Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Hatteras, North Carolina

Explore All Beginner Trails Near Hatteras, North Carolina

Cape Hatteras 34 to 38 Avon Beach

This Beach access is only open from October 15- April 14. However, if you are there during this time it's a great way to access Avon Beach and have a front-row seat to an amazing…
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Total Miles
4.1
Tech Rating
3
Best Time
Fa / Wi / Sp

Cape Hatteras Ramp 30 to 32

This is a beautiful beach that is a blast to ride on. Cape Hatteras has many access points you can drive on the beach. Ramp 30 to 32 is just north of Avon. 4x4 is…
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Total Miles
2
Tech Rating
3
Best Time
Su / Sp / Fa / Wi

Cape Hatteras Ramp 25 to 27

This is a beautiful sand beach. Cape Hatteras has many access points you can drive on the beach. Ramp 25 is just south of the town of Rodanthe. 4x4 is required to be able to…
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Total Miles
2.2
Tech Rating
3
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Cape Hatteras Ramp 23 to 25

This is a beautiful sand beach that is a blast to ride on. Cape Hatteras has many access points you can drive on the beach. Ramp 23 is just south of the town of Rodanthe.…
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Total Miles
2.7
Tech Rating
3
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Cape Hatteras Ramp 2 to 4

Cape Hatteras has many access points you can drive on the beach. Ramp 2 to 4 is just south of the town of Nag Head. 4x4 is required to be able to drive on the…
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Total Miles
2.4
Tech Rating
3
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge

Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is a series of dirt and gravel roads located in Dare County, North Carolina, approximately 45 minutes west of Nags Head in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The roads…
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Total Miles
28.3
Tech Rating
1
Best Time
Su / Sp

North Core Banks - Portsmouth Island

Portsmouth Island requires a private vehicle ferry from Morris Marina to access and reservation in advance is necessary. A permit is required to drive on the beach and can be obtained through the Cape Lookout…
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Total Miles
19
Tech Rating
3
Best Time
Su / Sp / Fa

Western Road Pocosin National Wildlife Refuge

This road within the Pocosin National Wildlife Refuge area is rather similar to all the others however is very cool as it can connect to a lake within the refuge. With that being said, depending…
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Total Miles
4.2
Tech Rating
1
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Middle Road - Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge

This road within the Pocosin National Wildlife Refuge area starts very similar to other roads driving through farmland, with rivers, but eventually switches into a wetter forest road. The first half of the road is…
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Total Miles
4
Tech Rating
1
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp

Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge

Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge is a series of scenic gravel roads in Tyrrell County, North Carolina. It's located west of Nags Head in the North Carolina Outer Banks. The Refuge offers amazing scenery and…
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Total Miles
30.9
Tech Rating
1
Best Time
Sp / Su

Lighthouse Access Ramp

This access leads to Cape Lookout Lighthouse and Soundside access, with parking that can be limited during the spring and Summer months. The ramp is to be driven with caution, as some corners do not…
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Total Miles
0.2
Tech Rating
2
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

East Road

East road is accessible from the back road of Cape Lookout which connects to Cape Lookout road. It’s has an emergency storm shelter area that is located on this trail, that can be used during…
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Total Miles
0.3
Tech Rating
2
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp

South Core Banks - Back Road

South Core Banks is only accessible by vehicle ferry. A reservation is required through Cape Lookout Cabins and Camps or the Davis Shore Ferry Service. A beach driving permit (ORV) is required and can be…
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Total Miles
17.9
Tech Rating
3
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Ives Field - FS 182

This is a well-maintained gravel road. The whole road is mostly flat and is wide enough for passing vehicles to go around each other without stopping. No trees or debris blocking the road and no…
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Total Miles
1.3
Tech Rating
1
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Pine Grove - FS 156

Coming up onto Pine Grove Road (FS 156), located off of Catfish Lake Road, you will be met with a gravel road that stretches 3.1 miles in the eastern section of the Croatan National Forest.…
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Total Miles
5.9
Tech Rating
1
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Brown Road - FS 121D

Can be accessed from Middle Little Road or Catfish Lake Road. This gravel road is fairly well maintained and has enough room for passing vehicles to get by. A gate is located in the middle…
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Total Miles
3
Tech Rating
1
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Wi / Su

Briery Branch - FS 122

Started off as a nice dirt road, then slowly transitions to small mud holes on both sides of the trail. Shortly after, you will come to the end that is gated and marked with numerous…
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Total Miles
2
Tech Rating
1
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Mill Branch - FS 170

Located in the northern section of Croatan National Forest, Mill Branch (FS 170) stretches approximately 2.9 miles between County Line Road and Farrior Farm (FS 121A). Recent grading and bulldozing have significantly improved the road…
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Total Miles
2.8
Tech Rating
1
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Middle Little

Beautiful single-vehicle width track through the forest. The entry/exit route to the northwest is very, very corrugated. But to the south, you'll find one of the widest and smoothest unpaved roads in the country. The…
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Total Miles
4.8
Tech Rating
3
Best Time
Fa / Su

Farrior Farm - FS 121A

Upon arrival at Farrior Farm Road, you will be greeted by the Croatan National Forest sign with a noticeably smooth gravel terrain. Approximately 0.5 mile on the left, the Southern New Bern Depot, which is…
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Total Miles
1.3
Tech Rating
1
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

North Little - FS 121-1

Located in the northern section of Croatan National Forest, North Little (FS 121-1) extends 2 miles between County Line Road and Perrytown Road. This forest service road is notably wide throughout and provides ample room…
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Total Miles
1.9
Tech Rating
1
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Pringle Road Spur 3

