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Cape Hatteras National Seashore Lighthouses To Open For The Summer

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Published Date

April 10, 2017

The summer season for climbing to the top of the Bodie Island and Cape Hatteras lighthouses begins April 21/Kurt Repanshek file photo

The Bodie Island and Cape Hatteras lighthouses at Cape Hatteras National Seashore on North Carolina's Outer Banks will be open for climbing this year from Friday, April 21, through Monday, October 9. Ticket sales begin daily at 9 a.m. with the last tickets sold at 4:30 p.m at each site.

Climbing tickets for the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse are $8 for adults and $4 for senior citizens (62 or older), children age 11 and under, and those holding a National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Access Pass.

Climbing tickets for the Bodie Island Lighthouse are $10 for adults and $5 for senior citizens (62 or older), children age 11 and under, and those holding a National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Access Pass. Climbers must not weigh more than 260 pounds to climb the Bodie Island Lighthouse.

Cape Hatteras Light/Kurt Repanshek file photo

Tickets are available on a first come/first served basis and can only be purchased in-person at the site the day of the climb. There are no advance ticket sales.

Children must be at least 42” tall, and children under 12 must be escorted by a person at least 16 years old.

Climbing the lighthouses is strenuous—climbing the Bodie Island Lighthouse is equivalent to climbing a 10-story building; climbing the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is equivalent to climbing a 12-story building. For more information on what to expect, check the park website.

Superintendent Hallac invites members of the local Outer Banks communities and park visitors to tour/climb the lighthouses at no charge on opening day, Friday, April 21. Free tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and can only be obtained in-person, that day, on-site.

Full Moon Tours of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse will be offered on June 9, July 9, August 7, and September 6. Tickets can be purchased on www.recreation.gov starting at 10 a.m. three days prior to each tour date. Normal climbing restrictions apply. You must have established an active account on www.recreation.gov before you can finalize a ticket purchase.

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