Horse Sense and Survival Tours

NPS Photo

Join a Park Ranger on a trip to Shackleford Banks to get an in-depth look at wild horse behaviors and the management practices needed to maintain a wild horse herd.

For Program Information

Call Cape Lookout National Seashore at 252-728-2250 ext. "0". We're happy to give you more complete driving directions, a park site bulletin with a map, and answers to your questions.

 

A Shackleford Banks horse is safely observed by visitors, who are at least 50 feet away from the wildlife.

NPS Photo/S.Godin

Reserve Your Place!

Two rservations are required for this trip.

1. Reserve your spot with Cape Lookout National Seashore..
Option 1: Contact the Harkers Island Visitor Center at 252-728-2250 ext. "0". We will send you essential trip information, answer your questions and take your reservation for the program.
Option 2: Reserve your spot through our website.

2. Contact Island Express Ferry Services to reserve your space on the ferry.

Horse Sense and Survivals Tours have two departure locations. Double check which departure location your tour is using! It will be either from the Harkers Island Visitor Center, (GPS: 1800 Island Rd, Harkers Island, NC 28531) or in front of Beaufort Town Hall (701 Front St., Beaufort, NC 28516).

• On Harkers Island, parking in the Harkers Island Visitor Center lot is free.

• In Beaufort, from about Memorial Day to Labor Day, parking along Front Street and in the waterfront parking lots is paid parking. (Check the town's parking page for exact dates.) Watch for spot numbers at the rear of the parking space and pay accordingly in kiosks on the sidewalks. Free parking is available in marked spaces on side streets.

 

Dr. Sue, horse biologist, leads visitors on Shackleford Banks.

NPS Photo/S.Godin

Difficulty

This tour is considered moderately difficult.The horses roam far and wide so we'll be walking to find them. We will be climbing dune hills, walking in loose sand, ducking through shrubs, and winding through prickly needlerush. Trips from Harkers Island will likely include wading in salt water to our knees and slogging through heavy black marsh mud to our ankles. We will walk at a moderate pace and then stand or sit to watch the horses.

In summer, be prepared for very high heat indexes--dress in loose fitting clothes and bring extra water. In autumn if it's cold we'll do our best not to get wet. There are ticks on the island, so take normal precautions including a tick check when you get home.

Amenities

Amenities on Shackleford Banks are few and not always handy, be prepared. Visitors arriving from Harkers Island will find no toilets but many bushes on Shackleford Banks. The first steps off and to the boat may include wading.

Visitors arriving from Beaufort may use the dock's vertical ladder to unload or load the boat. They may also pass by the toilets (without washing facilities) on our walk.

Weather

Bad weather will only stop us if the ferry does not run. To check ferry status, you may call the ferry after 7 am on the day of the trip.

Footwear

Closed toe walking shoes are necessary to protect you feet from cacti, sand spurs and oysters. Remember, there is the possibility of wading through salt water and slogging through ankle-deep marsh mud. We advise bringing a change of socks and shoes for the drive home.

Suggested items to bring:

• water and other drinks in a reclosable bottle

• lunch & snacks

• sturdy close-toed walking shoes that can get wet, salty & dirty and will protect from cactus, sand spurs & sharp oyster shells while wading (please no flip-flops)

• hat

• sunscreen

• bug repellent (and do a tick check afterwards)

• rain jacket (also for spray in the boat)

• binoculars

• camera with zoom (telephoto) lens

• a change of socks & shoes for the drive home

• daypack/shoulder bag to carry these items (hard sided coolers are too heavy and cumbersome to carry)