Open fires are prohibited throughout the park from midnight to 4 p.m. through April 30 per the 4 p.m. Burning Law. This includes wood and charcoal. Gas is permissible. Campground fires are allowed during the restricted time if a camp host is on duty and signage to that effect is posted in the campground. Failure to observe the 4 p.m. Burning Law can result in a fine. Contact the Park Office for additional information.

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Let's go on an Adventure: False Cape State Park

 

False Cape State Park is right in our backyard, and while it's not the easiest park to get to, its seclusion adds significantly to its charm.

On the tram the Terra Gator driving through Back Bay Wildlife Refuge to get to False Cape State ParkView from the Terra Gator driving through Back Bay Wildlife Refuge to get to False Cape

A view of the more sandy trails at the False Cape State Park, VirginiaOne of the more sandy trails at the park

May 15, 2016 False Cape State Park

If you're planning to visit False Cape State Park and are coming from out of town, you'll definitely want to do your research first. There are two entrances, one from North Carolina along a very, very, very sandy road and the other either a walk, bike ride, or kayak trip through Back Bay Wildlife Refuge in Virginia Beach.

Dogs are allowed in False Cape State Park, but not Back Bay, so Mr Rigby stayed home on this adventure as it isn't easy getting them in; and if you're planning to camp you'll have to opt for primitive camping only and will need to travel even further without your car as there is no overnight parking at Back Bay. (You'll also need to call at least 24 hours in advance)

We heard from some friends that there is a tram* that runs through Back Bay Wildlife Refuge and tours False Cape State Park with a guide, minor hiking, and a pretty great picture of the park.

How to keep parents happy: take them on adventures when the visit. Ma and Pa Sumoski enjoyed this experience! False Cape State Park, VirginiaHow to keep parents happy: take them on adventures when the visit. Ma and Pa Sumoski enjoyed this experience

We opted to take the tram called the Terra Gator because Ma and Pa Sumoski were visiting the area and this offered a chance to see a lot of the park in a short amount of time. The Terra Gator, led by a power couple driver and guide, also included a historian to share way more than you ever needed to know about the history of the area, but also way more than you could easily find out about on your own.

A grave site at the Wash Woods Settlement at False Cape State Park, Virginia

A grave site at the Wash Woods Settlement 

An old Live Oak on the property, dubbed the "Family Tree" at False Cape State Park in VirginiaAn old Live Oak on the property, dubbed the "Family Tree" 

This maritime forest is incredibly protected and undisturbed. Prior to becoming a State Park, False Cape was home to Native Americans, shipwreck victims of the Wash Woods settlement, and hunt clubs. Now you can expect to see a stunning maritime forest filled with old, embowed live oaks, Spanish moss, sandy trails, loblolly pines, high sand dunes and a lot of wildlife.

You can certainly expect to see turtles of many varieties, song birds, shore birds, raptors including bald eagles and osprey, a stray snake or two with a high possibility of seeing a cottonmouth and, if you're lucky, a rogue pack of wild boar!

A snapping turtle laying her eggs right along the road at False Cape State Park, VirginiaA snapping turtle laying her eggs right along the road at False Cape State Park

While the weather wasn’t ideal, our historian guide was better prepared than we were and supplied blankets for the chilly tram ride. With a detailed description of the local history, the ride through Back Bay into False Cape State Park was set stunningly with a scenic view of the protected marsh and forest along with the occasional stop to get a better look at the local wildlife that we passed. 

The highlight on our trek into False Cape State Park was getting to see a large turtle laying her eggs just feet from the edge of the road.

The tram tour takes you into the heart of the park with the major destination point being what remains of the Wash Woods settlement. You do have the option to stay and hike for an hour instead of continuing deep into the park. If the tram isn’t for you there are still options to hike, bike, kayak, and fish at this gorgeous example of a forest by the sea.

*The Terra Gator into False Cape State Park is operated by a third party in partnership with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and there is a fee for this service, click here for details.

If you would like to go on your own adventure to False Cape State Park and would like more information about this park, click here. 

