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North Carolina
301

State of North Carolina Parks

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USA Parks
North Carolina
Coastal - Eastern Region
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge
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Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge Soaring © stacey brown
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge Sunbathing © stacey brown
Turtle sunbathing
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge Just Looking © stacey brown
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge Milltail Creek © Kerry Gillette Basnight
Nature reclaims the swamp as it swallows an old fishing camp.
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge Milltail Creek © Kerry Gillette Basnight
This is one of four canoe and kayak trails.
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge Milltail Creek © Kerry Gillette Basnight
Water lilies blanket the shore.
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge Milltail Creek © Kerry Gillette Basnight
There is no better way to start the day.
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ALLIGATOR RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
ALLIGATOR RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
708 N Hwy 64
Manteo, North Carolina   27954

Phone: 252-473-1131
Email: park email button icon
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge was established on March 14, 1984. It contains 152,195 acres which lie on the mainland portions of Dare and Hyde Counties, North Carolina. The Refuge is roughly 28 miles from north to south and 15 miles from east to west. It is bordered on the west by the Alligator River and the Intracoastal Waterway; on the north by Albemarle Sound; on the east by Croatan and Pamlico Sounds; and on the south by Long Shoal River and corporate farmland.

Alligator River Refuge was established to preserve and protect a unique wetland habitat type - the pocosin - and its associated wildlife species. The diversity of habitat types include high and low pocosin, bogs, fresh and brackish water marshes, hardwood swamps, and Atlantic white cedar swamps. Considered among the last remaining strongholds for black bear in eastern North Carolina and on the mid-Atlantic Coast, the Refuge also provides valuable habitat for concentrations of ducks, geese, and swans; wading birds, shorebirds, American woodcock, raptors, American alligators, white-tailed deer, raccoons, rabbits, quail, river otters, red-cockaded woodpeckers, and migrating songbirds. It serves as the core area for re-establishing the red wolf back into the wild.
FACILITIES AND ACTIVITIES OVERVIEW
Day-UseFishingyes
 Huntingyes
 Hiking Trailyes


Location
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is


Visitor Comments, Memories and Reviews
January 16 childhood memories at its best by Ken Midgett
park review stars; one to five Gods country. Having grown up in Dare Co. and cutting my teeth on Milltail Creek and those logging roads with my Grandfather Ken Ward, it is refreshing to see the area much as it looked to me almost fifty years ago. The most peaceful place on earth.
July 26 Red wolves! by Bigcatone
park review stars; one to five Went there last fall, hoping to see red wolves, and was not disapointed! Three crossed a trail about 100 yards ahead of us.Also saw deer, wild pigs, and gators..And numerous bear tracks!! Pileated woodpeckers screamed at us from everywhere, and the other birdlife was spectacular, including a bald eagle that allowed us to approach within 50 feet before taking off.Wildlife abounds here, a magnificant adventure!
April 27
park review stars; one to five
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Directions
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is located on the mainland of Dare and Hyde Counties, 15 miles west of Manteo, North Carolina. The Refuge Administrative Office is located on Roanoke Island (in Manteo) on U.S. Highway 64. To reach the Refuge, take U.S. Highway 64 west from Manteo, cross the Croatan Sound onto mainland Dare County, and continue west to the Refuge entrance. Signs direct visitors to the Refuge Field Headquarters, Creef Cut Wildlife Trail, and Buffalo City Road. Manteo is serviced by the Norfolk International Airport (2 hour drive north) and Raleigh-Durham International Airport (4 hour drive west).

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North Carolina
301

State of North Carolina Parks

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