Also here is the Ocracoke Lighthouse. Built in 1823, it is the oldest operating lighthouse on the North Carolina Coast. The whitewashed light stands at 65 feet and was the beneficiary of the first Fresnel lenses. National Park Service visitor center is open year round. More than 265 species are known to visit the area with regularity.
Wildlife includes snow geese, egrets, herons and a large variety of wading, shore and song birds.
Winter, spring and fall provide ample opportunity for birdwatching. Northernmost section of Hatteras Island, between Oregon Inlet and Rodanthe. Visitor center and wildlife trail located 5 miles south of Oregon Inlet. Refuge open daily during daylight hours. Free parking, observation platforms and towers with spotting scopes.