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Bird's eye view of the campground

Barbour Hill Bayside 1-10

Barbour Hill Oceanside 11-20

False Cape Bayside 31-40

False Cape Oceanside 21-30

Wash Woods

Bird's eye view of the park

False Cape State Park

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1938 to protect and
provide habitat for migratory and wintering waterfowl, or ducks, geese and
swans. The refuge encompasses a variety of habitats including beach, dunes,
shrub-scrub, freshwater wetlands and woodlands. The primary unit of the
wildlife refuge sits a thin strip of barrier island coastline typical of the
Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Other areas of the refuge include islands in Back
Bay and upland areas on the west bank of the bay, including a public kayak
launch and fishing site at the end of Horn Point Road (open April - October).

Thousands of tundra swans, snow and Canada geese and a large variety of ducks
visit the refuge during the fall/winter migration. Refuge waterfowl
populations usually peak during December and January. The refuge also provides
habitat for other wildlife, including such threatened and endangered species
as the loggerhead sea turtle, and recently recovered species like the brown
pelican and bald eagle.

In addition to providing habitat for migratory birds and wildlife, Back Bay
Refuge provides over eight miles of scenic trails, a Visitor Center,
interpretive programming and, with advance scheduling, environmental education
opportunities. Popular outdoor recreation activities at the refuge include
hiking, biking, freshwater fishing, surf fishing, kayaking/canoeing, wildlife
photography and wildlife observation.

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1938 to protect and provide habitat for migratory and wintering waterfowl, or ducks, geese and swans. The refuge encompasses a variety of habitats including beach, dunes, shrub-scrub, freshwater wetlands and woodlands. The primary unit of the wildlife refuge sits a thin strip of barrier island coastline typical of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Other areas of the refuge include islands in Back Bay and upland areas on the west bank of the bay, including a public kayak launch and fishing site at the end of Horn Point Road (open April - October).Thousands of tundra swans, snow and Canada geese and a large variety of ducks visit the refuge during the fall/winter migration. Refuge waterfowl populations usually peak during December and January. The refuge also provides habitat for other wildlife, including such threatened and endangered species as the loggerhead sea turtle, and recently recovered species like the brown pelican and bald eagle.In addition to providing habitat for migratory birds and wildlife, Back Bay Refuge provides over eight miles of scenic trails, a Visitor Center, interpretive programming and, with advance scheduling, environmental education opportunities. Popular outdoor recreation activities at the refuge include hiking, biking, freshwater fishing, surf fishing, kayaking/canoeing, wildlife photography and wildlife observation.

Sunset on the bay at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Gold and orange sunset over water. Marsh vegetation and breakwater rocks stand in front of the photgrapher with the sunset on the horizon. The sky is cloudy, with clouds changing color from gold to grayish blue throughout the image.

The West or East Dike Trail are open April 1 - October 31 for hiking and biking through the wildlife refuge.

A gravel road cuts between cut grass and vegetation. White clouds cover the sky. A narrow body of water parallels the road on the left.

Two red kayaks float on calm blue water. A line of breakwater rocks line the foreground, with green brown vegetation and trees in the background.

A ghost crab on the Seaside Trail at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

A white and yellow ghost crab with black eyes stands on the edge of a blue trail mat and sand.

Ospreys nest on platforms around Back Bay and are a common sight at the wildlife refuge during the spring and summer months.

A brown and white osprey, or sea hawk, flares its wings as it lands on a nesting platform. The osprey holds a fish in its talons.

Marsh rabbits are one of hundreds of species of wildlife that rely on the habitats of Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

A small rabbit sits in bright green grass with a piece of grass sticking out of its mouth.

Tram tours are offered at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and neighboring False Cape State Park throughout the year.

A large, white and blue open-air vehicle sits on a gravel road. Passengers point to something out of view of the photo. Tall trees stand behind the vehicle.

A surf fisherman enjoys an early morning on the beach at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

A fisherman stands on the beach with his pole. A beach chair and cooler are by his side. The sun rises over the ocean and a piece of dune vegetation covers slices through the foreground of the image.

Wintering swans and ducks swim in a managed wetland impoundment at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The wildlife refuge was established in 1938 for wintering waterfowl.

Many large white tundra swans and a few small dark ducks swim in the water. Brown marsh vegetation and shrubby trees are in the background.

A cottonmouth snake swims at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Reptiles and amphibians are commonly seen in warm weather at the wildlife refuge.

A yellow gold snake with dark bands swims with its body on top of the water. Short green vegetation and brown leaves scatter the water and edge of the body of water.

Participants in a winter birding program observe ducks and swans at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

About a dozen people dressed in warm weather gear stand on a viewing platform over the water. Many look through binoculars at something in the water.

