Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is a stunning 152,000-acre expanse of wetlands, forests, and pocosin bogs on the Dare County mainland. It's one of the few places in the world where endangered red wolves roam free, and its black bear population is thriving.

Birders come from around the country for the refuge's remarkable diversity — from warblers and woodpeckers to raptors and wading birds. The Creef Cut Trail and Sandy Ridge Wildlife Trail offer easy access to prime viewing areas.

The refuge is also home to alligators at the northern edge of their range, and the evening red wolf howlings (seasonal programs run by the Red Wolf Coalition) are an unforgettable experience.