Last updated: March 24, 2021
Thing to Do
Night Skies at Cape Lookout
NPS photo/Alex Gu
Have you ever seen the Milky Way stretch all the way across the sky? Or spotted a neighboring galaxy with only your eyes? Cape Lookout National Seashore works hard to preserve our dark nights and keep these opportunities available for all. Darkness is a disappearing natural resource in many areas, but here you can experience the night sky away from the bright lights of a town.
For the best stargazing, check the weather forecast, find a comfortable spot, bring your binoculars if you have them, a blanket if you want, a red light, and maybe a star chart, and look up. A good spot that is easily reached by car is the Harkers Island Visitor Center parking lot at the end of the road on Harkers Island. The picnic area parking lot across the road from the visitor center makes another good spot.
If you are camping on the barrier islands during the summer months, not only are the stars visible, but you also experience the beach and the dark as our nesting sea turtles do. Sea turtles need the dark beach for successful nesting and, in late summer, for the newly hatched babies to make it safely back to the ocean. If you are really lucky, you may also get to experience the subtle glow of bioluminescence in the water.
For the best stargazing, check the weather forecast, find a comfortable spot, bring your binoculars if you have them, a blanket if you want, a red light, and maybe a star chart, and look up. A good spot that is easily reached by car is the Harkers Island Visitor Center parking lot at the end of the road on Harkers Island. The picnic area parking lot across the road from the visitor center makes another good spot.
If you are camping on the barrier islands during the summer months, not only are the stars visible, but you also experience the beach and the dark as our nesting sea turtles do. Sea turtles need the dark beach for successful nesting and, in late summer, for the newly hatched babies to make it safely back to the ocean. If you are really lucky, you may also get to experience the subtle glow of bioluminescence in the water.
Details
Activity
Stargazing
Pets Allowed
Yes with Restrictions
Pets must be on leash while in the park.
Activity Fee
No
Entrance fees may apply, see Fees & Passes information.
Reservations
No
Season
Year Round
Time of Day
Night
Accessibility Information
The easiest to reach stagazing location is the parking lot in front of the Harkers Visitor Center and the parking lot for the picnic area across the road from the visitor center. Both areas are level, paved and have paved side walks.
Restrooms, including handicapped stalls, are available in both areas. The lights in the restrooms are motion activated at night.
Restrooms remain open until 10:00 pm and then automatically lock. A release button inside on the wall to the left of the door allows anyone who was still inside to leave after the locks are engaged.
The lights in the parking lot remain off after dark to allow for stargazing. To retain your night vision, use a flashlight with a red light if you need it to move around after dark.
If a special event is scheduled after dark in the visitor center, the parking lot lights will be on until after that event ends, then the lights will be turned off for the rest of the night.
If out on the barrier islands, please be aware that there are no hard surfaces on the island. Mobility assistance, such as a wheelchair or scooter, will need to be able to handle the deep sand of the beach. The beaches and sand trails for vehicles are uneven and the sand may make walking difficult.
Restrooms, including handicapped stalls, are available in both areas. The lights in the restrooms are motion activated at night.
Restrooms remain open until 10:00 pm and then automatically lock. A release button inside on the wall to the left of the door allows anyone who was still inside to leave after the locks are engaged.
The lights in the parking lot remain off after dark to allow for stargazing. To retain your night vision, use a flashlight with a red light if you need it to move around after dark.
If a special event is scheduled after dark in the visitor center, the parking lot lights will be on until after that event ends, then the lights will be turned off for the rest of the night.
If out on the barrier islands, please be aware that there are no hard surfaces on the island. Mobility assistance, such as a wheelchair or scooter, will need to be able to handle the deep sand of the beach. The beaches and sand trails for vehicles are uneven and the sand may make walking difficult.