Harkers Island

Harker’s Island is located just 30 miles away from Emerald Isle. It’s located in a marshy region in Carteret County, known as “Down East”, totaling only 3.8 square miles, with more than 1/3 of that being water! The town is made for tourists who love adventures.

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One of the most popular draws to this region are the Shackleford Banks, part of the Cape Lookout National Seashore, where you can see wild horses, go shelling, fishing, or kayaking. The Cape Lookout Lighthouse was named Best National Park Beach in 2016 by readers of USA Today and 10Best! The Island also offers the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center where you’ll find carvings, waterfowl art, music, storytelling, boat building and more. Make sure you take a day trip to this beautiful community and experience all it has to offer.

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Harkers Island was occupied by Native Americans who stemmed from the Coree tribe for centuries before the first European explorers arrived in the late 1500s. Once the Crystal Coast region became colonized, the island was given to a native of the new Carolina colony, Farnifold Green, in 1707 by the Lord’s Proprietor – the original governing body for the state. The island was in turn sold to Ebenezer Harker in 1730, who settled on the island with his family, and built a boat yard as well as a plantation on the site. After his death, the island, which has been known as Davers Ile and Craney Island, was re-named “Harkers Island,” and remained relatively deserted for more than a century.

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It wasn’t until a wave of coastal locals who were fleeing a rash of hurricanes along the Outer Banks arrived in the late 1800s that the population increased. From this point on, the area remained relatively quiet, with a primary population of mariners, fishermen, decoy artists, hunters, and other folks who made their living on the outskirts of the barrier island shoreline. A post office for Harkers Island was officially established in 1904, and paved roads first made an appearance in the area in 1936. Despite these advancements, (and a new wave of interest from second homeowners and retirees in the late 20th century), the island retained its small town feel throughout the generations – an atmosphere that continues today.

 

Best Things to Do in Harker’s Island

1. Climb the 207 steps to the top of Cape Lookout Lighthouse for amazing views of North Carolina’s Crystal Coast.

2. Go shelling at the Cape Lookout National Seashore. And make sure to stop at the Cape Lookout National Seashore Visitors Center for maps and information about the area.

3. See carvings and waterfowl art, listen to music and storytelling, and then try your hand at carving or quilting at the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum.

4. Experience the beauty of the maritime forest on a hiking adventure at the Willow Pond Trail, located at the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum.

5. Take a ferry ride to Shackleford Banks to catch a glimpse of the famous wild horses that roam the island.

6. See dolphins swimming alongside the ferry on your way to Shackleford Banks.

 

Top Events in Harker’s Island

1. Taste of Core Sound

2. Core Sound Waterfowl Weekend & Decoy Festival