|
Home >
Travel >
State Parks >
Virginia >
False Cape State
Park |
|
|
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抯 graveyard. The area got
its name because its land mass resembled Cape Henry, luring boats into shallow
waters. One of the area抯 first communities, Wash Woods, was developed by
survivors of such a shipwreck. The village抯 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.
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抯 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. |
|
|
|
