 is open to ORV use. North of Ramp 4, the beach is open for ORV access for approximately 2.4 miles and is open for pedestrian access approximately 3.6 miles.

Ramp 4 – Oregon Inlet   (Bodie Island Spit: 2.0 miles)

Status: The beach is open for ORV and pedestrian access for 2.0 miles south of Ramp 4 to Bodie Island Spit. A pre-nesting area was installed on March 9, 2011. There is no ORV or pedestrian access within the resource protection area. Approximately 0.3 of a mile on the western shoreline of the Spit near the bridge is marked for pedestrian access.

Hatteras Island (Ramp 23 South to Hatteras Inlet; 42.8 miles of ocean shoreline)

Mileage Summary: 30.0 miles open to ORVs and pedestrians; 9.5 miles open to pedestrians only; 0 miles of "limited access" (open to pedestrians between closures); 3.3 miles closed to public access due to resource closures.

Villages of Rodanthe, Waves, and Salvo - Ramp 23:  (Pea Island NWR boundary to Ramp 23 – 3.0 miles)

Status: The beach is open to ORV and pedestrian access in front of the villages of Rodanthe, Waves, and Salvo are open to ORV and pedestrian access for 5.3 miles.

Ramp 23 - Ramp 27: (4.3 miles)

Status: The beach is open to ORV and pedestrian access for 4.3 miles between Ramp 23 and Ramp 27.

Ramp 27 - Ramp 30:  (2.1 miles)

Status: The beach is open to ORV and pedestrian access for 0.8 miles south of Ramp 27 and 0.5 miles north of Ramp 30.

Ramp 30 - Ramp 34: (4.3 miles)

Status: The beach is open for ORV and pedestrian access for 4.3 miles between Ramp 30 and Ramp 34.

Ramp 34 - Ramp 38: (3.9 miles)

Status: The beach is open for ORV and pedestrian access for 4.3 miles between Ramp 34 and Ramp 38.

Ramp 38 - Ramp 43: (6.0 miles)

Status: The beach is open to ORV and pedestrian access for 1.8 miles south of Ramp 38 and 0.4 of a mile north of Ramp 43. There is pedestrian access from approximately 2.8 miles south of Ramp 38 and 0.55 of a mile north of Buxton Village and from Buxton Village beaches south for approximately 2.8 miles to Ramp 43.

Ramp 43 - Ramp 44:  (0.4 of a mile)

Status: The beach is open for 0.1 of a mile south of Ramp 43 and 0.05 of a mile north of Ramp 44 for ORV and pedestrian access.

Ramp 44 - Ramp 45: (Ramp 44 to tip of Cape Point: 1.0 miles)

Status: Ramp 44 is open. There is ORV access for 0.4 of a mile south of Ramp 44 and pedestrian access for 1.0 mile to the tip of Cape Point.  A full beach closure from approximately 0.3 of a mile south/west of Cape Point to approximately 0.3 of a mile east of Ramp 45 is part of the pre-nesting area installed on March 10, 2011. There is no ORV or pedestrian access within the resource protection area. The Interdunal Road and Ramp 45 are open to ORV and pedestrian access. Salt Pond Road is closed.

Ramp 45 - Ramp 49: (South Beach: 3.4 miles)

Status: Ramp 45 is open.  There is ORV and pedestrian access for 0.2 of a mile east of Ramp 45 and 0.6 miles west of Ramp 45.  There is through no through access between Ramp 45 and Ramp 49.  The South Beach pre-nesting area was established on March 9, 2011. There is no ORV or pedestrian access within the resource protection area.

Ramp 49 - Ramp 55: (5.9 miles; includes Sandy Bay soundside parking area)

Status: The beach is open to ORV and pedestrian use for 2.1 miles north and 1.2 miles south of Ramp 49. There is pedestrian, but not ORV, access from the Frisco village line to 0.1 of a mile east of Ramp 55.

Ramp 55 - Hatteras Inlet:  (Hatteras Inlet Spit: 2.2 miles)

Status: ORV and pedestrian access is open along the ocean shoreline from Ramp 55 south/west for 2.2 miles. The Pole Road is open to ORV and pedestrians. There is limited pedestrian and ORV access to the soundside via the Spur Road. Cable Crossing is open with limited parking for ORVs.  The Hatteras Inlet and Overwash pre-nesting areas were established on March 10, 2011. There is no ORV or pedestrian access within the resource protection area.

Ocracoke Island  (20.5 miles of ocean shoreline)

Mileage Summary: 8.8 miles open to ORVs and pedestrians; 5.7 miles open to pedestrians only; 1.1 miles of "limited access" (open to pedestrians between closures); 4.4 miles closed to public access due to resource closures.

Hatteras Inlet (North Ocracoke Spit) to Ramp 59: (1.4 miles)

Status: The beach is open for ORV and pedestrian access for 0.9of a mile north of Ramp 59.  The North Ocracoke pre-nesting area was established on March 11, 2011. There is no ORV or pedestrian access within the resource protection area.

Ramp 59 - Ramp 67:  (7.8 miles)

Status: The beach is open for ORV access for 1.0 mile south of Ramp 59 and 1.4 miles north of Ramp 67. There is no through ORV access between these two ramps.  There is pedestrian, but not ORV access, from Ramp 59 to Ramp 67.

Ramp 67 - Ramp 70 (includes Ramp 68):  (3.9 miles; includes Ramp 68)

Status: The beach is open for ORV and pedestrian access for 0.6 of a mile south of Ramp 68 and 1.9 miles north of Ramp 70 where a resource protection closure precludes through access for ORV and pedestrians.  

Ramp 70 - Ramp 72:  (1.8 miles)

Status: The beach is open to ORV and pedestrian access.

Ramp 72 to South Point: (2.6 miles)

Status: The beach is open to ORV and pedestrian access for 0.3 of a mile south of Ramp 72 where a resource protection closure precludes access to the inlet.  The South Point pre-nesting area was established on March 11, 2011. There is no ORV or pedestrian access within the resource protection area.

Temporary resource protection areas are necessary to protect threatened and endangered species and species of concern including piping plovers, American oystercatchers, colonial waterbirds (3 species of terns and black skimmers), and sea turtles.  Posted areas are closed to vehicles, pedestrians, and pets.

-NPS-