Established in 1943, Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge includes more than 14,000 acres of beach, dunes, marsh, and maritime forest.
Here's your hub for maps, fees and all you need to Plan Your Visit! Keep in mind pets are prohibited on our Refuge.
NASA's next sounding rocket is scheduled to launch sometime between October 20 and October 24. As per NASA's safety recommendations, the area south of the Coast Guard Station (on the hook) will be closed to all access starting at 8:00 p.m. on October 19. The area will remain closed for the entire launch window and will reopen only after the rocket launches or on October 25 (whichever comes first). The rest of the refuge will remain open. NASA provides detailed launch viewing information on their website.
This list shows data from eBird Trail Tracker. Since many refuge locations are included, one species may be listed multiple times.
Brochures and permits are now available for our big game, migratory game bird and Wallops Island hunts.
The refuge visitor center and bookstore will be closed for renovation from October 4, 2021 - November 4, 2021. Thank you for your patience.
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is managed as part of the Chincoteague NWR Complex .
The National Wildlife Refuge System, within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, manages a national network of lands and waters set aside to conserve America's fish, wildlife, and plants.
Over the past 200-300 years, these modern-day descendants of domestic horses have adapted to the hardships of living near the ocean. Prior to the refuge's establishment in 1943, the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company purchased the ponies and continues ownership to this day. The Firemen are allowed to graze up to 150 ponies on refuge land through a Special Use Permit from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
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