DUCK GUIDED TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Paddling the Hidden Labyrinth: Pine Island’s Silent Marshes
A focused, two-hour guided kayak through the Pine Island Audubon Sanctuary that threads secluded marsh trails preserved by the National Audubon Society.
Paddling the Hidden Labyrinth: Pine Island’s Silent Marshes.
Between the villages of Duck and Corolla lies the Pine Island Audubon Sanctuary: an eight‑square‑mile maze of marsh channels preserved by the National Audubon Society. Coastal Kayak Touring Company guides small groups into that quiet tangle, where expert paddlers pick a route through secluded water trails that feel as if they existed before man arrived.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
An intricate marsh maze
Pine Island is a network of narrow channels and islands across roughly eight square miles—arguably the Outer Banks’ most intricate marsh trails—where paddlers can thread silent waterways away from the crowds.
A preserved sanctuary for solitude
The National Audubon Society’s preservation of this habitat creates rare pauses of solitude and excellent opportunities for quiet wildlife observation in protected marshland.
Insider lines through island channels
The tour relies on a local guide to navigate a maze of channels and islands—routes only the guide knows—beginning at a short walk to the launch and unfolding as a careful, two‑hour paddle through the sanctuary.
What the day feels like
What the two‑hour paddle feels like
You meet at the Pine Island Audubon Center, walk a few minutes to the boats, and then follow an experienced guide into a tight weave of tidal channels. Over roughly two hours the group moves quietly between islands and marsh flats, the route chosen by the guide to maximize solitude and wildlife viewing.
THE LANDSCAPE
An intricate marsh maze
Pine Island is a network of narrow channels and islands across roughly eight square miles—arguably the Outer Banks’ most intricate marsh trails—where paddlers can thread silent waterways away from the crowds.
THE WILDLIFE
A preserved sanctuary for solitude
The National Audubon Society’s preservation of this habitat creates rare pauses of solitude and excellent opportunities for quiet wildlife observation in protected marshland.
THE ROUTE
Insider lines through island channels
The tour relies on a local guide to navigate a maze of channels and islands—routes only the guide knows—beginning at a short walk to the launch and unfolding as a careful, two‑hour paddle through the sanctuary.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who gets the most from this paddle—and who should reconsider.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Tours are permitted April through September and depart from the Pine Island Audubon Center in the mornings and a few hours before sunset.
The guided outing lasts approximately two hours. Adult rate $70.00; children $60.00.
Groups meet at the Pine Island Audubon Center; the tour begins with about a five‑minute walk down the Audubon trail to the kayaks and launch point.
Operated by Coastal Kayak Touring Company in partnership with the National Audubon Society for access to the Pine Island Audubon Sanctuary.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the Pine Island Audubon Sanctuary kayak tour?
The tour lasts approximately two hours.
What are the rates for adults and children?
Adults are $70.00; children are $60.00.
When do tours run during the year?
Tours are permitted from April through September, with departures in the morning and a few hours before sunset.
Where do I meet for the tour and how do we get to the kayaks?
You meet at the Pine Island Audubon Center; the tour starts with an approximately five‑minute walk down the Audubon trail to the kayaks.
Who operates and guides the tour?
The tour is operated by Coastal Kayak Touring Company, in partnership with the National Audubon Society, and is led by an expert guide.