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Reported: May 2017

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge...

Paved Biking and Chincoteague Ponies

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and Assateague Island National Seashore cover 14,000 acres of beach, dunes, marsh, and maritime forest - a wonderful, unspoiled area. A major storm in 1962 wiped out all development on Assateague Island, and it was set aside as a national seashore. The island is also home to the Chincoteague Ponies, descendants of horses brought to the island in the 17th century and later made famous by Marguerite Henry's book, Misty of Chincoteague. (Detailed map and photos below.)

Biking Map...
Chincoteague NWR

View Larger Map

Location: Assateague Island, Accomack County (See map)
Distance: 6.3 miles of paved trails, more on park roads
Surface: Paved

Support and Advocacy:
Chincoteague Natural History Association

Bike Shops/Rentals:
Bike Depot (rentals)
Jus' Bikes (rentals)

Biking at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge

The refuge reminds us of Florida's Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge , with one difference - the wonderful paved trails! We biked on the Wildlife Loop, Woodlands Trail, and others. Hiking-only trails are generally unpaved. Biking is not restricted to the refuge, Chincoteague Island is adding bike trails as well but we focused on the refuge in Virginia (the northern portion of Assateague Island is in Maryland). Due to mosquitoes, not recommended in the summer.

Wildlife Loop - 3.2 miles

 

 

 

Open for biking and walking all day; cars allowed 3 p.m. to dusk

Swan Cove Trail - 0.5 mile

 

 

From Wildlife Loop to the beach

Black Duck Trail - 1 mile

 

 

Connects Wildlife Loop to Woodland Trail

Woodland Trail loop - 1.6 miles

 

 

To pony overlook

Through pine forest, to pony overlook

Lighthouse Trail - 0.25 miles

 

 

 

Walking only, to the lighthouse

From Chincoteague Island - 1 mile

 

 

 

 

Chincoteague Ponies

There were about 30 ponies milling around at the pony viewing platform, but accidentally deleted the photos and can't retrieve! Corral is for a roundup held each year, horses are auctioned to thin the herd.
More about the Chincoteague Ponies .

More Information and Resources

More Biking:
Bike-Virginia - More bike trails and information about biking in Virginia

Related Resources:
US Fish and Wildlife Service - Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
US Fish and Wildlife Service - Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge-Trails
National Park Service - Assateague National Seashore