How a sound-side sandbar became a legend
Canadian Hole is the local nickname for the Haulover Day Use Area, formed after a 1960s storm cut an inlet across Hatteras Island — the road was rebuilt with sand dredged from the sound, and the dredging carved depressions that turned out to be perfect for wind sports. By the late 1980s, windsurfers from around the country, and especially Canada, had discovered the spot's rare combination: steady 15-20 mph winds funneled by the Atlantic's proximity, and a 30-mile-wide stretch of shallow, mostly obstruction-free sound water perfect for long, fast runs. The name stuck.
As kiteboarding grew through the 1990s and 2000s, riders staked out their own stretch just south of the main windsurfing area — now known as Kite Point. Today Canadian Hole and Kite Point together are considered one of the premier windsurfing and kiteboarding destinations on the entire East Coast.
Canadian Hole vs. Kite Point
🏖️ Canadian Hole (Haulover)
The main, developed area — paved parking, a bathhouse with rinse-off showers, changing rooms, and restrooms (seasonal). Traditionally the windsurfing hub, though kiteboarders use it too. Also a legitimately good family beach for swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, and shelling when the wind's calm.
🪁 Kite Point
Just south of Haulover, this is the dedicated kiteboarding stretch — calm, shallow water that stays waist-high for hundreds of yards, good for beginners learning in a controlled environment. No facilities of its own; the nearest restrooms are back at Haulover.
When to go
Spring and fall bring the most consistent, rider-friendly wind, and are the traditional high season for both sports here — including the seasonal wave of Canadian visitors that gave the spot its name. Summer sees more casual family use alongside the wind sports crowd; winter is quieter but still draws dedicated riders on the right days.
Getting on the water
If you're new to kiteboarding or windsurfing, lessons and gear rentals are available from local shops in Avon and nearby — see our gear rental guide for options. Both sports have a real learning curve and the potential for injury to yourself or others nearby, so lessons are worth it even for experienced riders new to the specific conditions here.
Good to know before you go
- Free, no permit required — unlike beach driving, walking onto Canadian Hole or Kite Point costs nothing
- Vehicles cannot drive onto the soundside beach itself — park in the lot and walk out
- The oceanfront beach across NC-12 is separately accessible via ORV Ramp 38 for those with a beach driving permit
- Watch for kiteboarders if you're swimming or wading at Kite Point during busy wind days — lines and boards move fast
- Be a good spectator: stay out of launch corridors, never walk across kite lines laid on the sand, keep dogs out of the rigging zone, and don't fly a drone over people
- Bathhouse facilities are seasonal — don't count on restrooms being open in deep off-season
Want to see more riders? More Hatteras Island wind and watersports in Waves is a short drive north.