The beach at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

The blue ocean waves crash on the sandy shore. The sky is almost cloudless above.

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Congress established the Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge on December
30, 1960, by the authority of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 1929. The
Service established the original acquisition boundary of 7,835 acres in 1961
and expanded the boundary to 9,503 acres in 1991. The Secretary of the
Interior issued a proclamation on August 21, 1963, prohibiting waterfowl
hunting on 4,621 acres of the refuge and 1,098 acres of water south and west
of the refuge.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service administers the refuge, located on Knotts
Island along the North Landing River. The refuge staff administers 8,219 acres
of fee title land at Mackay Island NWR in Currituck County, North Carolina,
and Virginia Beach, Virginia, and 4,383 acres of the fee title land and 3,931
acres of conservation easement land at the Currituck NWR on the Outer Banks of
Currituck County, North Carolina. The marshes on the western edge of Currituck
NWR are located 6 miles east of the Mackay Island Refuge headquarters across
the Currituck Sound. The western marshes are ½-mile east of the boat ramp on
Knotts Island Bay; the upland portion of the refuge is 2 miles east of the
boat ramp. It is 100 miles and almost a 3-hour drive to the Currituck NWR
around the Sound by roads.

Congress established the Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge on December 30, 1960, by the authority of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 1929. The Service established the original acquisition boundary of 7,835 acres in 1961 and expanded the boundary to 9,503 acres in 1991. The Secretary of the Interior issued a proclamation on August 21, 1963, prohibiting waterfowl hunting on 4,621 acres of the refuge and 1,098 acres of water south and west of the refuge.The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service administers the refuge, located on Knotts Island along the North Landing River. The refuge staff administers 8,219 acres of fee title land at Mackay Island NWR in Currituck County, North Carolina, and Virginia Beach, Virginia, and 4,383 acres of the fee title land and 3,931 acres of conservation easement land at the Currituck NWR on the Outer Banks of Currituck County, North Carolina. The marshes on the western edge of Currituck NWR are located 6 miles east of the Mackay Island Refuge headquarters across the Currituck Sound. The western marshes are ½-mile east of the boat ramp on Knotts Island Bay; the upland portion of the refuge is 2 miles east of the boat ramp. It is 100 miles and almost a 3-hour drive to the Currituck NWR around the Sound by roads.

Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge

Currituck NWR, located on the northern end of North Carolina's Outer Banks,
was established in 1984 to preserve and protect the coastal barrier island
ecosystem. Refuge lands are managed to provide wintering habitat for waterfowl
and to protect endangered species such as piping plover, sea turtles, and sea
beach amaranth. Habitat types common to most barrier islands are found on the
refuge. Moving westward from the Atlantic Ocean to Currituck Sound, these
habitats include sandy beaches, grassy dunes, interdunal wetlands (flats),
maritime forests and shrub thickets. Currituck Sound's shoreline is comprised
of brackish water marshes and occasionally, mud flats that have been exposed
by wind tides. A few forested islands also exist on the refuge. Monkey Island,
a noted bird rookery, provides nesting habitat to several species of wading
birds. Vegetation within these diverse habitat types include various types of
beach grasses, live oak, loblolly pine, wax myrtle, cattails, sedges and
rushes, black needlerush and giant cordgrass. Various types of wading birds,
shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors, mammals (including feral horses), reptiles,
and amphibians common to the eastern United States, are found on the refuge.
The endangered piping plover and loggerhead sea turtle sometimes nest on
refuge beaches and dunes.

Currituck NWR, located on the northern end of North Carolina's Outer Banks, was established in 1984 to preserve and protect the coastal barrier island ecosystem.  Refuge lands are managed to provide wintering habitat for waterfowl and to protect endangered species such as piping plover, sea turtles, and sea beach amaranth. 



Habitat types common to most barrier islands are found on the refuge.  Moving westward from the Atlantic Ocean to Currituck Sound, these habitats include sandy beaches, grassy dunes, interdunal wetlands (flats), maritime forests and shrub thickets.  Currituck Sound's shoreline is comprised of brackish water marshes and occasionally, mud flats that have been exposed by wind tides.  A few forested islands also exist on the refuge.  Monkey Island, a noted bird rookery, provides nesting habitat to several species of wading birds. Vegetation within these diverse habitat types include various types of beach grasses, live oak, loblolly pine, wax myrtle, cattails, sedges and rushes, black needlerush and giant cordgrass.



Various types of wading birds, shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors, mammals (including feral horses), reptiles, and amphibians common to the eastern United States, are found on the refuge.  The endangered piping plover and loggerhead sea turtle sometimes nest on refuge beaches and dunes.

False Cape State Park

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