# Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge > Place to go for families in the Virginia Beach–Chesapeake–Norfolk area (VA / NC). Times are Eastern Time. - When: Refuge open from a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset; visitor center… - Where: Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 4005 Sandpiper Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23456 - Ages: All ages - Price: Entrance fees in effect April 1–October 31 (see the refuge's Entrance Fees and Passes page) - Schedule: Refuge open from a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset; visitor center Labor Day–Memorial Day on Thursdays, Fridays and select weekends (call ahead) - Organizer: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service — Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge - Official page: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/back-bay - Last checked: Sat, Oct 24 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Oct 24, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-10-24), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/virginia-beach/activities/back-bay-national-wildlife-refuge--listing-8e4e832ac1456f774d1d2854 ## About A barrier-island refuge at the south end of Sandbridge with seven trails and a beach. The Raptor Trail, the most popular, starts behind the visitor center and runs 0.4 miles one way through bald cypress, freshwater marsh and past a small pond. The Sunset Point Overlook Loop is a 0.25-mile raised boardwalk along Back Bay with a viewing platform. The Seaside Trail and the Dune Trail boardwalk both lead through the dunes to the beach, where families can beachcomb, collect shells, watch wildlife and surf fish. Swimming, surfing and sunbathing aren't allowed. From Nov 1 to Mar 31 both dike trails to False Cape State Park close to protect wintering ducks, geese and swans. ## Similar picks in Virginia Beach - [Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge](https://grassyknees.com/virginia-beach/activities/great-dismal-swamp-national-wildlife-refuge--listing-8177a268d9baefd1881fca4e) — Trails open sunrise to sunset; Lake Drummond Wildlife Drive hours vary seasonally… · Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Suffolk · All ages · checked Oct 24. A large swamp refuge on the Suffolk/Chesapeake edge with more than 40 miles of trails and boardwalks for hiking and biking, a self-guided driving tour, two lakefront piers and a… - [Autumn Hayride at York River State Park](https://grassyknees.com/virginia-beach/activities/autumn-hayride-at-york-river-state-park--listing-c7e023a7c62af633bac3a0d4) — Sat, Oct 24 (+1 more date) · 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM · York River State Park (Visitor Center), Williamsburg · All ages · With admission · checked Oct 24. Rangers at York River State Park take families on a hayride down the Backbone Trail and talk about why leaves change color, which Virginia animals hibernate and the many ways… - [Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve](https://grassyknees.com/virginia-beach/activities/hoffler-creek-wildlife-preserve--listing-73f0c0cfb5b3567962c7478f) — Tuesday–Sunday 10 am–4 pm; closed Monday · Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve, Portsmouth · All ages · Free · checked Oct 24. A free 142-acre preserve in Portsmouth, the last undeveloped land in the Hoffler Creek watershed. More than 3 miles of trails pass through four habitats: a riparian forest of… - [Build A Bat at First Landing State Park](https://grassyknees.com/virginia-beach/activities/build-a-bat-at-first-landing-state-park--listing-82c7617ffd5358273038de51) — Sat, Oct 31 · 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM · First Landing State Park (Trail Center) · With admission · checked Oct 24. A Halloween-morning nature craft with the rangers at First Landing State Park's Trail Center. Children learn how bats help the ecosystem through pest control, pollination and… - [Halloween Night Hike at False Cape State Park](https://grassyknees.com/virginia-beach/activities/halloween-night-hike-at-false-cape-state-park--listing-9b187a7350c74354caef69a4) — Sat, Oct 31 · 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM · False Cape State Park (meet at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge parking lot) · From $10 · checked Oct 24. A ranger-led Halloween night hike that swaps neighborhood sidewalks for sandy trails. The group sets out after sunset from the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge parking lot and… ## More for families - [This weekend in Virginia Beach](https://grassyknees.com/virginia-beach/this-weekend) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/virginia-beach/this-weekend.md) - [Things to do with kids in Virginia Beach](https://grassyknees.com/virginia-beach) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/virginia-beach.md)