2023 Year of the Trail

2023 is the “Year of the Trail” for NC State Parks. Each year the Division of Parks & Recreation selects a theme for the year. Rangers develop new programs for the theme.

Throughout the year rangers will be hosting programs promoting the trails in the park. The nature of the shifting sand prevents the construction of traditional trails at Jockey’s Ridge, but the park does have two official trails that highlight a back barrier dune system.

The Soundside Nature Trail head is located off the soundside access parking lot. This self-guided nature trail is approximately 0.75 mile long and will take up to an hour to hike at a leisurely pace. This section of the park contains several different coastal habitats, including a wetland area, grassy dunes, and maritime forest. Interpretive panels along the trail will provide you with information on the many plants and animals that call this area home. The second is the Tracks in the Sand Trail. It is a 1.2-mile self-guided trail. Walked at a leisurely pace, the hike takes up to 1.5 hours. The trail begins at the visitor center parking lot and meanders through the many habitats in the park traveling across the dune to the soundside and back.

If you prefer a shorter adventure, a 360-foot boardwalk is located near the start of the Tracks in the Sand Trail. A deck at the end of the boardwalk with benches is the perfect place to take photos or sit down and take in the sights and sounds. If you prefer a longer adventure, the Mountains-to-Sea Trail stretches 1175 miles from the Great Smoky Mountains to Jockey’s Ridge State Park, stopping at many of our state’s most beautiful places along the way.  For the latest information on available programs visit the park’s website at Jockey’s Ridge State Park Events and Programs.

 

 

Article by: Ranger Scott Coffman

Photos: Friends of Jockey’s Ridge