 |
 |
|
|
|
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge |
 |
||
| 1324 Sandbridge Rd. Virginia Beach, VA 23456 E-mail: walter_tegge@fws.gov Phone Number: (757) 301-7329 |
|||
| Visit the Refuge's Web Site: http://www.fws.gov/refuge/back_bay/ |
Back Bay Refuge contains over 8,000 acres, situated on and around a thin strip of coastline typical of barrier islands found along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. | ||
 |
|||
|
||
 Organized school, civic, and professional groups may reserve dates for slide talks, films, and outdoor classroom activities. The Refuge offers educator orientation workshops, a lesson plan outline, library resources, and equipment resources. Please write or call the Refuge for additional information, if interested.  Surf and freshwater fishing are permitted in specific areas. A State fishing license is required to fish in all designated freshwater and saltwater areas on the Refuge. No launching facilities are available. Small boats and canoes which can be hand-carried to the Bay's edge are allowed. Boat trailers are not permitted.  White-tailed deer and feral hog hunting is permitted on the Refuge one week annually out of the year (usually the first full week of October). Application process involved to obtain a hunting permit. Applications are usually available at the end of July and are due the first week of September.  Displays, brochures, and films are available. A small auditorium that seats up to 35 may be used by prescheduled groups. Interpretive leaflets for general knowledge and hiking are avaiable at the Visitor Center. Kiosks and interpretive panels located along trails.  Several hiking trails are available on the Refuge, all originating within ½ mile of the Visitor Contact Station. Seaside (0.25 miles) and Dune (0.5 miles) Trails lead to the beach. Bay (0.4 miles) and Kuralt (0.15 miles) Trails lead to the bay and traverses marsh, shrubland, and bald cypress habitats. The Seaside, Dune, Bay, and Kuralt Trails are open year-round. The East Dike Trail (3.3 miles) is usually open from June - October, and traverses moist-soil marshes. The West Dike Trail (3.2 miles) is normally open during April and May and traverses a mix of marsh and woodlands. To minimize wildlife disturbance, pets are allowed October - March only. 
 Visitor Center - Open 8:00 am to 4:00 pm on weekdays; 9:00 am to 4:00 pm weekends. Closed Saturdays, November through March. Closed holidays except Memorial Day, July 4, and Labor Day. Outdoor facilities are open daily, dawn to dusk (year-round, except week of the Annual Deer and Hog hunt in October). Contact the Refuge for further details.  A daily permit is required of all visitors April 1 - October 31, unless they possess an annual pass or lifetime passport: Annual Passes: Refuge Annual Entrance Pass (Valid one year from purchase date) - $15.00 Current Duck Stamp (Valid July 1 - June 30) - $15.00 Golden Eagle Passport (Valid one year from purchase date) - $65.00 Lifetime Passports: Golden Age Passport (For persons 62 and over) one-time fee - $10.00 Golden Access Passport (For the blind or permanently disabled) - FREE Private vehicle - 5.00 Pedestrian - 2.00 Bicyclist - 2.00 Commercial van or bus up to 20 passengers - 25.00 21 or more passengers - 30.00  Hunt Fees: Application Fee - $5.00 per person on the application. Daily Hunt Permit - $10.00 per day (Golden Age Passport holders and Golden Access Passport holders are entitled to 1/2 price of Daily Hunt Permit) |
||
| - Refuge Profile Page - | ||