Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge — Attraction in Virginia Beach

Peaceful Spot for a Nature Walk, But Bring Bug Spray!

We recently visited the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia Beach, and while we didn’t spot too much wildlife during our trip, we still really enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere and natural beauty of the area. It’s a great place to go for a relaxing walk—especially if you have kids who like to run around and explore.

The trails are mostly flat and well-maintained, making them easy for little legs and stroller-friendly, which is a huge bonus for families. There’s a mix of sandy paths, wooden boardwalks, and open views of marshes, dunes, and the bay. It really is pretty, especially if you go close to sunset when the lighting is soft and golden. It feels tucked away and serene, even though it’s not too far from the more developed parts of Virginia Beach.

That said—the bugs are no joke. We were swarmed by mosquitoes and gnats almost the entire time, and that was even with bug spray. It’s definitely one of those places where long sleeves and pants, plus heavy-duty repellent, are a must if you plan to stay any length of time. The bugs were really the only downside of the experience, but it was enough that we had to cut our walk shorter than planned. If you're sensitive to bites or traveling with little ones, definitely plan ahead.

As for wildlife, we were hoping to spot birds or maybe even deer or turtles, but it was a quiet day—possibly due to the weather or the time of year. We did hear plenty of frogs and saw some dragonflies, but not the variety of wildlife we had imagined. That being said, it's a wildlife refuge, not a zoo, so sightings are never guaranteed. I’ve heard others say they’ve seen all kinds of birds and even wild horses from a distance on other visits, so it might just depend on your timing.

There are restrooms near the visitor center and a few benches along the trails, but it's a good idea to bring your own water, especially on warm days. Parking was easy and affordable, and the entry fee is minimal (or free if you have a national park pass).

Overall, it’s a calm, scenic spot to reconnect with nature, especially if you want something low-key to do with your family. Just be aware of the bugs, and don’t set your expectations too high when it comes to wildlife sightings. It’s perfect for a short walk, some quiet time, and letting the kids burn off a little energy outdoors. We’ll probably be back—just with even more bug...

A beautiful park preserving many acres of wild beach, the Back Bay, and inland dunes. In visiting on a weekend in September, the weather was hot, seemed dry but had some humidity just from the surrounding bodies of water, and it is like this for months on end. Many neat species of southern plants whose northernmost range is here and nearby First Landing State Park in northern Virginia Beach. This park protects several different types of habitat and has several trails running through it which are all delightful to walk down. Please remember to wear suncream and other protective sunwear, as the only real source of shade here is the interpretive centre which is very nice and worth a visit. Also be sure to be hydrated, as the temps and area are pretty comparable to a desert. The admission fee charged by the National Park Service is nominal, $5 when I visited.

The wildlife here increases as one moves further south towards False Cape State Park, which abuts BBNWF and runs into the North Carolina border. Some of these include otters, feral horses, all the sea or ocean critters in the Atlantic, muskrats, and osprey. It is certainly worth a visit if you are staying in Sandbridge, live in Sandbridge, or do not mind a bit of a drive from Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads. This is one of the last remaining wild stretches of beach and coastal forest in the Mid-Atlantic and East Coast in general, so I am very glad that it is still here and available to the public. A fine place for fishing on the vast expanse of beach and is relatively crowd free. Would...

Review on management/park rangers: while I've always had previous good experiences when coming to the refuge, today has formed my opinion of the overall staff management and overshadowed any previous experience. When first arriving at the main entrance, a family of four parked next to me and unloaded their vehicle with nt only fishing supplies (which is allowed), but also beach/swimming supplies, which is NOT allowed. My partner went into the office to verify/inquire about the rules on swimming/boogie boards on the beach, and inform of the family - to which they were told that, no, the boards are not permitted, and gave the appearance that the ranger they spoke with was moving to handle/speak with the family immediately. We made our way to the beach for our walk, to which the family of four was in front of us, and down along the beach. When heading back along the beach, we saw a ranger truck come on from the entrance (this was at least 45min after we came on) and head down along the beach... and drive right past the family where the two children where swimming in the ocean, on their boards. Apparently the rangers have no desire to actually enforce the refuge rules unless they feel like it, or they rate them on a personal scale of what they feel is important? Since this is very obviously the case, then why bother having a sign stating swimming/sunbathing isn't allowed on the beach, when the rangers have no intention of enforcing the rules other than if...