Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Managed by National Park Service
46 acres1.2 mi of trail
Mountains-to-Sea Trail
Dogs usually limited
No trailhead mapped yet
–Not graded
Outdoors in Waves
15% of Waves’ land is conserved, and virtually every resident lives within a half mile of a park
Virtually every resident lives within a half mile of a park. The biggest trail networks: Cape Hatteras National Seashore (1.2 mi). 15% of Waves’ land is conserved, about 64 acres.
Conserved land
15%
64 acres · of 0.7 sq mi of land
Trails
1.3 mi
1.9 per sq mi of land
Park land
55 ac
361 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
99%+
of residents within ½ mile
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Cape Hatteras National Seashore, with 1.2 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Who protects it
64 conserved acres
15% of Waves’ land. Who manages Waves’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
National Park Service64 ac
National Lakeshore or Seashore · 64 ac
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Hatteras National Seashore National Lakeshore or Seashore | National Park Service | 64 | Open |
Things to do
8 places to go in Waves
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Public pools in Waves
1 public pool without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Playgrounds in Waves
2 playgrounds without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Dog parks in Waves
Bark Park
DirectionsBoat launches in Waves
2 boat launches without a name on the map.
Campgrounds in Waves
Ocean Waves CampgroundHours: Mar 15-Nov 15 open; closed
DirectionsSt. Clair Landing Family Campground
DirectionsTrails & water
1 named trail
Named trails
Unpaved · 1.3 mi
Mountains-to-Sea Trail1.2 mi
Biking & sports
0.0 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
Courts & fields
2Tennis
1Basketball
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
When to get out
The best walking months in Waves: April to June
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 10.0 | 10.8 | 11.9 | 13.0 | 14.0 | 14.5 | 14.3 | 13.5 | 12.3 | 11.2 | 10.2 | 9.8 |
| High (°F) | 53 | 54 | 59 | 68 | 75 | 83 | 86 | 85 | 81 | 73 | 63 | 57 |
| Rain (in) | 4.4 | 3.8 | 4.1 | 3.6 | 4.0 | 4.6 | 5.4 | 6.1 | 6.4 | 4.8 | 4.1 | 4.2 |
April is the driest month (3.6 in) and July the warmest (highs of 86 °F). 6.4 inches fall in September, the wettest month. The climate in Waves →
Next door
Waves and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waves | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Rodanthe | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Salvo | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Waves
Where can I hike in Waves?
The longest trail networks: Cape Hatteras National Seashore, 1.2 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Waves’ trails?
Cape Hatteras National Seashore doesn’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Waves?
4,455 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Waves or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 55 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Waves neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →