Chincoteague NWR, located primarily on the Virginia side of Assateague Island, consists of more than 14,000 acres of beach, dunes, marsh, and maritime forest. Chincoteague NWR, originally established in 1943 to provide habitat for migratory birds (with an emphasis on conserving greater snow geese), today provides habitat for waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds, and song birds, as well as other species of wildlife and plants. Refuge staff manage this barrier island habitat to allow many species of wildlife to coexist, each establishing their own place in the environment. In fact, more than 320 species of birds are known to occur on the refuge. The refuge has been designated a Globally Important Bird Area, is part of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network and designated as one of the top ten birding Hotspots by the National Audubon Society.

Refuge management programs restore threatened and endangered species such as the Delmarva Peninsula fox squirrel, the bald eagle and the piping plover. More than 2,600 acres of man-made marshes, or moist soil management units, are managed for wintering waterfowl and shorebirds during migration. Unique residents of the island, the famous Chincoteague ponies, are housed in two areas on the refuge through a special agreement with the ponies’ owners, the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company.

With approximately 1.4 million visits a year, Chincoteague NWR is one of the most visited refuges in the nation. Chincoteague NWR provides visitors with extraordinary educational and recreational opportunities. In addition, a special partnership exists with the National Park Service which allows Assateague Island National Seashore to administer public activities on a five-mile portion of the refuge beach.

The new Herbert H. Bateman Educational and Administrative Center offers educational exhibits, an auditorium and wet laboratory/classroom for visiting group

Details:

There is a $10 entrance fee per vehicle, good for one week. The nearby village of Chincoteague has dining and lodging options. July brings crowds for the famous Pony Swim and Auction.

Information:

757-336-6122, http://chinco.fws.gov/

In the thicket of the Wilderness, near a roadside tavern, Robert E. Lee achieved his greatest victory of the Civil War. This loop trail, approximately four miles in length, traverses portions of the May 3rd battlefield and the final Union defensive line. Blue blazes on trees and mowed paths in the clearings mark the route. Signs and maps at key locations will help you understand what occurred along the trail.

Total Distance:

4 miles round trip

Location/Directions:

Locust Grove, VA — I-95 south to Rt 3 West. Visitor’s center is about 8 miles from I-95. Trail head begins at the visitor’s center.

Difficulty:

Easy

Elevation Gain: 300 ft

Finding the Trailhead:

The trail begins at the Visitors Center.