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The Outer Banks is undoubtedly one
of the most naturally beautiful stretches of
land along the entire East Coast. From the unspoiled sound views in Pine Island, through the winding Town of Duck, past Jockey’s Ridge in Nags Head, to the quaint waterfront in Manteo and beyond, each town along this
barrier island holds a trove of treasures waiting to be discovered. So rather than take in these amazing sights through a rolled up car window, challenge yourself to see the Outer Banks the way it was meant to be seen – up close on a bicycle!
There are three marked bike routes on the Outer Banks: Wright Brothers Bikeway (Route 1); Mountains to Sea (Route 2); and The Ten Mile Loop (Route 3). Pick up a map from the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau to plan one of these biking adventures. But don’t feel limited to the marked routes; the Outer Banks has many trails, multi-use paths and extra-wide shoulders for safe biking. Bay Drive, which runs parallel to the sound in Kill Devil Hills,
is a favorite of bikers looking for a leisurely
ride away from the traffic of the main roads.
If you’re staying in the northern Outer Banks, check out the fantastic multi-use path that runs all the way through Southern Shores and Duck.
Before you hop on your bike, it’s best to know the lay and the laws of the land. Biking on the Outer Banks presents challenges that you might not encounter in your hometown. Keep in mind that shoulders on the Beach Road (N.C. Highway 12)
occasionally become too sandy for a safe ride. As for biking on the Bypass (U.S. Highway 158), while it’s not illegal, it’s definitely not recommended. Heavy
traffic and drivers who are unfamiliar
with the area make the Bypass a
dangerous road to bike.
For a casual bike ride, the Ten Mile Loop is perhaps the best way to go. Shorter than the other two marked routes (the Wright Brothers Bikeway is 16 miles and the Mountains to Sea Trail is 725 miles), the Ten Mile Loop can be easily ridden in an hour or two. The Loop takes bikers – depending where in the Loop they choose to start –
from Moore Shore Road in Kitty Hawk to Bay Drive in Kill Devil Hills. The Wright Brothers Multi Use Path connects Moore Shore Road and Bay Drive. This scenic path is one of the highlights of this bike route because it takes riders far from traffic on a quiet path along
the water. At the very end of Bay Drive, a bike path connects to Colington Road. From there, the route heads east past the Wright Brothers Monument all the way to the Beach Road. Take special caution crossing the Bypass,
and be sure to heed the traffic signals. On the Beach Road, head north to Kitty Hawk Road (see note below). At Kitty Hawk Road, the route heads west, coming full-circle to Moore Shore Road.
Bikers staying in the northern Outer Banks can take advantage of the great paths along the road that run from Southern Shores to Sanderling, north of Duck. Don’t be afraid to bike off the beaten path and venture into subdivisions. You might stumble upon a great view or a neighborhood you never knew existed. Biking through Duck can be a lot of fun. Take the afternoon to check out all of the great shops, have a coffee or a cocktail at one of the local eateries, and then bike back to your beach cottage.
For a longer ride, try the Wright Brothers Bikeway. Beginning in Kitty Hawk on Woods Road, the route explores the residential side
of Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills. The path runs concurrent with the Ten Mile Loop for about five miles, beginning at Moore Shore Drive and ending on Colington Road. Rather than head north on the Beach Road, the Wright Brothers Bikeway route heads south along the bike path all the way to Whalebone Junction in Nags Head. The route passes Jockey’s Ridge State Park. If you have the time, park your bike and climb to the top
of Jockey’s Ridge to check out the amazing 360-degree view of the Outer Banks.
For serious bikers, the Sea to Mountains ride is an ultra-challenging route – 725 miles from Whalebone Junction in Nags Head to Murphy, a town in the western part of North Carolina. The portion of the route that can
be ridden locally takes bikers over the Virginia Dare Bridge and through Manns Harbor.
Roanoke Island and the Town of Manteo make a delightful detour for bikers more
interested in sightseeing than going the
distance. A Multi-Use Path runs the entire length of the island, about 11 miles, from the base of the Baum Bridge all the way past Fort Raleigh National Historic Site to the sound on the north end of the island. If you’re interested in this route, there is a parking lot on the south side of the Baum Bridge. You can bike from there to all of the attractions on Roanoke Island (though Airport Road, which leads to the N.C. Aquarium, is too narrow for safe biking). You can bike to downtown Manteo to check out the bustling waterfront, shops and restaurants.
Biking the Outer Banks can be great exercise and a lot of fun for the whole family. Make your Outer Banks vacation a cycling adventure that you’ll always remember.
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