Situated on the sound side of the Outer Banks in Kill Devil Hills, the 1,000 acres of protected maritime forest found in the Nags Head Woods Preserve is a true delight to explore on foot. In all, four trails grace this ecological preserve for a total of seven miles visitors can amble through on foot.

You could spend all day exploring the preserve and admiring all there is to appreciate, including the maritime forest surround, beaches, an old cemetery, opaque kelly green wetlands, and the many trails that fork through the preserve.

Google Maps/Phil Brown

Park at Nags Head Town Park (415 Health Center Drive, Nags Head) to meander over to a beach with waterlogged trees on the Nags Head Town Trail.

TripAdvisor/heecack The trail is open from dawn to dusk and is only 1.5 miles in length. It’s ideal for families with small children.

The Nag Headwoods ADA Trail provides access to the preserve for all.

TripAdvisor/Tim R With hardscape throughout, and at only 0.4-miles in length, it actually jumps right into the thick of the forest cover quickly and offers a wonderfully immersive experience for all. Park your car at the main parking area for Nags Head Woods Preserve (701 W Ocean Acres Drive, Kill Devil Hills).

The longest trail in the preserve, the Sweetgum Swamp to Blueberry Ridge Trail, is 3.4 miles in length and includes some stairs and an elevation change of 204 feet.

Google Maps/Phil Brown But it also has some of the most incredible water views in the preserve!

This trail has stairs, so come prepared to climb.

Google Maps/Phil Brown

On the fourth trail, the Discovery Trail to Roanoke Trail Red Loop, hikers pass an old cemetery, among other things.

TripAdvisor/David M At just 1.7 miles in length, this trail can be finished in under an hour and, in season, has a huge amount of wildflowers.

Perhaps the best part about the preserve is that it’s open year round from dawn to dusk.

Google Maps/G-Ro

When we head to the Outer Banks, the tendency is to focus our attentions on the ocean side of the landscape, but Nags Head Woods Preserve is a fine example of the hidden gems found along the sounds as well.

Google Maps/Phil Brown

TripAdvisor/heecack

The trail is open from dawn to dusk and is only 1.5 miles in length. It’s ideal for families with small children.

TripAdvisor/Tim R

With hardscape throughout, and at only 0.4-miles in length, it actually jumps right into the thick of the forest cover quickly and offers a wonderfully immersive experience for all. Park your car at the main parking area for Nags Head Woods Preserve (701 W Ocean Acres Drive, Kill Devil Hills).

But it also has some of the most incredible water views in the preserve!

TripAdvisor/David M

At just 1.7 miles in length, this trail can be finished in under an hour and, in season, has a huge amount of wildflowers.

Google Maps/G-Ro

Have you discovered Nags Head Woods Preserve yet? What’d you think? Let us know in the comments! Learn more about Nags Head Woods from the Kill Devil Hills website. Find out more about the trails from our friends at AllTrails.com!

For more things to do in Kill Devil Hills, visit a secret butterfly garden and then go chow down on a 200-foot seafood buffet at Captain George’s Seafood!

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Address: 701 W Ocean Acres Dr, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948, USA