Finding Wild Horses in North Carolina
Return to Finding Wild Horses here for tips on visiting the range and to find herds in other areas
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• Corolla
• Rachel Carson Reserve next to Beaufort • Shackleford Banks near Beaufort |
The Shackleford Banks wild horses are found within the Cape Lookout National Seashore on the island of Shackleford Banks. The wild horses are co-managed by the Cape Lookout National Seashore and by the Foundation for Shackleford Horses, a non-profit. Additional wild horses in the area live on the Rachel Carson Reserve; this is state government land and managed by the Coastal Reserve.
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Shackleford Banks Wild Horses
Number of wild horses found on the island is approximately 110 - 130
Number of wild horses found on the island is approximately 110 - 130
To get to the Shackleford Banks island you can take a private boat or a ferry service out of Beaufort (see top left photo). The ferry ride is about 25 minutes. Once on the island you can start exploring. I started by walking along the beach and after not finding any horses I turned and hiked inland. There I found a few small bands. Keep your eyes open, the dunes can hide horses easily. On my way back to the ferry at the end of the day, there was a band right nearby.
Pack water, snacks, a trash bag, and toilet paper; there are no services on the islands. Leave no trace, take all trash back with you.
Pack water, snacks, a trash bag, and toilet paper; there are no services on the islands. Leave no trace, take all trash back with you.
Rachel Carson Reserve Wild Horses
Size: 2,315 acres
Number of wild horses found on the island is approximately 30
Size: 2,315 acres
Number of wild horses found on the island is approximately 30
The Rachel Carson Reserve contains 5 small islands: Carrot Island, Town Marsh, Bird Shoal, Horse Island, and Middle Marshes. Wild horses are closest to the town of Beaufort and can sometimes be seen on Carrot Island from the waterfront.. To get to the islands you can take a private boat, canoe, or kayak. Ferry services are available at the Beaufort waterfront; you should make a reservation ahead of time. The boat will drop you at a beach and you can take trails from there. Be sure to pick up a map in town or from the ferry operator. Pack water, snacks, a trash bag, and toilet paper; there are no services on the islands. Leave no trace, take all trash back with you.
I took a small boat out of Beaufort on a 5-10 minute ride over to Carrot Island; it's a small island and I hiked most of it. Take good, waterproof shoes. The island is a mixture of sandy dunes, marshes, wetlands, trees, and grasses. When the tide is low you can walk from one island to the other. Look for fresh tracks in the sand and mud or fresh manure.
The only horses I saw from far away were on another island (see middle bottom photo). I was short on time so I didn't have time to hike over there and the small ferry service I used couldn't take me any closer.
I took a small boat out of Beaufort on a 5-10 minute ride over to Carrot Island; it's a small island and I hiked most of it. Take good, waterproof shoes. The island is a mixture of sandy dunes, marshes, wetlands, trees, and grasses. When the tide is low you can walk from one island to the other. Look for fresh tracks in the sand and mud or fresh manure.
The only horses I saw from far away were on another island (see middle bottom photo). I was short on time so I didn't have time to hike over there and the small ferry service I used couldn't take me any closer.