Bodie Island Lighthouse

Bodie Island Light Station is the striped lighthouse at the northern end of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, set among tall pines and freshwater marsh near Nags Head. The current tower is the third built for this stretch of coast; it first showed its light in 1872 and still serves as a navigational aid. This isn't a tower rising straight off the beach. The grounds sit in the low, wooded island landscape, with marsh and pines around the landmark, which makes the first look feel different from a classic open-ocean lighthouse. Give the stop enough time for the outdoor grounds and boardwalk, even if you skip the stairs. The station is at 8210 Bodie Island Lighthouse Road.

The climb is seasonal and self-guided, up a winding staircase with just over 200 steps and nine landings. The steps are narrow, the handrail is only on one side, and there is no elevator or air conditioning; expect it to feel warm, close and dim inside. At the top, the view opens over Bodie Island toward both the Atlantic Ocean and Pamlico Sound, a payoff worth the effort if stairs are comfortable for you. Climbers must be at least 42 inches tall and under 260 pounds. Children 11 and younger need an adult with them, and pets aren't allowed on the climb. Weather can stop it, so check the current schedule and limits before you plan your visit around getting up the tower. If you don't climb, the grounds and marsh boardwalk still make this more than a photo from the car.

There was a good reason this coast needed another beacon. A 1837 survey warned that southbound ships were lost around the dangerous cape. The first Bodie Island lighthouse was completed in 1847, but its 54-foot brick tower started to lean within two years because the foundation was inadequate. It was abandoned in 1859. A second, 80-foot tower went up nearby that year and was blown up by retreating Confederate troops in 1861. Both early towers were south of Oregon Inlet, on what is now Pea Island. The present lighthouse was built north of the inlet on a 15-acre site; work began in 1871, and its first-order Fresnel lens sent its first beam out on October 1, 1872. A major restoration finished in 2013. That run from repeated failures to a working light is the story to have in mind as you look at it.

Take the boardwalk to the marsh viewing platform for a closer look at this landscape. Interpretive stops cover the marsh, plants, and light station history, making a slow walk more interesting than a quick lap around the tower. For a photo, stand along the boards and use them as a leading line toward the black-and-white tower, with marsh grass across the foreground. It shows the station better than a tight crop of the lantern because you see how the tower fits into Bodie Island. This is an easy place to linger if you like coastal history, landscape photography, or lighthouses. Leave extra time for the climb, and don't let the stair ticket be the only reason you stop. Treat it as an outdoor stop and bring water and a snack for the boardwalk and stairs; no on-site dining was verified in current sources.