Each year, droves of people make the pilgrimage to the top of the tallest sand dune on the East Coast, and it’s located right here in North Carolina. Jockey’s Ridge State park is the most visited state park in the system, hosting in excess of 1.5 million visitors annually. The park is a fascinating place to explore and contains a living sand dune that fluctuates between 80 and 100 feet in height.
Jockey's Ridge State Park is comprised of 426 acres and includes an impressive three ecosystems: the dunes, a maritime forest, and the Roanoke Sound. The variety is more than enough to provide seemingly endless family fun with a multitude of things to do.
If you don't have your own gear, then a hang gliding school doles out all of the necessities, plus instruction and assistance as you glide from the top of the dune over the park to a landing spot below.
Making your way to the top of the colossal sand dune is no easy feat and can take an average of an hour to climb the equivalent of a ten-story building. Along the way, you can take some photos that look like they're straight out of one of the "Indiana Jones" movies.
Getting up that massive sand dune can be a challenge; however, with the right gear... getting back down the dune can be more fun than you can imagine. Sand boarding is favorite activity for the kids who visit Jockey's Ridge (and for some who are still kids at heart!).
The eastern terminus of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail is located at the very top of the dune. Additionally, the park has a 1.2 mile self-guided path, called the Tracks In The Sand Trail.
With so much to see and do at this unusual state park, it's easy to see why it's the most traveled park in North Carolina. When was the last time you made the pilgrimage to the top of Jockey's Ridge?
Jockey’s Ridge State Park is located at 300 W. Carolista Dr., Nags Head, NC27959. It’s free and open 364 days a year (Closed on Christmas Day). It opens daily year-round at 8:00 a.m. Closing times vary by season. Find a list of those at this link. Admission is free. Sandboarding is allowed from October 1 through March 31 only and a permit may be required. All hang gliders must register with the park office. Learn more from the official website for North Carolina State Parks.
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