Dare County: Salt Flats Wildlife Trail
About
The Salt Flats Wildlife Trail is a beach within Cape Hatteras National Seashore in North Carolina, managed by the USFWS. The nearest town is Rodanthe, about 10 miles away. For comfortable weather, late spring and early fall are the best bets. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Manteo show May highs around 75°F and September highs near 79°F, with fewer wet days in September than in midsummer. Several other trails lie close by. The Pea Island Refuge Boardwalk is about 1.6 miles away, the Oregon Inlet Campground social trails about 4.8 miles, and the BI BW Coquina Boardwalk about 7 miles.
Beach Details
Parking
Small lot
Fee
Free
Restrooms
None
As published by the managing agency. Lifeguards, fees and dog rules are often seasonal, so check posted signs before you swim.
Location
Dare County: Salt Flats Wildlife Trail
North Carolina
Data: North Carolina Division of Coastal Management, public beach access sites. Source metadata
Facts about this place
When to go
Best time to go: Aug–Nov. The mildest months here, with typical highs of 61–84°F and lows of 48–72°F.
Typical monthly averages (not a forecast) from the Manteo Ap, NC weather station, 17 mi away. High / low in °F, and days with snow.
- Jan51° high36° low
- Feb52° high37° low
- Mar59° high43° low
- Apr68° high51° low
- May75° high60° low
- Jun82° high69° low
- Jul86° high73° low
- Aug84° high72° low
- Sep79° high69° low
- Oct71° high58° low
- Nov61° high48° low
- Dec55° high40° low
Where it is
- Cape Hatteras National Seashore · National Park Service
- Nearest town
- Rodanthe, North Carolina · 10 mi
Source: NPS Land Resources boundaries; USGS GNIS populated places
Conditions
Active alerts for Cape Hatteras National Seashore as of Oct 9, 2026:
Partial Beach Closure in Northern Rodanthe
Park Closure · posted Sep 24, 2026
Project Safety Closure in Place Near Southernmost Groin in Buxton
Park Closure · posted Aug 24, 2026
Closure of Billy Mitchell Airport for Repaving Project
Park Closure · posted Aug 24, 2026
Source: NPS Alerts API
Nearby
- Pea Island Refuge BoardwalkHiking1.6 mi
- Oregon Inlet Campground social trailsHiking4.8 mi
- BI BW Coquina BoardwalkHiking7.1 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
