Shackleford Banks are the southeasternmost part of the Cape Lookout National Seashore and are a must-see destination for nature lovers visiting the Crystal Coast. The 8.5-mile island is accessible from Harkers Island and mainland city Beaufort by a number of ferry services and formerly housed the Diamond City community. Since the 1960s, the island has been managed by the National Park Service and offers ample opportunities for shelling, surfing, fishing, paddle boarding, and kayaking. Wildlife enthusiasts can observe the island’s Banker Ponies population, believed to have descended from Spanish Mustangs that were shipwrecked in the 16th century, along with a variety of shore, water, and migrating bird populations.

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