Things to do nearMonkey Island

Monkey Island sits within the broader Currituck Sound estuary, a shallow, largely undeveloped waterway that has sheltered wildlife for centuries. The island itself is little more than a low marsh hummock, but its isolation has allowed native vegetation and animal populations to persist largely undisturbed. Ospreys nest in the snags overhead, and brown pelicans glide in formation just above the water's surface throughout the warmer months.

The island is most famous for its proximity to the Corolla wild horse range. These Colonial Spanish mustangs, descendants of horses brought to the Outer Banks centuries ago, roam the four-wheel-drive beaches and tidal marshes north of Corolla, and are occasionally spotted near or on the island. Reaching Monkey Island typically means joining one of the kayaking tours that depart from the Corolla area, threading through the marsh channels of Currituck Sound.

Birdwatchers find the surrounding wetlands especially productive in autumn, when migrating waterfowl stage across the sound in large numbers. The combination of open water, marsh edge, and scrub habitat concentrates species that are harder to find elsewhere on the Outer Banks. Monkey Island stands as a reminder of how much wildness still exists along this stretch of the North Carolina coast, and why it is worth seeking out.