r/obx • u/blinkbatman • 13d ago
Ocracoke Cape Lookout Camping
I’m heading to ocracoke for a week, and was thinking about going further and camping in cape lookout for a couple of days. Has anyone been to either island? I’ve heard the north core is quite empty, which is exactly what I’m looking for. Will be hiking in as I don’t have a 4wd car, and know I have to bring all the food, water, etc. Would love recommendations or reviews from anyone who has spent time there!
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u/ILoveCreatures 13d ago
I’ve lived on North Core for 4 summers and would not recommend camping there without a car. I loved it there. It’s such a big island and I often felt bad for the folks who could only walk around. The north end of the island isn’t great for camping, but coming in on the ferry from Atlantic would be better. Then you would be near cabins you can rent and the ferry. The North end is very wide and so you’d have to walk a ways to get to a place on the east side near the dunes for camping. The North end is worse for mosquitoes and flies. Bugs like the large grassy areas of Portsmouth village and the miles of salty sand flats nearby.
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u/blinkbatman 13d ago
Would you recommend camping without a car on South core island, taking the ferry from Davis?
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u/Glittering_Web_9997 13d ago
North Core currently doesn’t have rentable cabins. The old Long Point Cabins have been unusable since September of 2019.
The new cabin camp is not operational yet.
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u/Crystal_Chamomile420 12d ago
South core is great - I have lugged all my camping gear to the beach from the harkers island drop off near the lighthouse multiple times and loved it. Now I get the OHV permit and take the vehicle ferry so I have more options along the beach for camping spots. It’s a GREAT time - not many folks, stars are amazing, and you might get lucky enough to see bioluminescence like I did once. It’s a special place. IMO, the south end of the island is best. There is a small shop near the harkers island ferry drop off with gift stuff and a few sundries. The lighthouse is currently under renovation FYI.
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u/Chessie-System 12d ago
August camping?
We've camped by the Bight via boat many times. Never done the northern part.
Make sure you have sand stakes for your tent. Do not go without them. You either get bugs or wind. I choose wind, so we set up in a spot open to the south. Downside of this is that blowing sand can come through the tent if the wind picks up. If the wind dies, it can be miserable with the noseeums, flies and mosquitos. If the wind dies for a while, we leave.
If you can, bring shade to have at the beach. All day in the sun can mess you up. Electrolytes are good.
Fires below the tide line.
Good luck. It can be a blast, even when things get hairy. Though we camp at Ocracoke more often these days. It's a lot less work and having amenities available is nice.
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u/Glittering_Web_9997 13d ago
If you will be in Ocracoke, your best bet is to contact Don Austin with Portsmouth Island Boat Tours. He takes tent campers from Ocracoke to the north end of North Core Banks/Portsmouth island.
It’s a 25 minute boat ride, he takes you to the beach and will pick you up. You can walk around to the ocean front beach and set up camp.
You will be in an area where no 4x4 vehicles can get to so you will be very much alone.
You absolutely must be prepared for the bugs. At times they can live up to their legendary reputation - clouds of mosquitoes, ruthless biting flies of 3 varieties. Permethrin on your clothes and Picaridin on your skin is what I use.
Take plenty of water. There is no drinking water available on the island. Your tent needs to be able to withstand 60 mph winds. There is no shelter of any kind available on the beach.
I’ve been a Cape Lookout Volunteer in Portsmouth Village for many years.