I surprisingly stumbled upon Springers Point, which was the home of the infamous pirate Blackbeard, by accident, while taking a walk around the Ocracoke Lighthouse.  Springers Point was about a quarter mile away from the Ocracoke lighthouse. While the trail was not largesse or extensive, it activated every nerdy fantasy nerve that existed in my body. Springers reach is untouched and unclaimed by the excesses of humanity. Walking through the underbrush of the trees, I felt transported to another time, a time when Blackbeard waited in ambush in these woods – pirate allies in tow. They would savagely take merchant ships in battles of glory and deceit. The dark canopy of maritime forest and stillness of the preserve solidified these feelings. The trail connects to the tip of Ocracoke Island, Teach’s Hole, and it’s incredible. Teach’s Hole was where Edward Teach (also known as Blackbeard) launched his final stand and lost his head to the British royal navy. Legend states that somewhere on these grounds is his buried treasure hidden away for centuries.

The trail closes at sunset so be sure to get here before the sun departs. The path is not difficult, there’s only one very very short bridge which I attached a picture of in my gallery. I wore my Oboz sawtooth 2 hiking boots and they were perfect for the job. The ground is mostly a composition of sand and harder compact dirt. There are a few small signs which contain information about the native flora and fauna, such as the famous Georgia Sunrose, as well as signs alerting passengers to poison ivy. The trails are punctuated by tons of benches so if you need to take a smoke break or get winded quickly, this is the trail for you. There is such a strong variety of different plants- beautiful, and interesting hues of nude, green and brown, which will make this place a photographer’s dream. The entire preserve is surrounded by residential properties so it’s a perfect place for a family outing. Camping on Teach’s Hole (the beach) is easily possible and it’s a short parking distance from the tip of the island.

Springer’s Point was purchased by the Coastal Land Trust and opened to the public in December of 2002, and after another round of land purchases the preserve now totals 122 acres. There are signs that mention expansion, it appears that Blackbeard’s resting ground has future plans in store.