Cape Hatteras National Seashore, on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, is one of the few places on the US East Coast where kiteboarders plan whole holidays around a single strip of land. The reason is geography. The barrier islands separate the open Atlantic from a wide, shallow sound on the inland side, so riders get steady wind with flat water at their feet. The National Park Service describes the area’s winds as famous, steady and strong.
Sound side or ocean side
The spots the park lists are all on the sound. The NPS describes the water there as shallow, and that is the whole point: a beginner who drops the kite can usually stand up, walk back and relaunch, which is impossible on a deep river or in ocean surf. Experienced riders head to the ocean side for waves, but the park does not list any ocean spots for kiting, and conditions there change fast.
The four kiteboarding spots the park names
The NPS lists these sites as ideal for kiteboarding, depending on the weather:
- Haulover, also called Canadian Hole, on Hatteras Island. One of the best known names in East Coast wind sports, and busy on good days.
- Kite Point, on Hatteras Island. The park notes that the Kite Point parking lot opened in 2019.
- Salvo Soundside Beach Access, also called the Salvo Day Use Area, on Hatteras Island.
- Springer’s Point, on Ocracoke Island, reached by ferry and quieter than the main island.
For windsurfers, the park lists Haulover, the Salvo soundside access and any soundside access on Ocracoke.
When to go
The park says the best kiteboarding weather is usually in spring and fall, and the same goes for windsurfing. Outside those seasons, check the forecast with more care before booking. If wind is the reason for the trip, the seasons the park recommends are the safer bet.
The hazard the park warns about
The one specific danger the NPS calls out is overhead obstacles, especially powerlines near the road. Several soundside launches sit close to the highway that runs the length of the islands, so a kite launched or landed in the wrong direction can drift toward the lines. Check where the wires are before you pump up, launch with the lines pointing away from the road, and never land a kite downwind of the parking area. The park also asks visitors to check the weather and changing conditions before heading out, because a squall over the sound arrives fast.
How far the sport goes here
The NPS page notes that kiteboarders have jumped more than 35 meters above the water and reached hangtimes of over 20 seconds. Those are the extremes. For most visitors the draw is the opposite: long, flat sessions in water shallow enough to make mistakes safely.
Wind direction on a sound
On a narrow barrier island, wind direction changes everything. A wind blowing from the sound toward the shore pushes a fallen rider back to the beach, which is forgiving. A wind blowing from the land out over the water does the opposite and carries a rider who cannot go upwind away from the launch. Check the forecast direction as well as the speed, and pick the spot whose shoreline faces the wind on that day. Ask a local school which site works best for that direction if you are unsure.
Getting there
Hatteras Island is reached by road along the Outer Banks, and Ocracoke Island, home to Springer’s Point, is reached by ferry. On a long weekend in spring or fall, plan for traffic on the single road that runs down the islands, and book accommodation early in the peak kite seasons.
Practical tips
- Take a lesson with a local school if you are new. Shallow water helps, but it does not teach you to fly a kite.
- Wear booties. The bottom of the sound can hold shells and debris.
- Arrive early on good wind days. The best known spots fill quickly.
- Share the beach with families and anglers, and keep your lines clear of them.
- Note the park phone number, 252 473-2111, for current conditions and closures.
Other kite destinations
Cape Hatteras sits at the friendly end of the kite world. For another setting, our guide to kiteboarding in Hood River covers a river spot with strong current and strict seasonal launch rules, and kitesurfing spots on Oahu brings warm water and trade winds into the picture. On a windless day, the coast is still worth exploring from the water, and our guide to sea caves you can kayak into lists paddling trips for calmer conditions. The full list of spots is on the NPS kiteboarding and windsurfing page.