Hello Readers,
Carol and I visited the Outer Banks of North Carolina in September 2026.
As many of you know, the Outer Banks is a string of sand dune islands off the coast of North Carolina.
Corolla, pronounced kuh-RAHL-uh, is the northernmost town on the Outer Banks.
The pavement ends in Corolla…
…then “the road” becomes twelve miles/nineteen kilometers of sandy beach with the Atlantic Ocean on the east and sand dunes, marshes, and Currituck Sound on west.
The Outer Banks finally ends in a largely inaccessible wildland at the North Carolina-Virginia border.
Our adventure that afternoon took us to within a few hundred meters of that border.
Here is what we saw:
Corolla Wild Horse Tours
The storefront where our afternoon ride began.
Our Conveyance
This was our 4WD truck for navigating the deep sand of Corolla Beach.
I was seated on the front bench on the right side — Perfect for taking photos as you will see below.
End of Pavement
Around the corner is the 12 miles/19 kilometers of sandy beach.
The Beach
As we head north, the Atlantic Ocean is on one side and iconic dunes on the other.
Karen, our wonderful guide, drives on sand packed by the retreating tide.
Our First Glimpse of Horses
I was mesmerized by horses and ocean together…
…even more so by the horses wading.
One theory is that the ancestors of these mustangs swam ashore from Spanish shipwrecks during the 16th century.
Authorities say these horses are not wild but feral, i.e., domesticated horses that escaped back into the wild.
Close-up of a Harem
The horses of the Outer Banks gather into small harems of mares and a stallion. The lead mare directs harem while the stallion provides protection and procreation.
Mare and Filly
This is my favorite photo of the afternoon.
Notice the wind blowing their manes.
The Wright Brothers chose the Outer Banks for their aviation experiments because of the constant wind.
Great Black-backed Gulls (Larus marinus)
Great Black-backed gulls are the largest gulls in the world.
Another Harem
Here we are approaching a section of the beach where people may park and play on the beach.
Humans are not allowed to approach within 50 feet/15 meters of any horse.
Closeup of a Harem
Isn’t it interesting that the horses are arranged with alternating colors?
Foal Nursing
The mare at the far left is feeding her foal.
The Beach Road Gets Busy
4WD vehicles with lowered tire pressures are required for driving in the sand.
A permit is required for parking
Vacation Homes in Carova Beach
These are rental homes in an area realtors call Carova Beach.
Carova is a portmanteau of Carolina and Virginia
You can find more information about these homes here.
BTW These homes are in the dunes and not on the beach.
Seeking Shelter from the Sun
The horses are seeking shelter from the sun.
The occupants of the house may not approach the horses or interact with them.
Colt Enjoying the Shade
A young stallion resting in the shade.
Endnote
This is the end of the tour.
For further information check out these two links:
I hope you enjoyed this trip to Corolla Beach.
Please feel free to comment and subscribe.
Your host,
Michael
“Make visible what, without you, might perhaps never have been seen.” -Robert Bresson