Pringle Road Spur 3 is one of the longer trails in the area, offering a mix of terrain with potential mud pits, whoops, twists and turns, and several campsites. The mud pits are generally dry…
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Total Miles
1
Tech Rating
3
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Pringle Road Spur 2

This trail offers a fun and flexible driving experience, leading to a cleared area where drivers can explore freely. While the tree line subtly suggests a main path, alternate routes with twists, turns, whoops, and…
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Total Miles
0.4
Tech Rating
2
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Catfish Lake Farm - FS 158

Mostly gravel from start to finish. This trail features a couple of pull-offs that allow you to launch kayaks into the water for the day, and a few spots for possible dispersed, primitive camping. Overall,…
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Total Miles
4.8
Tech Rating
1
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Pringle Road - FS 123

Pringle Road is a forest service road that provides access to numerous trails and areas within Croatan National Forest. The road itself is well-maintained, with only a few scattered potholes and ruts. Alongside the road…
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Total Miles
3.6
Tech Rating
1
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Su

NC12 - Carova 4x4 Beach

The Carova 4x4 Beach is the northernmost portion of NC-12, which runs along North Carolina's Outer Banks. The pavement ends in the town of Corolla, at which point a 4WD vehicle is mandatory to make…
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Total Miles
10.4
Tech Rating
2
Best Time
Sp / Su

Pettiford Creek Trail 7

Branch 7 is a continuation of Pettiford Creek Trail 6 and the Pettiford Creek Eastern Entrance. It's slightly tighter and muddier than Trail 6, offering a bit more of a challenge. A mud hole mid-trail…
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Total Miles
0.3
Tech Rating
3
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Pettiford Creek Trail 6

This offshoot from the Pettiford Creek Main Trail connects to the Pettiford Creek Eastern Entrance. The trail consists primarily of sandy double-track, with a few scattered mud pits that add some challenge but are smaller…
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Total Miles
0.5
Tech Rating
3
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Millis Road (128)

Millis Road (128) crosses Croaton National Forest between Whitehouse Fork Road and Nine Mile Road. This route is generally maintained and offers a nice scenic drive for any vehicle or driver. While the road is…
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Total Miles
7.3
Tech Rating
1
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Su / Wi

Great Lake Road (126)

Great Lake Road travels through Croatan National Forest, ending at Great Lake. This route is well-maintained and passable by any vehicle. While traveling the route, drivers will cross several small wooden bridges that cross small…
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Total Miles
5.6
Tech Rating
1
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

ATV Trails Near Hatteras, North Carolina

Lighthouse Access Ramp

This access leads to Cape Lookout Lighthouse and Soundside access, with parking that can be limited during the spring and Summer months. The ramp is to be driven with caution, as some corners do not…
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Total Miles
0.2
Tech Rating
2
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

East Road

East road is accessible from the back road of Cape Lookout which connects to Cape Lookout road. It’s has an emergency storm shelter area that is located on this trail, that can be used during…
Learn more about East Road
Total Miles
0.3
Tech Rating
2
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp

South Core Banks - Back Road

South Core Banks is only accessible by vehicle ferry. A reservation is required through Cape Lookout Cabins and Camps or the Davis Shore Ferry Service. A beach driving permit (ORV) is required and can be…
Learn more about South Core Banks - Back Road
Total Miles
17.9
Tech Rating
3
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Brown Road - FS 121D

Can be accessed from Middle Little Road or Catfish Lake Road. This gravel road is fairly well maintained and has enough room for passing vehicles to get by. A gate is located in the middle…
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Total Miles
3
Tech Rating
1
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Wi / Su

Briery Branch - FS 122

Started off as a nice dirt road, then slowly transitions to small mud holes on both sides of the trail. Shortly after, you will come to the end that is gated and marked with numerous…
Learn more about Briery Branch - FS 122
Total Miles
2
Tech Rating
1
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

UTV/Side-by-Side Near Hatteras, North Carolina

Lighthouse Access Ramp

This access leads to Cape Lookout Lighthouse and Soundside access, with parking that can be limited during the spring and Summer months. The ramp is to be driven with caution, as some corners do not…
Learn more about Lighthouse Access Ramp
Total Miles
0.2
Tech Rating
2
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

East Road

East road is accessible from the back road of Cape Lookout which connects to Cape Lookout road. It’s has an emergency storm shelter area that is located on this trail, that can be used during…
Learn more about East Road
Total Miles
0.3
Tech Rating
2
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp

Pine Grove - FS 156

Coming up onto Pine Grove Road (FS 156), located off of Catfish Lake Road, you will be met with a gravel road that stretches 3.1 miles in the eastern section of the Croatan National Forest.…
Learn more about Pine Grove - FS 156
Total Miles
5.9
Tech Rating
1
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Brown Road - FS 121D

Can be accessed from Middle Little Road or Catfish Lake Road. This gravel road is fairly well maintained and has enough room for passing vehicles to get by. A gate is located in the middle…
Learn more about Brown Road - FS 121D
Total Miles
3
Tech Rating
1
Best Time
Sp / Fa / Wi / Su

Briery Branch - FS 122

Started off as a nice dirt road, then slowly transitions to small mud holes on both sides of the trail. Shortly after, you will come to the end that is gated and marked with numerous…
Learn more about Briery Branch - FS 122
Total Miles
2
Tech Rating
1
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi