Swan Cove Trail trailhead in Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
Virginia Hiking Trails main page
Length: .75 mile round trip
Time: 30 minutes (walk), 10 minutes (bike)
Difficulty: Easy
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge trail map (click to enlarge)
The Swan Cove Trail is a side trail off of the Wildlife Loop Road that takes hikers and bikers to the beach at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. You are not able to park your car at the trailhead, so while it is possible to hike to the beach on this trail, the fact that you can’t even get to it without first hiking multiple miles from the nearest parking area pretty much limits this trail to those on bikes, and that’s exactly who uses it.
The trail does not go all the way to the beach, but you can get close enough so that you only have a short walk after parking your bike. There is a bike rack at the point where the pavement ends. If you have a mountain bike, you can ride a little farther on the packed sand until it gets too soft, then park your bike on the side and walk from there.
Bike rack is located at the end of the Swan Cove Trail in Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
Those with wide tires can bike on the sand from the end of the Swan Cove Trail to get closer to the beach at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
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Last updated on October 4, 2023
