Home to more than a dozen species of rare plants and animals, the Buxton Woods Coastal Reserve encompasses approximately 2,500 acres of land on Hatteras Island. Stepping into the Buxton Woods is like stepping back in time; the land is almost completely undeveloped, just it was thousands of years ago. Most visitors head to the interpretative trail that starts just outside the village of Buxton, but plenty of unmarked trails wind their way through the woods as well. These trails can be quite confusing, so visitors who want to explore them are advised to bring a GPS system or a cellphone.

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