Officials warn of vanishing phantom sandbar on North Carolina's Outer Banks
Apr 14, 2025
HARKERS ISLAND, N.C. (WNCN) -- Officials at the North Carolina coast are warning about a new problem at a tiny island with a phantom sandbar that can vanish -- trapping visitors as the tide quickly rises.
The warning at the Outer Banks came from the Cape Lookout National Seashore, where a small s
andbar sometimes forms at Point of Cape Lookout.
The sandbar connects to a very small island called Shark Island, which is just outside the national seashore limits.
"There have been incidents where visitors have attempted to cross to Shark Island during low tide, only to become trapped as the tide rises," Cape Lookout officials warned ahead of the summer season.
The area at Cape Lookout where the sandbar sometimes appears, leading to Shark Island. Google Maps image
Shark Island has been a concern for a couple of years as the intermittent sandbar has slowly formed, tempting folks to walk out and explore the tiny island.
"Individuals traveling on foot through this narrow sandbar may be at risk of being swept away by a rising tide," officials said.
The area is at the southern end of the Outer Banks, just east of Morehead City.
Google Maps images. Left image from National Park Service.
"The waters south of Cape Lookout can pose significant dangers due to shifting currents," Cape Lookout officials said.
The new warning for 2025 is surprising -- it turns out some folks are tempted to drive across the temporary sandbar.
"If you are considering driving your vehicle at Cape Lookout National Seashore this year, please refrain from driving to Shark Island," the new message from Cape Lookout National Seashore said.
Officials say people venturing onto Shark Island had led to past rescues.
Cape Lookout National Seashore image showing the limit of the seashore where a sandbar sometimes forms to Shark Island. Cape Lookout National Seashore warned folks not to go past this marker.
"These situations have required multiple first responder agencies to conduct complex rescues," Cape Lookout said.
The warning also noted that very soft sand leading to Shark Island makes it "difficult to navigate and increasing the risk of becoming stuck." ...read more read less
