Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge

Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge, located in Carteret County, North Carolina is on the end of a peninsula marking the southern end of Pamlico Sound. The refuge lies five miles east of the Atlantic ocean and about 40 miles northeast of Beaufort, North Carolina. Established in 1964, the refuge consists of approximately 11,000 acres of irregularly-flooded, brackish marsh and 3,480 acres of pocosin and woodland habitat. The dominant marsh plants include black needlerush, saltmarsh cordgrass, saltmeadow hay, and saltgrass. The woodland areas are dominated by loblolly, longleaf and pond pine. Live oak is also abundant on some upland sites. The marsh and surrounding waters provide wintering habitat for thousands of ducks and nesting habitat for colonial waterbirds.

From Beaufort, NC: Start out going east on Cedar St toward Live Oak St/NC-101. Cedar St becomes Live Oak St. In 2.50 miles Turn right onto Hwy 70 Beaufort/US-70 E. In 2.69 miles Turn right onto Hwy 70 Beaufort/Outer Banks Scenic Byway/US-70 E. Continue to follow US-70 E. In 6.45 miles Turn left onto US Highway 70 Smyrna/Outer Banks Scenic Byway/US-70 E. Continue to follow Outer Banks Scenic Byway/US-70 E. In 6.15 miles Turn left onto US Highway 70 Davis/Outer Banks Scenic Byway/US-70 E. Continue to follow Outer Banks Scenic Byway/US-70 E. In 8.21 miles Stay straight to go onto Cedar Island Rd/Outer Banks Scenic Byway/NC-12. In 8.32 miles Turn right onto Lola Rd. In 2.19 miles Contact Center is on the left. To Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge Contact Station from Mattamuskeet NWR (Refuge Headquarters): Start out going northwest on Mattamuskeet Refuge Rd toward NC Highway 94/Alligator River Route/NC-94. In 1.39 miles Turn left onto NC Highway 94/Alligator River Route/NC-94. In 1.50 miles Turn right onto US Highway 264/Pamlico Scenic Byway/US-264 W. Continue to follow Pamlico Scenic Byway/US-264 W. In 33.56 miles Turn right onto W Main St/Pamlico Scenic Byway/US-264 W/NC-99. Continue to follow US-264 W. In 29.26 miles Turn left onto N Bridge St/US-17 Bus S. Continue to follow US-17 Bus S. In 4.45 miles Stay straight to go onto US Highway 17/US-17 S. Continue to follow US-17 S. In 31.23 miles Take the US-70 E exit, EXIT 417AB, toward Havelock/New Bern. In 0.36 miles Merge onto US-70 E via EXIT 417B on the left toward Havelock/Morehead City. In 17.13 miles Turn slight left onto Miller Blvd/NC-101. Continue to follow NC-101. In 16.12 miles Turn left onto Laurel Rd. In 2.27 mile Turn right onto Merrimon Rd. In 2.44 miles Turn left onto Hwy 70 Beaufort/Outer Banks Scenic Byway/US-70 E. Continue to follow US-70 E. In 6.43 miles Turn left onto US Highway 70 Smyrna/Outer Banks Scenic Byway/US-70 E. Continue to follow Outer Banks Scenic Byway/US-70 E.In 6.15 miles Turn left onto US Highway 70 Davis/Outer Banks Scenic Byway/US-70 E. Continue to follow Outer Banks Scenic Byway/US-70 E.In 8.21 miles Stay straight to go onto Cedar Island Rd/Outer Banks Scenic Byway/NC-12. In 8.32 miles Turn right onto Lola Rd. In 2.19 miles Contact Center is on the left. Cedar Island can also be accessed by ferry from Ocracoke Island.