Murphy Peterson Wildlife Drive

Parks › North Carolina › Alligator River NWR › Points of Interest
CONTENTS

Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is likely one of the few spots on the east coast where you can predictably see a black bear in the wild.

In addition to black bears, visitors routinely see waterfowl (in large numbers during the winter months), birds of prey, and assortment of reptiles, wading birds, songbirds, and lots of other types of wildlife.

The Wildlife Drive is open for bicycles, but we recommend mountain bikes, due to the coarse gravel surface of the roads.

Alligator River
National Wildlife Refuge
PO Box 1969
Manteo, NC 27954
252-473-1131
fax: 252-473-1668

alligatorriver@fws.gov

Directions

Directions From Norfolk and Currituck Area:

Take US 168 south. US 168 becomes US 158 about 18 miles south of the NC/VA line. Continue on US 158 for about 23 miles. At this point you will cross the Wright Memorial Bridge across the Currituck Sound. After the bridge continue on US 158 through Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, and Nags Head. At the south end of Nags Head, US 158 will transition to US 64 west. Continue on US 64 across one small and one large bridge on to Roanoke Island. Continue on US 64 across another bridge to Dare County Mainland. You will see a sign welcoming you onto the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. To find the main trails and visitor opportunities, continue west on US 64 (US 264 will turn off to the left about 1 mile past Manns Harbor). Approximately 4 miles west of the US 64/264 split is a parking lot on the left hand side of the road that serves as the trail head for Creef Cut Wildlife Trail. Here you will find refuge brochures and an informational kiosk.

Directions From Raleigh Area:

Take US 64 east from Raleigh. Travel east on US 64 for approximately 3 hours (at posted highway speeds). Approximately 12 miles east of the town of Columbia, US 64 will cross the Alligator River. On the east side of the bridge you will see a sign for Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. To find the main trails and visitor opportunities, continues east on US 64 for about 7 miles. At this point you should see signs for the Creef Cut Wildlife Trail and a small parking lot on your right that serves as the trail head for the Creef Cut Wildlife Trail. Here you will find refuge brochures and an informational kiosk.