Jockey's Ridge State Park

Jockey's Ridge State Park is a 414 acre park and is home to the largest sand dune on the East Coast. It is about 140 feet high. The trek to the top of the highest dune allows a spectacular view of both Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills, as well as the Roanoke Sound and the Atlantic Ocean on opposite sides of the narrow stretch of land. It is an area famous for hang gliding, kite flying, and climbing.

Jockey’s Ridge is an example of a medano -- a huge, asymmetrical, shifting hill of sand lacking vegetation. Jockey's Ridge State Park is a small remnant of a dune system that once stretched for many miles along the coastline. This dune, together with the Run Hill dune, borders Nags Head Woods and shields the fragile maritime forest from wind shear and salt spray.

This spot is also very close to my heart. For many years my family would travel with us to the Outer Banks. Dad and I would always walk to the top of Jockey’s Ridge. It was those special times when we would share stories, be excited to see the panorama, and be thrilled to watch the hang gliders trying their skills at floating down the dunes on their bright colored “wings”. Dad was transferred to heaven on August 1, 1989. Since then whenever I visit Jockey’s Ridge, he is always there so close beside me walking up the dunes.