Kayaking in Kitty Hawk Woods Maritime Forest, Outer Banks

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Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/9

Duration1h 30m–2h

GroupUp to 16

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

The only kayak outfitter on the Outer Banks certified by the American Canoe and Kayak Association runs this route.

Kayaking in Kitty Hawk Woods Maritime Forest on the Outer Banks is a beginner-friendly paddle through one of North Carolina's largest deciduous maritime forest habitats, where calm creeks wind past osprey, egrets, herons, turtles and river otter. The tour lasts 1.5 to 2 hours and includes a quality sit-in kayak, paddle, life jacket and first aid kit, with a live certified guide leading groups year-round. Children from age 2 are welcome, and specialized infant seats are available.

1h 30m–2h

Step-by-step itinerary

Kayak tour through maritime forest

Arrive at Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Preserve
Receive safety briefing and kayak instructions
Explore calm creek by kayak
Observe osprey, egrets, herons, and turtles
Learn about maritime forest habitat
Return to starting point and end tour

The Experience

What makes this kayak route different is the place itself. Kitty Hawk Woods Coastal Preserve spans 1,824 acres on the Outer Banks, bordered by Currituck Sound and Kitty Hawk Bay, and it holds several globally rare plant communities—Maritime Deciduous Forest, Maritime Swamp Forest, and freshwater ponds—that you paddle through instead of past. The creek meanders calm and glassy, which is why it works for beginners and families with young children.

You launch in a quality sit-in kayak with a paddle and life jacket already fitted, and a certified guide leads the group through the preserve. The focus is on wildlife: osprey, egrets, great blue herons, turtles and the occasional river otter move through the same habitat you're paddling. The guide knows where to look and what to listen for, and the pace stays slow enough that you can actually spot things instead of rushing past them. A first aid kit travels with the group, and the whole outing runs 1.5 to 2 hours, which leaves the rest of your day open.

The outfitter is the only one on the Outer Banks certified by the American Canoe and Kayak Association, and their guides carry that certification too. Children from age 2 can come along—specialized infant seats are available if you're bringing a toddler—and the company asks for at least a moderate level of physical fitness, which mostly means you can sit upright and paddle for a couple of hours without strain. Tours run year-round, so weather and season shift what you see, but the creek stays navigable.

What’s included

Quality sit-in kayak, paddle, life jacket and first aid kit.
live certified guide leading the group.
year-round availability.
specialized infant seats for children under age 2.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Kitty Hawk Kayak & Surf School

Is this one for you?At 1.5 to 2 hours, this paddle fits into a morning or afternoon without eating your whole day—beginner-friendly and calm enough for families with young children, so you're not fighting current or crowds to see the wildlife.