Facilities and Activities:
| Day-Use | Fishing | yes | | | Hiking Trail, miles | yes | | | Picnicking | yes |
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Nearby Parks:
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge
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| State Park Contact Information: |
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False Cape State Park
4001 Sandpiper Road
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23456-4347
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| Adopt-A-Park Contacts: |
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Photography: add your photos
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| State Park Overview: |
| No vehicular access. Located in southern Virginia Beach, False Cape State Park is a mile-wide barrier spit between Back Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Access is through the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and is limited to hiking, bicycling or boating. The park features primitive camping and an extensive environmental education program in one of the last undisturbed coastal environments on the East Coast.
In the 1800s, False Cape gained a reputation as a ship?s graveyard. The area got its name because its land mass resembled Cape Henry, luring boats into shallow waters. One of the area?s first communities, Wash Woods, was developed by survivors of such a shipwreck. The village?s church and other structures were built using cypress wood that washed ashore from a wreck.
Vehicular access to False Cape State Park is prohibited because the park is land-locked on the southern end of the Back Bay Wildlife Refuge. Those wishing to visit the park for the day must either bike or hike through the refuge (via beach or interior trails, and the interior trail is closed from November 1 through March 31), or boat or canoe in down Back Bay. You can also take the Terra Gator, a specially designed vehicle that minimizes impact to this special environment, during this period.
To get a taste of the park, the Back Bay Restoration Foundation operates a tram that leaves from Little Island City Park, drives through the wildlife refuge and lets visitors explore the park for an hour in the Barbour Hill contact station area. The tram provides a round trip ride and is not available for overnight guests. Overnight guests must either hike or bike through the refuge, or canoe or boat in. Both day use and overnight visitors are advised to read all warnings regarding visiting the park to learn what is expected and about preparation. All visitors must follow refuge regulations while on refuge property. |
| Reviews By Park Visitors: |
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History, living and natural
Beautiful. Live Oaks by themselves are worth the journey. Visit, and then appreciate what you have back home.
Written by Old Geezer south of Pungo
8-Jun-2008
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| Camping: |
| False Cape State Park Camping - Camping is permitted year-round, but reservations are required. Campsites are in four distinct areas of the park, and those areas are separated by significant distances. The camping areas are Barbour Hill Bay, Barbour Hill Ocean, False Cape Landing Bay and False Cape Landing Ocean. For camping information, contact the State Parks Reservation Center at 1-800-933-7275; in Richmond dial 225-3867.
The park accommodates primitive camping, tents only and offers 12 sites. Drinking water is available in three locations, all in the Barbour Hill section - near the contact station and near the two camping areas there. False Cape Landing campers need to bring empty containers to transport water from the water source. Water not suitable for drinking is available in each camping area. Carry everything in and everything out. There are several pit (i.e., non-flushing) toilets. Open fires are not permitted; camp stoves may be used for cooking.
No vehicular access to this park. Passage through Back Bay Wildlife Refuge allowed during daylight hours only.