Guest Bloggers Peter Radlowski, Sarah Sumoski and Mr. Rigby plan to tackle all 36 Virginia State Parks in 2016 and they invite you to come along on the adventure with them.

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False Cape State Park
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Explore  |  Hiking  |  Outdoor Activities  |  Outdoor Destinations  |  Wildlife  |  Wildlife Viewing
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If you have read the article and have a question, please email nancy.heltman@dcr.virginia.gov.

COMMENTS

Mark Dawson (July 21, 2016 08:12:30 PM): Loren Cain - I have now visited and camped at False Cape twice with the most recent visit being June 25th / 26th 2016. The Camp sites are broken down into the first six sites that are closer to Back Bay. Sites #1,2, & 3 are beach side and 4,5,& 6 are bayside. These are fairly easily accessed with mostly gravel and hard dirt trails and very few areas of loose sand especially as you get closer to the beach and are easily walked the last part to the ocean front camp sites and beach front. If you want to go the extra 4 miles of good trails and want a more secluded camping experience you can op for the six campsites further south. Again #7,8, & 9 are beach side and 10,11,&12 bayside. We opted to reserve sites 8 & 9. You can pitch your tent right over the dune next to the ocean. The bugs were not bad this time. The trails again on a trail bike are very manageable except for right near the ocean sites. Now if you want to bike to the more southern parts of the park some of those areas do get difficult if not impossible at places on a bike. Pro's I would expect could manage it. You can go as far as the North Carolina state line. Well worth the effort to get to the more secluded sites if you want to miss some of the "crowds" at the more easily accessed closer sites and beach front. Depending on when you visit you could just be the only person on the beach for as far as you can see in any direction! Beautiful scenery from Back Bay and southward with very few signs of civilization.

Bob Vanderspiegel (July 21, 2016 09:46:19 AM): I love this park and go there often. To answer the question regarding riding a bike, it is fully navigable on a bike with a few sandy areas where you may need to walk for a short distance. I have run into snakes, wild boars, horses, plenty of birds and insects. The only problem I have with the park is that as a Virginian and entering from Virginia one must first pay to pass through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. It's the only way in.

john mulcher (July 21, 2016 08:42:20 AM): Spouse and I visited False Cape as part of a project with our grandchidren who came up with the idea of visiting and/or camping in all the state parks in Virginia. We were camping at Virginia Beach State Park and decided to visit False Cape. We had to make two trys to get a spot on the Gaytor, but no problem since we were camping for multiple days. The experience of False Cape through the interpretation of our gator driver/volunteer grandfather (his granddaughters were aboard)/educator was really great. The area has that "other worldly" feel. So glad that it is preserved and protected.
Recommend this very highly.

Virginia State Parks (July 21, 2016 08:00:24 AM): Loren - The pictures were from the park. The roads through the refuge are gravel. I get to drive down there when I have business and a lot of dust is thrown up. I often see folks biking these though. Most of the roads in the park are pretty hard packed but you have to cross dunes to get to the beach and you will have to walk a bike across that. You can call the park for more detailed or up to date info before you go.

Loren Cain (July 21, 2016 07:09:44 AM): Thanks for the timely information, since I am considering visiting this park soon. What is the road surface like through the refuge to the northern entrance of the state park? I was expecting to ride my mountain bike through the refuge, so I am hoping there is a paved or hard-packed road surface to ride on. If it's as sandy as the picture above, that could be problematic.

Peter Radlowski (July 12, 2016 09:15:11 PM): You're welcome Martin! It's definitely worth looking into. We plan on taking some time in the near future to head back there and bike into the park to explore a bit more on our own. It's pretty high on our list of "parks to revisit" and I couldn't agree more about finding extra beauty and peace in those places that are difficult to access.

Martin Brown (July 12, 2016 07:35:15 AM): Thanks for the information on this lovely state park. I had not realized it was there, and it is somewhere I would like to explore. Some of the best experiences are in places that are not so easily accessible - it gives a place some extra beauty and peace, which is difficult to find in an increasingly busy and urban world.

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