Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge

and

Virginia False Cape State Park

If you are biking for speed and distance this is not the place for you. But if you like to pause from time to time and admire the wonders of nature these two places are worth a visit.

Tucked away on the outer banks in the far southeastern part of Virginia, they are jewels. Most fine jewels are small and so are these. Webmaster spent a day in the area, rode every trail open to the public and biked no more than 26 miles. Those wanting a longer ride can leave their car at the 7-11 mentioned below or at the beginning of Sandbridge and bike an additional 20 or 6 miles.

The Wildlife Refuge is a large area of wetlands (mostly inaccessible) in the bay east of the outer bank. The adjoining State Park consists of a strip of dunes and woodlands between the ocean and the bay. It can only be reached through the Wildlife Refuge on foot or by bike (or by a once-a-day small "train"). Horses are not permitted. There is one main trail through both areas with several side trails. Besides biking and walking, the main activity in the Wildlife Refuge is the observation of wildlife (mostly birds). In addition, the State Park offers primitive camping (in the dunes, on the beach or on the bay shore), fishing and canoeing. The picture below on the left is of the main trail through the Refuge; on the right is the entrance to the State Park.

There is no good map of the False Cape State Park, but the trails are well marked. Moreover the Park is small and it is easy to keep one's orientation.

The State Park has four campgrounds with three sites each. Two grounds are in the dunes near the ocean and two are on the bay. A reservation for a dune campsite allows the holder to camp on the beach within one mile from the site. Camping is limited to 6 persons per site. There is potable water on the two grounds nearest to the Park entrance; the other grounds have pumps, but the water is not drinkable. No open fires are permitted. Reservations can be made at 1-800-933-7275. The pictures below show campsites in the dunes, on the beach and on the bay. The sign on the middle picture says: "Caution. Beach Camping Next 1 Mile. Watch For Campers On Beach". Presumably, the sign is for automobilists.

In the south of the Park is an area called Wash Woods. Around the turn of the 20^th century, the area was inhabited. There is still a small cemetery and the steeple of a church, said to have been built with the wood of lumber-carrying ship that wrecked nearby. Below are pictures of the Wash Woods area, the church steeple and the cemetery.

The State Park has a unique feature. Not only are there feral horses (as in may places on the outer banks), but there are also feral pigs, that have gone wild after the last inhabitants, plagued by frequent floods, left the area. Signs of their presence are abundant and they can be observed at dusk.

The entrance to the Refuge and the Park is not easy to find. There is a Naval Station on the sea just south of Virginia Beach and it is not possible to ride along the coast from there to the Refuge. To get to the Refuge from Virginia Beach remember that you want to go to Sandbridge. Follow the coastal boulevard in Virginia Beach south, which leads directly to the General Booth Boulevard (GBB), which is an unnumbered four-lane highway. Go for about 6 miles to the point where the four lane highway changes name from GBB to Princess Anne Road (PAR). Now it becomes tricky, because there is no obvious change in the highway to indicate the name change. Moreover, there is a sign that says that the PAR goes to the left. There is a 7-11 store at the intersection, but it is not very well visible and has not quite the normal 7-11 facade. Take the PAR to the left and after a about a mile turn left on the Sandbridge Road. Go all the way to the end. At Sandbridge turn right and follow the coast for four miles to the entrance of the Refuge. At the end of the road there is a large free parking lot. There is also a small parking lot in the Refuge.