False Cape State Park

False Cape State Park stretches for 6 miles (9.5 km) along undeveloped coastline between Back Bay and the Atlantic, showing different landscape types. Sand dunes meet maritime forest, while brackish wetlands and shallow lagoons lie inland.

The Wash Woods settlement took root here in the 1800s after multiple shipwrecks occurred along the deceptive coastline near Cape Henry. The name False Cape refers to the navigational danger seafarers faced when rounding this headland.

The environmental education center occupies a former hunting lodge and reflects how people have used this landscape over time. Visitors discover the connection between human activity and the natural world that shapes this place today.

Access is on foot through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, with seasonal transport options or by boat available during certain periods. Visitors should check conditions and available routes before arriving, as these vary with the season.

More than 300 bird species use this site, including tens of thousands of snow geese that return each winter. This concentration of migratory birds makes it one of the most active stopover points for waterbird migration along the Eastern Seaboard.

Location: Virginia Beach

Email: FalseCape@dcr.virginia.gov

Website: https://dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/false-cape

GPS coordinates: 36.58778,-75.88417

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:49