Jockey’s Ridge

Thanks to Carolista Baum, her husband Walter, and the People to Preserve Jockey’s Ridge, the North Carolina General Assembly created Jockey’s Ridge State Park in 1975. Located in Nags Head, south of the Wright Brothers Memorial, these ever evolving 426 acres of sand dunes almost fell into the wrong hands and vanished beneath bulldozers and residential development.

Jockey’s Ridge is the tallest natural sand dune system in the eastern United States. I visited in April, took hundreds of photographs, and have been sorting through them for weeks. The shapes of the shadows from the sun can become almost hypnotic as you walk around the park. The views of the ocean to the east and the sound to the west are excellent as well.

I highly recommend paying a visit sometime to appreciate the beauty and learn about the ecosystem and unique qualities of the outer banks. Just arrive early in the morning or late in the evening to escape the heat.