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Virginia
219

State of Virginia Parks

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USA Parks
Virginia
Tidewater Region
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge
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Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Cat Bird © Scott and Christine Peters
This Cat Bird Meowed Its Way Into Our Hearts.
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Grackles © Scott and Christine Peters
Grackles foraging on the beach.
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Tundra Swans © Scott and Christine Peters
beautiful to witness these majestic swans, note the three ducks on the bottom.
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Tundra Swans © Scott and Christine Peters
Trio of Tundra, beautiful
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Great Blue Heron © Scott and Christine Peters
Off into the sunset.
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Great Blue Heron © Scott and Christine Peters
Ice sheet in the background from the cold winter 2014
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Back Bay at Sundown © Scott and Christine Peters
Pretty Sunset
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Pilings © Scott and Christine Peters
Fishing Pier at Little Island Park
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Sunset on BackBay © Scott and Christine Peters
Hard not to look at the sun directly.
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Foliage © Dawn Griffith
Back Bay NWR
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge © Bobby Merritt
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Fishing Reflections © Joe Phelan
High winds and low tides create silver reflections of fishermen waiting for the bite south of Sandbridge during
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Monarch Butterfly © Dawn Griffith
Back Bay NWR
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge © Bobby Merritt
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge © Bobby Merritt
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Spider © Dawn Griffith
Back Bay NWR
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Back Bay © Dawn Griffith
Back Bay NWR
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Damselfly Dining © Dawn Griffith
Back Bay NWR
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Park Path © Dawn Griffith
Back Bay NWR
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Green Heron © Dawn Griffith
Back Bay NWR
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge A Curious Grasshopper © Kitt Amaritnant
A grasshopper rests on the side of the trail at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia Beach, Va. on Oct. 13, 2007. Photograph by Kitt Amaritnant.
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Sunset With Geese Over Back Bay © Timothy W. Booth
A warm winter day in February gave us one magnificent sunset
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Birds © Dawn Griffith
Back Bay NWR
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Sunset On Back Bay © Timothy W. Booth
Another picture of a late winter sunset over Back Bay.
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BACK BAY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
BACK BAY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
4005 Sandpiper Road
Virginia Beach, Virginia   23456
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Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge is located in Virginia and was established in 1938 to provide habitat for migrating and wintering waterfowl. The refuge contains more than 8,500 acres, situated around Back Bay, in the southeastern corner of the City of Virginia Beach. Because of its unique geographic location along the Atlantic Coast that provides overlapping ranges for both northern and southern species, biodiversity is high. Habitats include barrier island beach and dunes, shrub-scrub, woodlands, farm land and fresh and brackish marsh. Since 1939, an additional 4,600 acres of Bay waters within the refuge boundary have been closed to migratory bird hunting by Presidential Proclamation.

Today the Refuge continues to be an important link in the chain of National Wildlife Refuges along the Atlantic Flyway. More than 300 species of birds have been observed at the Refuge. During the fall and winter months, large flocks of waterfowl use the Bay and freshwater impoundments. The Snow and Canada goose, Tundra swan, and many duck species are abundant. Migrating songbirds and shorebirds arrive at the Refuge each spring and fall. Brightly colored warblers dot shrub and woodland areas while shorebirds search for food in shallow waters. Habitats are also used by a wide assortment of other wildlife, including such threatened and endangered species as the Loggerhead sea turtle, Piping plover, Peregrine falcon, and Bald eagle.
FACILITIES AND ACTIVITIES OVERVIEW
Day-UseFishingyes
 Huntingyes
 Hiking Trailyes


Location
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge is located near Chesapeake, Moyock and Norfolk


Visitor Comments, Memories and Reviews
March 2 beautiful
park review stars; one to five Beautiful park. Would like to see a map of the trails put on the web page though.
December 7 beautiful beach and dunes by Betti
park review stars; one to five We are visiting Va during the fall. We spent three days walking the beach. We saw pods of dolphins, pelicans and other sea birds. We had a great time on the beach and walking the paths.
July 29
park review stars; one to five
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Area Campgrounds
Holiday Trav-L-Park
1075 General Booth Boulevard
Virginia Beach, VA
North Bay Shore Campground
3257 Colechester Road
Virginia Beach, VA
757-426-7911
North Landing Beach Riverfront Campg
161 Princess Anne Road
Virginia Beach, VA
757-426-6241
Outdoor Resorts Virginia Beach
3665 Sandpiper Road
Virginia Beach, VA
Virginia Beach KOA Holiday
1240 General Booth Boulevard
Virginia Beach, VA
800-562-4150
Northwest River Park
1733 Indian Creek Road
Chesapeake, VA
757-421-7151
Area Cabins and Lodges
Outdoor Resorts RV Resorts
3665 Sandpiper Rd
Virginia Beach, VA
(757) 721-2020
Nearby Hotels
Booking.com

Directions
From I-64, exit on I-264 East. Exit onto Birdneck Road (Exit 22). Turn right onto Birdneck Road. Proceed 3-4 miles and turn right onto General Booth Boulevard. Proceed 5 miles and turn left onto Princess Anne Road. Proceed south about a mile until you reach Sandbridge Road. Follow Sandbridge Road until you reach the community of Sandbridge. Make a right onto Sandpiper Road. Proceed south 4 miles to the Refuge entrance. The Visitor Contact Station is one mile from the main entrance.

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Virginia
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State of Virginia Parks

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