• Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge - East Lake, North Carolina

      by
      Anne Sponholtz
      Published on 11-03-2011 12:16 AM
      1 Comment Comments
      Taking US Highway 64 east in North Carolina leads road trippers to the popular destinations of Roanoke Island the the Outer Banks. However, if travelers are looking for some adventure along this route prior to those stops, Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge may be the perfect spot. Just beyond Alligator River Bridge on US 64 that passes over East Lake, this national refuge is home to one of the largest black bear populations in the United States and the only spot in the world where red wolves still roam wild. The park offers numerous opportunities to enjoy this wildlife including: howling safaris, tram tours, paddling trails, canoe tours and driving trails. Anglers can also enjoy fishing here.

      If you go:
      Reservations are recommended for some of the activities, some of which are seasonal. Alligator River Bridge is over a mile long.

      Links:




      Milltail Road
      East Lake, North Carolina 27953 USA
      alligatorriver@fws.gov


      Phone Numbers:

      Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge
      +1 (252) 473-1131

      Comments 1 Comment
      1. coops33's Avatar
        coops33 - 11-15-2011, 05:08 AM
        I spent a summer on the Outer Banks about 11 years ago. I visited Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge several times, and it was a really neat place. Very interesting habitat here called pocosin wetlands.Saw lots of wildlife on each visit, the highlights being black bears (on three of my four visits), a timber/canebrake rattlesnake, Prothonotary Warbler families, and hearing red wolves during one of their well-done interpretive tours at dusk. Glad to hear they're still offering them; if they're similar to the one I went on years ago, I recommend these howling safaris. Last thing - I did actually see an alligator once, and I was surprised they did actually live that far north in the state.