Corolla Ramp (N1)

South of the Currituck Banks National Estuarine Research Reserve at the end of NC Highway 12, you will find this beach access ramp. The Corolla beaches are surrounded by an array of shopping centers, restaurants, as well as educational activity centers. The Currituck Beach Lighthouse at Corolla is the only lighthouse in North Carolina that still remains in its original structure. Climb the 200+ steps to the top for a spectacular view of the Atlantic Coast and the Currituck Sound. The historic Corolla village is the off-the-beaten-path section of town, which was the original town center in the days of old Corolla. Today, you will see remnants of old Corolla by walking down the dirt roads north of the lighthouse. A huge shopping center also houses a Food Lion grocery store, a movie theater, and a variety of restaurants and shops. At the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education, you can learn to fish, explore Currituck Sound by kayak, carve your own duck decoy, and discover the wonders of local animals and plants. Free admission! Within the national seashore, a permit is required for any vehicle to access the beach. Due to legal battles between conservation groups and the park service, 4x4 beach ramp access, and even on-foot beach access may be severely limited during summer months in the national seashore properties.