U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

ChincoteagueNational Wildlife RefugeTrail Map

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Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge8231 Beach RoadP.O. Box 62Chincoteague Island, VA 23336-0062757/336 6122757/336 5273 Fax1 800/828 1120 TDD1 800/828 1140 voiceemail: FW5RW_CNWR@fws.govwww.fws.gov/refuge/chincoteague

Federal Relay Servicefor the deaf and hard-of-hearing1 800/877 8339

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service1 800/344 WILDhttp://www.fws.gov

July 2015

Over-sand vehicle useOver-Sand Vehicle (OSV) Zones areposted and maps are available at theChincoteague Refuge Visitor Centerand Toms Cove Visitor Center. A fee ischarged for all permits. Vehiclespecifications and equipmentrequirements are strictly enforced.Limits are placed on the number ofvehicles allowed on the beach at anyone time. Temporary closures occurdue to public safety and wildlifeconcerns.

The following activities are prohibited.

Fires/FireworksOpen fires are prohibited except asauthorized by special permit, whichmay be obtained from the NationalPark Service, Assateague IslandNational Seashore, at Toms CoveVisitor Center. Possession ordischarge of fireworks or explosivedevices is prohibited.

Skateboards/roller skates/in-lineskatesUse prohibited on refuge.

CampingProhibited on Chincoteague NationalWildlife Refuge. Permits for backcountry sites in Maryland areavailable from the National ParkService, Assateague Island NationalSeashore, at Toms Cove VisitorCenter.

Firearms and weaponsProhibited in government buildings.

PetsProhibited, even in your vehicle.

AlcoholUse of alcohol beverages is prohibited.Entering or remaining on the refugewhile under the influence of alcohol orcontrolled substances is prohibited.

This goose, designed by J.N. “Ding” Darling,has become a symbol of the National WildlifeRefuge System.

Follow these guidelines for a fun and safe visit.The following activities are permitted. Note specificrestrictions.

Wildlife observation, interpretation,photography and hiking.Enjoy year-round on marked trails.

Boats (Non-commercial)Permitted to land on designated areason Toms Cove Hook from September1 through March 14 or as otherwiseposted. Refuge impoundments areclosed to all boats and flotation devices.

BicyclesPermitted on trails and roads unlessotherwise posted.

Fishing/crabbing/shell fishingPermitted in designated areas of TomsCove. Fishing and crabbing arepermitted in designated areas of SwanCove adjacent to Toms Cove. Statefishing license is not required; however,state regulations and creel limits areenforced. Traps, pots, and handlinesmust be attended at all times.

Surf FishingA saltwater license is required for surffishing on the refuge. Fishing isprohibited on life guarded beaches.An overnight fishing permit isrequired to stay after hours. Inquireat the Toms Cove Visitor Center.

SwimmingPermitted along the oceanfront and indesignated areas of Toms Cove.

Horseback RidingHorseback riding is only permitted inthe Off-Road Vehicle Zone.

Mopeds and Motorized ScootersPermitted on Beach Road only.

Great Egret© Mark Wilson

Poison ivy is abundant on the refuge.Please stay on refuge trails to avoidcontact.

Horses, although they appear tame,are wild animals and may kick or bitewithout warning.

Herbert H. Bateman Educational andAdministrative CenterHours vary by season.

Tom’s Cove Visitor Center Hours vary by season.

Refuge AuditoriumProgram schedule available

Wildlife Loop (3.2 miles) Walking and bicycling. Open 3:00 pm to dusk to vehicles

Woodland Trail (1.6 miles)Walking and bicycling

Lighthouse Trail (0.25 miles)Walking

Marsh Trail (0.5 miles)Walking

Black Duck Trail (1 mile)Walking and bicycling

Swan Cove Trail (0.5 miles)Walking and bicycling

Bivalve Trail (0.25 miles)Walking

Refuge HoursHours vary by season, open year-round.

For additional information about therefuge, contact:Refuge ManagerChincoteague National Wildlife RefugeP.O. Box 62Chincoteague Island, VA 23336757/336 6122FAX: 757/336 5273email: FW5RW_CNWR@fws.govwww.fws.gov/refuge/chincoteague

Disturbing or collecting plants and animals (dead or alive), or artifactsStrictly prohibited. Leave the area asyou found it for others to enjoy.Please limit the number of unoccupiedshells collected to one gallon orless/person/day. Shells collected maynot be sold or otherwise used forcommercial purposes.

Feeding or harassing wildlifeStrictly prohibited. Feeding animalscauses them to lose their fear ofhumans and makes them morevulnerable to vehicular traffic.Human food also causes digestiveproblems. Please help keep theanimals healthy and safe.

Special EventsEarth DayApril

International Migratory BirdCelebrationMay

National Fishing WeekJune

Beach CleanupSeptember

National Wildlife Refuge WeekOctober

Waterfowl WeekNovember

SafetyProtect yourself from ticks andmosquitoes, they may carry disease.To avoid tick bites and mosquitoes:stay on trails; use repellent; wear longsleeve shirts and long pants whileexploring the area; and, inspectyourself carefully.

Raccoons, horses and other mammalson the refuge may carry rabies. Enjoyall wildlife from a distance, especiallyif they seem friendly.

Swans Cove Pool

Snow GoosePool

Black DuckPool Shoveler

Pool

Sow Pond

Black DuckMarsh

Janeys CreekMarsh

South WashF

Little TomsCove

Toms Cove

Assateague Channel

Beac

h Ro

ad

PineyIsland

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WoodlandTrail

BivalveTrail

Toms CoveVisitorCenter

Beach Access and Parking

Over-Sand Vehicle Zone

O

Service Road

Wildlife Loop

Marsh Trail

Mallard Pool

D Dike

Herbert H. BatemanEducational andAdministrative Center

2

Swan Cove Trail

Black Duck

Maddox Boulevard

Pony Swim

MemoriamorialPark

MemorialPark

HorseMarsh

Lighthouse

Trail

N

The ORV zone includes nesting habitat for the Piping plover, a threatened bird species. To aid in the recovery of this species, the ORV zone will be subiect to partial closure to all ORV, boat and pedestrian use during the nesting season.

Over-Sand Vehicle (OSV) Zone(Subject to seasonal closure)

Closed Areas - Stay on Trails

Hiking Trails

0

0 2000 4000 Feet

.5 1 Mile

Observation Platform

Seasonally closes on March 15Reopens Late Fall

Parking Lot

Legend

Hiking/Biking Trails

Welcome toChincoteagueNationalWildlifeRefuge...wherepeople andwildlife meet.The refugeincludes morethan 14,000acres ofbeach, dunes,marsh andmaritimeforest. Withina workday'saccess tomillions ofpeople,Chincoteaguerefuge is oneof the mostvisitedrefuges in theUnitedStates,providingvisitors withoutstandingopportunitiesto learn aboutand enjoywildlandsand wildlife.