Distances to False Cape campsites from Little Island City Park: Little Island City Park to Barbour Hill contact station, 6.2 miles; Little Island City Park to Barbour Hill Bay or ocean sites, 6.9 miles; Little Island City Park to False Cape Landing bay sites, 8.7 miles; Little Island City Park to False Cape ocean sites, 8.95 miles
False Cape Reservations: All campers must receive their confirmation letter and information packet before camping here. If there is not enough time for the receipt of the packet by mail, campers must arrange to have the information faxed to them. Check with local companies that accept incoming faxes for the public (i.e., Kinkos, some hotels/motels, etc.), if necessary. No exceptions. All overnight guests must bring two copies of their confirmation letter. One must be placed on the dashboard of their vehicle; the other clipped to the site marker. |
| Trails: |
| Hiking, bicycle trails, self-guided trails. Five trails, including the Barbour Hill self-guided interpretive trail, total 7.5 miles. They are available for hiking, biking and exploration. The park?s location on a barrier spit allows visitors to observe beaches, dunes, maritime forests of oak and pine, wooded swamps, marshes and the bay all in one visit. |
| History of the Area: |
| In the 1800s, False Cape gained a reputation as a shipping graveyard. The area got its name because its land mass resembled Cape Henry, luring boats into shallow waters. One of the area's first communities, Wash Woods, was developed by survivors of such a shipwreck. The village's church and other structures were built using cypress wood that washed ashore from the wreck. From the turn of the century until the 1960s, False Cape was a haven for a number of prestigious hunt clubs, which took advantage of the area's abundant waterfowl. The park's Wash Woods Environmental Education Center is a converted hunt clubhouse. A 1966 study of Virginia's outdoor recreation resources recommended that a substantial ocean beachfront be made available for public use on the Atlantic Ocean south of Virginia Beach. The development of the park began with the purchase of approximately 4,300 acres of land. |
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...vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental, etc read more.... |
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| Related Links: |
| False Cape State Park Index - False Cape State Park. Sept 2001. Data Pictures. | | Area Campgrounds | | Holiday Trav-L Park
1075 General Booth Blvd
Virginia Beach, VA
(757) 425-0249
| KOA Campgrounds
1240 General Booth Blvd
Virginia Beach, VA
(757) 428-1444
| First Landing State Park
2500 Shore Dr
Virginia Beach, VA
(757) 412-2300
| North Bay Shore Campground
3257 Colechester Rd
Virginia Beach, VA
(757) 426-7911
| United States Government: Sea Mist Campground
Virginia Beach, VA
(757) 492-7545
| North Landing Beach Campground
161 Princess Anne Road
Virginia Beach, VA
(757) 426-6241
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| | Area Fishing Related Businesses | | Virginia Beach Fishing Ctr Ltd
200 Winston Salem Ave
Virginia Beach, VA
(757) 491-8000
| Long Bay Point Bait & Tackle
2109 W Great Neck Rd # 100
Virginia Beach, VA
(757) 481-7517
| Virginia Beach Fishing Pier
1506 Atlantic Ave
Virginia Beach, VA
(757) 428-2333
| Oceans East 2 Tackle Shop
5785 Northampton Blvd # 104
Virginia Beach, VA
(757) 464-6544
| Lighthouse Tackle
4461 Shore Dr
Virginia Beach, VA
(757) 318-3818
| Lynnhaven Inlet Fishing Pier
2350 Starfish Rd
Virginia Beach, VA
(757) 481-7071
| Long Point Bay Bait & Tackle
3761 Shore Dr
Virginia Beach, VA
(757) 318-7470
| Fish Safari
2029 Lynnhaven Pkwy # 550
Virginia Beach, VA
(757) 416-1600
| Tidewater Lures Inc
5180 Cleveland St
Virginia Beach, VA
(757) 499-1007
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| | Area Resorts and Lodging | | VSA Resorts: Ocean Sands Resort
580 Lynnhaven Pkwy
Virginia Beach, VA
(757) 631-0744
| Hilton Resorts & Conference Center
313 Laskin Rd
Virginia Beach, VA
(757) 213-9000
| Gold Keys Resorts
205 25th St
Virginia Beach, VA
(757) 417-0232
| Ocean Beach Club Resort
3401 Atlantic Ave
Virginia Beach, VA
(757) 213-0601
| Pioneer Lodge
1428 Southern Blvd
Virginia Beach, VA
(757) 313-0330
| William T Lodge
960 Poughkeepsie Ct
Virginia Beach, VA
(757) 425-3307
| Outdoor Resorts RV Resorts
3665 Sandpiper Rd
Virginia Beach, VA
(757) 721-2020
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| Directions: |
| From Interstate 64, exit on to Indian River Road East. Go 13 miles, then turn left onto Newbridge Road, then right onto Sandbridge Road. Next, turn right onto Sandpiper Road to Little Island City Park. Parking fees required Memorial Day to Labor Day. Day use only parking also is available at Back Bay Wildlife Refuge. |
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