Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge

This trail begins at our visitor center and leads to the Wildlife Trail. The trailhead is marked by a monarch butterfly pole. Discover more about our refuge on this short walk by reading the interpretive signs along the way. This is a flat, unimproved footpath that can be navigated with a wheelchair but does have a few areas of uneven terrain.

Our longest trail is a five mile journey for cyclists and hikers. Bring binoculars or a camera to take advantage of opportunities to observe wildlife and pause at interpretive signs along the way. The refuge owns the first 2.5 miles which run north from our visitor center to a parking lot located along Cedar Grove Drive. From there, the trail continues north for another 2.5 miles - a stretch owned and maintained by the Nature Conservancy. This trail is flat and paved, but may have small bumps due to tree root growth.Portable restroom at south trailheadA public bike repair station is available at the south trailheadPet waste bags provided

There’s a little something for everyone on this loop as you stroll through mixed hardwoods, past an old cemetery, and out to the saltmarsh overlook. Then climb to the top of a WWII bunker for a panoramic view of refuge marshes, barrier islands, bays, inlets, and the Atlantic Ocean. The trailhead starts at the parking lot located at the entrance to the World War II bunker. You can also access the trail from the visitor center via the Butterfly Trail. This is a flat, unimproved footpath that can be navigated with a wheelchair but does have a few areas of uneven terrain. The overlook on top of the bunker is a staircase and thus will not be accessible to some visitors who use mobility assistive devices.