Trying to cross an alluring bridge of sand in the Outer Banks could be dangerous, park officials say, as visitors could either become trapped or swept out to sea. 

The area of concern is between Shark Island and Cape Lookout, where a gap started to connect with a narrow bar of sand during low tide.

Visitors crossing over to Shark Island during low tide can get trapped as the water rises behind them, park officials warned in a recent Facebook post. First responders have rescued people in the area because of this, officials with Cape Lookout National Seashore say. 

The waters south of Cape Lookout also pose dangers because of shifting and converging currents. Park officials say tourists who walk on the bridge of sand could be swept out to sea. 

"Getting caught by a rising tide while traveling on foot through this narrow band of sand could quickly sweep someone off their feet and out to sea," park officials say. "While the converging currents at the southern tip of Cape Lookout are incredibly beautiful, they are best observed from a distance!"

A satellite image of Cape Lookout shows a sandy beach coming to a sharp point, with a small island to the south. A red arrow indicates the area between the island and the point.

Cape Lookout National Seashore officials posted about the same dangers in August of last year.