Buxton Woods Trail, Outer Banks, North Carolina

August 2023

Address: I used Google Maps to Buxton Woods Trail, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, 46375 Lighthouse Rd, Buxton, Outer Banks, North Carolina.

Parking: Paved, Room for 10+ cars or trailers, 2 electric car hook ups

92 degrees at 1:40-2:39PM (this time frame also included jumping out for light house pics and to visit the British cemetery), sunny

Portable toilets available at the edge of the parking area

Parking and entrance to the trail is free.


Dogs on a leash are allowed on this trail.

We walked 1.3 miles. We enjoyed the varied views and the slight inclines.  I enjoyed the informational plaques.

This trail might be okay terrain for a stroller with the right tires.

We had the trail to ourselves although we did see people finishing their picnic at the tables as we started our walk.

This was a shady walk.

I did not see any trash.

This would have been a good trail to apply bug spray prior to starting.  The website warns that this is commonly good advice here.

This is an area where shorts would not be a problem. 

A variety of vines climbing trees.  One was Virginia creeper.  Another looked like a variety of the poison ivy that grows in western New York.

I saw large spiders, wildflowers, and a variety of trees including dwarf palmettos, southern bayberry, loblolly pine, flowering dogwood, and American hornbeam.

More information: https://www.nps.gov/places/000/buxton-woods-trailhead.htm and https://www.deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/coastal-management/nc-coastal-reserve/reserve-sites/buxton-woods-reserve

Nearby:  

Hatteras Sno-Cones and Ice Cream, 53203 Delmar Willis Rd, NC-12, Frisco, Hatteras Island, NC 27936

The service was so much friendlier and warmer than the signage indicates.  The sno-cone on top of ice cream was a great combo!



The spiders on this trail were very large compared to what we are used to seeing in western New York.

Poison ivy

I did not realize this was where the porta potties were at first.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse...Just a short drive or walk from where we parked for the walk.