Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge For more information about the USFWS, head to http://www.fws.gov/ Welcome to Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge (NWR).
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If you're looking for the official source of information about the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, please visit our homepage at http://www.fws.gov/refuge/back-bay/. Located in the southeastern corner of Virginia, Back Bay NWR was established by Presidential Proclamation in 1938 to provide habitat for migrating and wintering waterfowl, particularly greater snow geese. Today, the Refuge continues

to be an important link in the chain of National Wildlife Refuges located along the Atlantic Flyway. Refuge grounds are open seven days a week, sunrise to sunset. The Visitor Contact Station is open Tuesday - Friday 8:00am-4:00pm and Saturdays 9:00am-4:00pm, closed Sunday and Monday. The Refuge also works with a dedicated Friends organization, the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Society. This support group was established in 2020 with the purpose of the promoting and supporting the Refuge in its mission to conserve, protect and enhance natural resources through advocacy, outreach, education, fundraising and projects. Check out the Society at their website at www.backbaynwrsociety.org and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle .

A few last minute spots have opened up for Thursday's Surf Fishing Clinic! Please check out the registration page if you...
08/18/2026

A few last minute spots have opened up for Thursday's Surf Fishing Clinic! Please check out the registration page if you are interested. The clinic is on Thursday, August 20, beginning at 9:00am and ending at 12:00pm. This is the last surf fishing clinic of the season.

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge is excited to host children's fishing clinics this summer with the Virginia Beach Angers, Tidewater Anglers and friends. All bait and tackle are provided; participants should bring water, hats and snacks. Parents must stay for the duration of these clinics. When reg...

On Tuesday, August 11, d**e access will switch from the East D**e to the West D**e for mowing operations. Hiking and bik...
08/09/2026

On Tuesday, August 11, d**e access will switch from the East D**e to the West D**e for mowing operations. Hiking and biking access will return to the East D**e on Wednesday, August 12.

08/09/2026

Pass sales are available on these upcoming dates:
August 15: 8:00am - 11:30am
August 20: 9:00am - 1:00pm
August 21: 8:00am - 11:30am

07/31/2026

Due to an unexpected schedule change passes will not be available on Saturday, August 1.

Upcoming pass sales:
August 6: 9:00am - 1:00pm
August 13: 9:00am - 1:00pm
August 15: 8:00am - 11:30am

History was made this past weekend. A leatherback sea turtle was found in Virginia Beach!
07/23/2026

History was made this past weekend. A leatherback sea turtle was found in Virginia Beach!

07/16/2026

The voicemail system at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge is currently out of order. Passes will be available at the following times over the next few weeks:

Saturday, July 18: 8:00am - 11:30am
Thursday, July 23: 9:00am - 1:00pm
Friday, July 24: 12:30pm - 3:00pm
Thursday, July 30: 9:00am - 1:00pm
Saturday, August 1: 8:00am - 11:30am

Please call False Cape State Park with questions regarding tram operations at 757-426-7128.

The 2026 sea turtle season is underway. So far this season three sea turtle nests have been found in Virginia Beach, two...
07/16/2026

The 2026 sea turtle season is underway. So far this season three sea turtle nests have been found in Virginia Beach, two at False Cape State Park and one at Dam Neck. Additionally, a "false crawl," or a crawl with no nest/eggs, was found last week at the wildlife refuge. While most nesting sea turtles in Virginia Beach are loggerhead sea turtles, this false crawl was created by a green sea turtle.

The species of sea turtle can be determined by the shape of the crawl. Loggerhead sea turtles crawl alternating one front flipper and then the other. Green sea turtles crawl moving both front flippers at the same time.

Sea turtle patrols will continue through August. Although Virginia is at the very northern edge of the nesting range for sea turtles, there may be a few more nests in the area this season.

Today, Monday, July 13, the West D**e Trail closes and the East D**e Trail opens for hiking and biking access through th...
07/13/2026

Today, Monday, July 13, the West D**e Trail closes and the East D**e Trail opens for hiking and biking access through the wildlife refuge and into False Cape State Park.

On Monday, July 13 the West D**e Trail will close and the East D**e Trail will open for hiking and biking access through...
07/10/2026

On Monday, July 13 the West D**e Trail will close and the East D**e Trail will open for hiking and biking access through the wildlife refuge and into False Cape State Park.

Address

4005 Sandpiper Rd
Virginia Beach, VA
23456

Telephone

+17573017329

Website

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