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Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
4 reviews for Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge
4 reviews in English
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Review from Casey P.
Grafton, MA
8/11/2009 3 photos
I cannot say enough good things about Back Bay. It is my favorite place to visit in Virginia Beach, and since we always rent on Sandfiddler Road, it is really easy to get to.
The entry fee is $5 per vehicle, but if you get there before the guard house opens - before 8 am - you won't have to pay. I would suggest getting there early anyway. I usually go around 6:30-7:00 am, to avoid the heat and see more wildlife. Every time I have gone I have seen at least four or five different animals - once we even saw the wild horses!
The trails are very well-maintained. For a quick walk, I'd recommend the Bay Trail or the Seaside Trail. Trams run through out the day, and guide you around Back Bay and into False Cape (the adjoined state park to the south). They also run nature programs for the kids on certain days. -
Review from John G.
8/26/2010 3 Check-ins Here
Great park but TOO MANY RULES!! The only activities allowed are wildlife related activities.
For example, I like to dolphin watch, but the ranger said I was sun bathing and that I needed to keep walking. Well, I had a shirt and hat on so I don't think that counts as sun bathing. Basically you can sit still in the interior of the park and call it bird watching, but sitting still on the beach is not allowed. In the past, I have sat still long enough that horses, feral pigs and deer are able to be seen.
No surfing. Apparently the park controls what happens beyond the low-tide line. I didn't even think that was possible, but I've seen the rangers tell kids that they are not allowed to body board while their parents shore fish.
No potable water. Not a rule, just a warning. They don't let you fill up your water bottles in the ranger station, and the water from the sink in the bathrooms is untreated well water. I wouldn't touch that stuff without boiling it first. Even the ranger told me last month it was pretty much guaranteed to get you sick.
The BEST thing about Back Bay is that it is the path to get to False Cape, where they let you sit on the beach, and have all the twice-filtered water you could want, and plenty of beach camping.
I used to volunteer at Back Bay looking for turtle crawls to protect the eggs from predators, so I have spent plenty of time at the park. -
Review from Patrick D.
Los Angeles, CA
7/12/2009
There is an entry fee, so come with cash (I don't think they take checks or credit/debit cards). There is a small visitor center, too. Nice scenic trails, and I enjoyed watching the wildlife.
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Review from Bradley N.
Woodside, CA
9/15/2009
A fantastic refuge for birds and people alike, light years away from Virginia Beach. This is a great part of the state that welcomes day-trippers, weekend beach visitors, and campers alike. The dunes trails to the Atlantic are great, as are the bayside hiking paths. Lots of places to rest, soak in the surroundings, and leave with digital memories.
