Thank you for choosing Sugar Ridge Ranch
My name is Maggie and I am the owner here at Sugar Ridge Ranch. Through hard work, the love and support of family and friends, and lots of faith, I have finally been able to do just that! In 2021 -(amongst Covid 19)- I was able to open the doors at Sugar Ridge and I could not be more excited! The information listed on here should help answer most of your questions and if you have any more after you’ve read over it, please do not hesitate! The Facility
Sugar Ridge Ranch is the only temporary boarding facility on Hatteras Island. How many stalls are available & what else is provided? There are 6 stalls with attached or combined paddocks per two stalls, 2 keyless entry tack/feed rooms, a round pen, a muck bucket, pitchforks and rakes, and a mounting block. I provide room for trailer parking and an easy place to turn around. The stalls have sand floors and shavings are not necessary or recommended. After a long trailer ride, your horse will enjoy a nice roll in the soft sand! Board is $75 per night, per horse. This fee also includes manure pick up from the access ramps while you’re here enjoying the beach with your four legged. Are you required to bring your own feed and hay? Yes, the nearest feed store is nearly 2 hours away so be sure to bring everything you think you may need. Is this facility self care? Yes, all of your daily feeding routines/stall cleaning is on you while you are here. Where To Ride
Hatteras Island is a unique equestrian destination because of the quantity and variety of riding available. Horses can be ridden on the island anywhere cars can drive. In the off-season, the beaches are more open to explore, than in season due to park service rules and regulations. Are the beaches limited in season? During the busy summer season, beach riding becomes limited to areas restricted to vehicles but there are still miles of beach available to explore. You will not run out of places to venture! When is “in season” and ‘off season?”
In-season would be considered between Memorial Day (May 30th in 2022) to Labor Day (September 5th in 2022). Off-season would be considered Late September through April. Where To Stay
Can you camp on the facility? No, however we have other options. In North Carolina, you are required to be a campground in order to provide camping and I am not set up for that nor have the room as of right now. What do you have to offer for accommodations? We have 3 cabins on the property within walking distance to the barn. These cabins sleep four people comfortably and come fully equipped! These cabins are more budget friendly because they provide a full kitchen, which allows you to cook meals instead of eating out. The three links below can be copied and paste in your search bar and found on Evolve Vacation Rentals as well as AirBnb. They are booked separate from how you book the stalls. Please be sure to check availability with me (the barn) before booking a cabin. Some people choose to stay “off-site” in a hotel or campground near by- so just because a cabin is open does not mean the barn is also. https://evolve.com/vacation-rentals/us/nc/frisco/417538?queryID=397b8e1e298a0153c1c8dfc4b3b536ce
https://evolve.com/vacation-rentals/us/nc/frisco/431841?queryID=397b8e1e298a0153c1c8dfc4b3b536ce
https://evolve.com/vacation-rentals/us/nc/frisco/414429?queryID=397b8e1e298a0153c1c8dfc4b3b536ce
Are there other places to stay? Yes, there are several hotels located just a few short miles from the barn. The barn is located in the Village of Frisco. In order to stay close to it, look up places to stay in Hatteras Village, Frisco, or Buxton. Frisco Woods Campground is literally two minutes down the road from the barn and offers full hookups as well as waterfront campsites and a pool/bathhouse. The least expensive option is the National Park Service Campground right around the corner (down the Billy Mitchell Road). The Park Service campground does not offer RV hookups. Each campsite has a grill, paved pad, and picnic table. There is no water or electricity at these campsites. This is a more primitive camping option than Frisco Woods but also more budget friendly. Names Of Areas To Ride
Ramp 49 in Frisco
This is the closest beach access to Sugar Ridge Ranch. Take a left out of the barn, go a half-mile (if even that), take a left onto Park Rd (across from Frisco Rod and Gun/the shell station). Follow Park Rd until you see the parking area. Horse trailer parking is on the left or you can ride directly from the barn-your horse just must be semi traffic safe. You can tack up at your trailer (if you trailer there) and then ride down a short dirt road, over the ramp and onto the beach. You can ride north or south for miles. In the summer, you are limited to where vehicles can drive, and signs are posted marking the boundaries, but you can still get a nice long ride in. In the winter, there are fewer restrictions. There is no fee to park at any of the ramp access points. Open Ponds Trail in Buxton
This is the easiest access point for all of your riding on trails through the maritime forest. You will park at the Park Service lot for the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse (this is your chance to get a picture at the lighthouse!) and ride a very short distance down Lighthouse Road. The trail begins at the British Cemetery and goes through the maritime forest. The trail is hard packed sand, no need for hoof protection. This is an out and back trail of 8 miles. However, from this trail you can access the beach at Ramp 43 and extend your ride by as many miles as you’d like. There are numerous side trails that intersect the main trail as well. Some of these trails do not allow horses, so pay attention to the signs. Be aware that bikes are allowed on this trail as well. We are working on a detailed map of these trails- stay tuned! Ramp 55 in Hatteras
Hatteras Village is the southernmost village on Hatteras Island. From this access point, you can ride all the way to the end of the island and look across the inlet to see Ocracoke. You will park at the day use area across from the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum and ride over Ramp 55 onto the beach. You can go north or south. If you go south for roughly 4 miles, you will come to the inlet. At that point, you can ride over to the sound side of the island where the water is calmer. Ramp 38 in Avon
You will park at the parking area just south of Avon Village. This access point is about 15 minutes from the barn. This is a smaller parking area and may be busy during the summer months. You can ride over the ramp, onto the beach and go north or south for miles upon miles of riding in either direction. These are the closest and easiest access points for riding on the south end of the island where the barn is located. There are plenty of places to explore, and a good mix of beach and forest riding. Because this entire area is a national park, you may see all kinds of wildlife, from deer to ospreys to huge flocks of migrating birds. There is no shortage of natural beauty on Hatteras Island!
