What a perfect day for a bike ride on the Outer Banks . . . not a cloud in the sky, light breeze from the south and moderate temperatures.
The Outer Banks is interspersed with interconnecting bike paths that allow riders to go from the Sanderling in Duck on the Currituck/Dare County Line clear down to Bodie Island Lighthouse in South Nags Head.
But this ride is not on those maps, although it may be the most beautiful bike ride on the Outer Banks.
Nags Head Woods is an 1100 acre preserve maintained by the Nature Conservancy. Running through the heart of the preserve is a well-maintained, packed earth dirt road. Now this ride is not for skinny tire riders, and it would be tough for a beach cruiser to do this, but anyone with a mountain bike and a passable knowledge of how to use your gears-this is a ride for you.
Nags Head Woods straddles the towns of Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head, although the entrance to the reserve is in Kill Devil Hills.
There are two ways in-either off Ocean Acres (turn at Pigman's Barbecue) or W. Martin Street-which for bike riders is probably better. Martin Street will become a dirt road and just follow that all the way to the view of Roanoke Sound looking across to Roanoke Island.
The dirt road part of the ride is about 21/2 miles out and the same back. A beautiful ride . . . worth the effort.
