You must stay on the trail since the refuge is protected. The Sandbridge Dunes - A Beach Delight 116 Hotel in Virginia Beach (4.2 miles from Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge) Because of its unique geographic location along the Atlantic Coast which provides overlapping ranges for both northern and southern species, biodiversity is high. More than 300 species of birds have been observed at the Refuge. No previous fishing experience is needed but we offer a warning - you might get hooked on fishing! For more information, please visit, West Dike, Barbour Hill, Sand Ridge Beach Loop, Deer Island and Shuttle Trail Loop to Otter Point Overlook, Buffington Trail and Whitehurst Trail Loop, West Neck Creek Marina to North Landing River. Tour routes of great scenic drives on National Wildlife Refuges. . 8:00 am - 4:00 pm. Best Wildlife Trails in Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Very easy and well maintained trail. We did see a sign to stay on the trail. Registration opens April 15; register by calling (757) 301-7329 ext. This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. View map in 3D Hide 3D map More Info. On May 16th at the refuge, Virginia Beach Environmental Studies Program high school student interns and intern director Chris Elam from RBA Architects presented design developments for The Outdoor Classroom project. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. The refuge is excited to have the Virginia Beach Anglers and friends host surf fishing clinics this summer. Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge - eBird Conservation leader urges people to reconnect with nature Fish & Wildlife Service. Interpretive programs are also conducted throughout the year for the local and visiting public. Mammals, such as river otters, white-tailed deer, raccoons, and bobcats also reside in the Refuge. Source: CNN. Beautiful easy well maintained. Travel 4 miles, until Sandpiper Rd ends. After returning to the tram, passengers are transported back through the park and wildlife refuge to the starting point. Home [bbnwrs.org] There is a fee to enter the refuge between April 1st and October 31st. Have you found an injured animal in need of help? 4.0Value. Surf & Adventure allows you to rent kayaks for daily or weekly rates so that you can adventure from your Sandbridge Realty vacation home during any down time you may have during your trip. A tram runs through the refuge, providing the only public access to False Cape State Park other than by foot, bicycle, or boat. The habitats include beach, dunes, woodlands, agricultural fields, and freshwater marshes. Designated in 2022 View more details for this trail in the NRT Database Learn about the NRT Program. Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Topo Map VA, Virginia - Topozone Conservation - Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries It is a hotbed of activity for birders with nearly 300 recorded species. Working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. Boardwalk trails traverse portions of the freshwater marsh, and in summer a combination of woodland and estuarine birds are found here. There are cottonmouth snakes in the area. It is important to understand that the designated critical habitat displayed in this . AllTrails has 6 great trails for birding and more. 5 Sep 2022. The expansion provided a buffer against development, thus reducing erosion and runoff of fertilizers and chemicals that pollute Back Bay. Fish & Wildlife Service: Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Tiffany Mirisoleiman. Most of the 9,062.45-acre (36.6744km2)[1] freshwater refuge is on the Currituck Banks Peninsula, which borders the Atlantic Ocean on the east and the Back Bay of the Currituck Sound on the west. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. The majority of refuge marshlands are on islands contained within the waters of Back Bay. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Signage and visitor outreach is being planned. Tram tours begin at the wildlife refuge parking lot and start with a ride through the wildlife refuge to reach the state park. Approximately 10,000 water fowl will visit the refuge during the fall migration, with the largest number of them arriving in December and January. G ! [2], Back Bay NWR headquarters on Sandbridge Road near Sigma, VA. Perhaps the most northerly native stand of Yucca aloifolia, located in Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Featured Trails. The refuge works with neighboring False Cape State Park to provide tram tours throughout the year. The Federal Duck Stamp and America the Beautiful passes can also be used. We do not guarantee that the websites we link to comply with Section 508 (Accessibility Requirements) of the Rehabilitation Act. j ! False Cape State Park (back Bay Wildlife Refuge) F CLOSED TO PUBLIC VisitorContactStation! Join us at the refuge as we use our senses to investigate our environment and keep track of it all in our nature journals. Since 1939, 4,600 acres of Back Bay waters, surrounding the original Refuge lands, have been closed to migratory bird hunting by Presidential Proclamation. ! I would highly recommend making a day out of kayaking so that you can explore as much of Back Bay as possible! Fee: $5.00 April 1 -October 31, Free November 1 March 31. Enjoy hand-curated trail maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you. The refuge is open during daylight hours only (1/2 hour before sunrise until 1/2 hour after sunset). A single-vehicle day pass is $5.00, a hiker/biker day pass is $2.00, and any other specific types of vehicle/group charges can be found athttps://www.fws.gov/refuge/Back_Bay/visit/permits.html. (Part 1). There were very few people. It is a critical segment in the Atlantic Flyway. Established in 1938 in an isolated portion of the former Princess Anne County, it is managed by the U.S. Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Virginia - Recreation.gov Trust me; while this place is gorgeous at all times of the day, you must experience the refuge while the sun is setting over Back Bay (just be sure to start heading outafter getting that perfect photo as the refuge does close at dusk). You can't swim here! - Review of Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Just do yourself a favor and take a trip to Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge while you're staying with us in Sandbridge! Print map. Much. According to AllTrails.com, the longest trail in Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge is. The administrative office is located on Sandbridge Road at Sigma between Lago Mar and Sandbridge Beach. From I-64, exit on I-264 East. And let's be real, ducks are adorable. #1 - West Dike, Barbour Hill, Sand Ridge Beach Loop, #5 - Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Bay Trail. Enjoy hand-curated trail maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you. Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) was established on June 6, 1938 as a 4,589-acre refuge to provide feeding and resting habitat for migratory birds. Migrating songbirds and shorebirds arrive at the Refuge each spring and fall. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. The refuge also provides habitat for other wildlife, including such threatened and endangered species as the loggerhead sea turtle, piping plover and recently recovered species like the brown pelican and bald eagle. WMA GIS Data Download Acadiana Conservation Corridor WMA Alexander State Forest WMA Atchafalaya Delta WMA Attakapas Island WMA Bayou Macon WMA Bayou Pierre WMA Ben Lilly Conservation Area Big Colewa Bayou WMA Big Lake WMA Biloxi WMA Buckhorn WMA Boeuf WMA Bodcau WMA Bussey Brake WMA Clear Creek WMA Dewey W. Wills WMA Elbow Slough WMA Elmer's . Nature Journaling | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Address. Support our advocacy, outreach, and education for the betterment of the Refuge. PDF Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Preserve and protect habitat and wildlife. Before the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge was acquired by the Federal government, the barrier beach was generally quite flat and sandy. Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Special Blend of Stunning Views, Pure Nature and Unique Wildlife . Access is through the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and is limited to hiking, bicycling or boating. Station Management Plan Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge - Fws Established in 1938, this 8,000-acre fresh water refuge borders the Atlantic Ocean on the east and Back Bay on the west. Outstanding atmosphere!!! The Visitor Contact Station is one mile from the main entrance. Which trail has the most elevation gain in Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge? It is considered by conservationists to be an important link along the Atlantic Flyway for migratory birds such as snow geese. OF THE BACK BAY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SOCIETY, CONNECT WITH NATURE AND EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY, YOUR HELP IS NEEDED TO PRESERVE FOR TOMORROW, DEDICATED TO PROMOTING & SUPPORTING THE BACK BAY WILDLIFE REFUGE, CONSERVE PROTECT and ENHANCE WILDLIFE, PLANTS & HABITATS. Trail surfaces vary from boardwalk, crushed stone, sand and gravel. Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge was established on June 6, 1938 as a 4,589-acre refuge to provide feeding and resting habitat for migratory birds. PDF QUIET HOURS - False Cape - Department of Conservation and Recreation 4.0Atmosphere. Chris Elam said, We are hopeful that we can break ground withthis first phase of construction this summer and complete it in the fall.. (Portions of the refuge are closed during the winter migration; as such there is no fee during this period.). PRESERVE - Help preserve your park. Small boats and canoes that can be hand-carried to the bay's edge are permitted - there isn't a boat launch available for larger boats anywhere in the refuge. Habitats include barrier island beach and dunes, shrub-scrub, woodlands, farm land and freshwater marsh. 3.0Facilities. The refuges grasslands, marshes and forests serve as ideal habitat . Sometimes, all you want is a little peace, and when you're in Virginia Beach, the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge is the place . A Guide to the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Back_Bay/visit/permits.html, Its Time to Start Planning a Sandbridge Vacation, Best Thanksgiving Kitchens at Our Sandbridge Vacation Rentals, A Day Trip Outside of Sandbridge! FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge (BBNWR) was established in 1938 and is one of more than 565 refuges administered by the U.S. The refuge was established in 1938 to protect and provide habitat for migrating and wintering waterfowl. Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in southeastern Virginia is located in the independent city of Virginia Beach. Recreation.gov is your gateway to explore America's outdoor Since 1939, 4,600 acres of Back Bay waters, surrounding the original Refuge lands, have been closed to migratory bird hunting by Presidential Proclamation. The administrative office is located on Sandbridge Road at Sigma between Lago Mar and Sandbridge Beach. new adventures through a one-stop shop for inspiration and ideation, trip planning, information sharing, ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Volunteers removed and pruned old vegetation, cultivated and amended soil, and filled beds with native plants supporting pollinators and wildlife Garden beds are maintained by volunteers throughout the year. If you're looking for elevation gain, Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge has you covered. . We've got you covered, with trails ranging from 1 to 14 meters in elevation gain. Quiet, but not deserted. The outdoor classroom is a project of the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Society, the primary partner and Friends group of the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. At the next traffic light, proceed straight, continuing on Princess Anne Rd, which changes names to Sandbridge Rd. Representing . Outdoor facilities are open daily from dawn to dusk. Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge charges a fee to enter. Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Hotels Featured Hotels Near Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge See the latest prices and deals by choosing your dates. 3106 to register. Would make a beautiful sunset picture. Throughout the years that I have been coming down here, the pathway to the beach portion of the refuge was old wood that was a bit questionable in my opinion. Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Society is the primary partner and Friends group of the the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. F Bay Pool !G ! The barrier islands feature large sand dunes, maritime forests, fresh water marshes, ponds, ocean beach, and large impoundments for wintering wildfowl. If you're looking for elevation gain, Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge has you covered. Recommended for ages 10-15. Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge - Wikipedia Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge is located in the southeastern corner of the City of Virginia Beach.