Chincoteague

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service reet n St Mai Chincoteague N South Wash Flats in ar lev ou Ma B ox dd Ma National Wildlife Refuge Trail Map et e Str d Gadwall Pool Ch an ne l Pony Swim nd Po Farm Fields Pool As sa te ag ue w So Pintail Pool Black Duck Pool D Dike Shoveler Snow Goose Pool Bivalve Trail North Over Sand Vehicle Zone Swan Cove Pool Little Toms Cove Mallard Pool C Dike Pool Atlantic Ocean NPS Visitor Center Toms Cove LEGEND South Over Sand Vehicle Zone Parking Lighthouse Visitor Center Kayak Launch Hiking Trails Hiking/Biking Trails Beach Area - Open to Public Crabbing Fishing Over Sand Vehicle Zones Restrooms Closed Areas - Stay on Trails Seasonal Closures Apply Pony View Beach Access 0 0 .5 2000 1 Mile 4000 Feet Unpaved Trails Lighthouse Trail (0.25 miles) Walking - moderately easy (sandy hill) Marsh Trail (0.5 miles) Walking - easy Bivalve Trail (0.25 miles) Walking - moderately easy (uneven terrain) Service Road (7.5 miles) Walking - easy First mile open to bicycling Observation Platform Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce Paved Trails Wildlife Loop (3.2 miles) Walking and bicycling - easy Open 3:00 PM to dusk to vehicles Woodland Trail (1.6 miles) Walking and bicycling - easy Black Duck Trail (1 mile) Walking and bicycling - easy Swan Cove Trail (0.5 miles) Walking and bicycling - easy The Refuge is Open Seven Days a Week May through September 5:00 A.M. - 10:00 P.M. April & October 6:00 A.M. - 8:00 P.M. November through March 6:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M. Welcome to Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge... Where people and wildlife meet. Established in 1943 to provide habitat for migratory birds, the refuge protects more than 14,000 acres of beach, dunes, marsh and maritime forest. Every season brings unique opportunities to enjoy wildlife observation and photography. Songbirds, wading birds and shorebirds arrive in spring and many stay throughout the summer. Fall brings migratory raptors and monarch butterflies followed by the waterfowl that will spend the winter on the refuge. Visitors can explore trails, visit the beach, see the historic Assateague Lighthouse, and more! The refuge also offers a variety of special events throughout the year, so please see our website or inquire at a visitor center for details. Visitor Centers - Hours vary by season Herbert H. Bateman Educational and Administrative Center (757-336-6122) 8231 Beach Road, Chincoteague, VA 23336 This center is the second left upon entering the refuge and features an information desk, exhibits, and videos showed on request in the auditorium. Refuge Headquarters is co-located with the Chincoteague Natural History Association, who operate a book store and run seasonal Refuge Treks from the center, call 757-336-3696 for details. Toms Cove Visitor Center (757-336-6577) 8586 Beach Road, Chincoteague, VA 23336 Located next to the recreational beach at the end of Beach Road, this center features a small aquarium and touch tank, a bookstore and an information desk. Ranger guided programs are available seasonally. Refuge Rules and Regulations The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service encourages you to enjoy your visit, but remember that protecting wildlife, plants, and their habitats is the priority. Regulations exist for the welfare of wildlife, as well as for your safety. Please read and comply with the following list of regulations. Note this list is not all inclusive; therefore, remember that unless an activity is listed as permitted in a brochure or on a sign, it is not allowed. Permitted Activities - in designated areas only Wildlife Observation, photography, interpretation and education - throughout the refuge Prohibited Activities Pets (even in vehicles) - Service dogs permitted as defined by ADA regulations. Contact us for details. Consuming alcoholic beverages Surf Fishing - into the ocean from the beach (Follow Virginia State Regulations) Disturbing, feeding, or harassing ponies or wildlife Hunting (with a refuge issued permit) D C Collecting, removing, or damaging plants or animals Crabbing & Shellfishing Removing driftwood, bones or skeletons Shell collecting (no more than one gallon of unoccupied sea shells per person per day) Use of metal detectors and collecting cultural or historic objects Hiking Climbing onto or digging into fragile sand dunes Bicycling Bicycling on the beach Boating - in Toms Cove and Assateague Channel (non-commercial) Camping/Overnight stays Over-Sand Vehicle Use (with permit) Open fires (except with a permit) or Fireworks Recreational Beach (lifeguards present seasonally) Boats and flotation devices within refuge water impoundments Horseback Riding (in South Over-Sand Vehicle Zone) Launching, landing, or operating unmanned aircraft (such as drones) v Climbing Assateague Lighthouse (schedule varies, call 757-336-3696) Firearms and weapons prohibited in government buildings Safety Measures to Protect You & Wildlife Protect yourself from ticks and mosquitoes, they may carry disease. To avoid contact: stay on trails; use repellent; wear long sleeve shirts and long pants while exploring the area; and, inspect yourself carefully. Ponies and wildlife on the refuge may carry diseases. Feeding and touching animals puts you and your family at risk. Enjoy all wildlife from a distance, especially if they seem friendly. Poison ivy is abundant on the refuge. It can grow as either a vine, shrub or single plant, but always has 3 leaves at the end of a stem. Please stay on refuge trails to avoid contact. O It is fairly common to observe seals loafing on the beach, ponies laying down or sea turtles laying eggs in the sand. We are guests in their home, so please give them their space. If they react to your activity, you are too close. In cases of sick or injured wildlife, minimize the animal’s stress by keeping the safe distance (100 ft) and contact refuge staff. Thank You for Obeying Closed Area Signs When you remain on named trails and open portions of the beach, you help us protect wildlife. Closed areas may be marked AREA with signs, white posts AREA BEYOND CLOSED and/or rope lines. THIS IMPORTANT BIRDS NESTING Disturbance by humans or their pets reduces the birds’ chances of survival. It may cause parents to abandon eggs or chicks, or interrupt feeding behavioir at critical times. SIGN BLACK SKIMMER CLOSED ME NT O F T H E PA RT IN R I OR U. S. D E TE All public entry prohibited LEAST TERN PIPING PLOVER ENTERING AREA VIOLATION OF STATE AND FEDERAL LAW. M AR 4 C H 3, 18 9 NO PETS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge P.O. Box 62 Chincoteague, VA 23336 NO VEHICLES NO ENTRY Contact Us Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge 8231 Beach Road, Chincoteague Island, VA 23336 757/336 6122 Office, 757/336 5273 Fax FW5RW_CNWR@fws.gov www.fws.gov/refuge/Chincoteague www.facebook.com/ChincoteagueNWR www.twitter.com/ChincoteagueNWR Federal Relay Service for the deaf and hard-of-hearing 1800/877 8339 January 2020