Beach Rides at Night

Though night driving on the beach resumes at 12 a.m. on Sunday, September 16, the South Point of Ocracoke remains closed to vehicles between the hours of 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.

"You cannot drive in areas where there are still existing turtle nests," said Jocelyn Wright.  For now, "unfortunately, there is no [night] driving on South Point."

Beach goers can walk, and bring anything they can haul or carry.  The closest access to South Point will be to cross ramp 70 at the airport, drive south for .7 of a mile, and walk any or all of the remaining 2.9 miles to the inlet.  Edward Abbey wrote that people who couldn't get themselves into the wilderness ought not be there anyway, or something like that.

Wright said no such thing.  She said it is regrettable that night driving won't fully resume until mid to late October.  She is, however, excited about the 15 nests still on Ocracoke beaches.  NPS Rangers and biological science technicians, like Wright, have hosted six events thus far in 2012 so the public can witness loggerhead hatchlings as they head for the water.  60 to 120 people gathered each time. 

The night driving and beach fire restrictions are designed to keep the turtles focused on the ocean, where they live their mysterious, transcontinental lives.  Hatchlings head for the brightest light on the horizon, said Wright, and immediately veer toward headlights and fires, expending energy wandering in the wrong direction.  "We want the brightest thing to be moonlight on the water and phosphorescence," she said. 

It's been a record year for nesting, not only on Ocracoke but throughout the state.  Some biologists speculate that the mild winter kept turtles from migrating to the balmy Caribbean, or where ever it is they go. 

A victim of 1970s environmentalist propaganda, I thought turtles returned to the beach where they hatched to lay their own nests.  Not so.  Turtles are choosy, just like the rest of us, said Wright. 

The areas where night driving remains restricted will be designated with reflective yellow signs that say "No ORVs 9 pm to 7 am".  The yellow signs do not restrict day driving.  Walking is permitted at any hour of the day or night.  So is crawling.

If you do come upon a turtle preparing or laying a nest--which could still happen in the next few weeks--give her plenty of room, turn off any lights, extinguish any fires, don't take flash photographs, and do not touch her.  Consider yourself lucky, and take home memories, said Wright. 

What will and will not be open for night driving on Sunday 9/16:

Ramp 59
No ORV access South of R59
Vehicles can park at No ORV signs North of R59 and pedestrians can access the
North End (vehicle free area year-round)

Ramp 67
No ORV access North of R67
~0.7 mi open South of R67

Ramp 70
~0.4 mi open North R70
~0.7 mi open South R70
      If visitors want to park at the night driving closure and walk to
South Point it is ~2.9 miles from the night driving closure to Ocracoke
Inlet.  From the airport parking lot, since they cannot park on Ramp 72, it is
~3.7 miles to Ocracoke Inlet.

Ramp 72
No night driving access