Chincoteague Refuge Friends

Chincoteague Refuge Friends This Page is intended for information distribution to like minded interests. Many of our members are volunteers for the Refuge.

Chincoteague Refuge Friends a non-profit corporation that advocates for and supports Management, Staff and efforts of the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. Chincoteague Refuge Friends is the DBA (doing business as) name for the Chincoteague Natural History Association (CNHA) We are a non-profit corporation organized to assist and support the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge through educ

ational activities, materials and programs. We are always looking for members and financing for our group and its efforts to support the Refuge. Come join us for the day, or for life. We love seeing new faces and greeting old friends.

06/19/2026

NOTICE:

Due to inclement weather and for the safety of our visitors and volunteers the Assateague Lighthouse is closing for climbing. It will reopen tomorrow at 10:00 a.m.

Good Morning!! The Assateague Lighthouse will be open today, Friday, June 19, 2026 and tomorrow, Saturday, June 20, 2026...
06/19/2026

Good Morning!! The Assateague Lighthouse will be open today, Friday, June 19, 2026 and tomorrow, Saturday, June 20, 2026, weather permitting for climbing. The hours will be 10:00 a.m. with last climb at 3:30 p.m.

Please note: The climb is only up to the observation area. Visitors are not permitted to climb over the sign that says “Area Beyond this Sign is Closed. All public entry prohibited.” Only the Coast Guard is authorized to go past the observation area.

The lighthouse parking lot is very small and many visitors park on the grass area near the parking lot. This often causes problems with the flow of traffic on Beach Road. We suggest, if visitors are able, to please park in the much larger visitor center parking lot and walk to the lighthouse. There is an access road across from the entrance to the visitor center that leads to the lighthouse.

The climb is free but donations are welcome. You can donate in cash or use the new QR code at the lighthouse or by credit card at the Bateman Visitor Center. Renovations to the lighthouse are paid with donated dollars.

Please wear comfortable shoes. There are 175 steps up to the observation area…don’t worry, there’s a landing to rest every 25 steps. Bring your smiles, your questions and your patience for our wonderful volunteers both at the bottom and the top. Bring your bug spray. The Assateague nibblers woke up grumpy and hungry, especially the lady nibblers.

After you climb the lighthouse, please come to the Bateman Visitor Center. While inside feel free to take in the exhibits about the Refuge and visit our great gift shop. The shop has many great items including lighthouse memorabilia. Children are encouraged to complete age appropriate booklets to earn a Refuge patch or complete the NPS Ranger booklet to receive a Junior Ranger badge. Ask the wonderful volunteer at the front desk about these booklets and patches.

Enjoy the climb and the view!!

What agencies have had jurisdiction over the Assateague Lighthouse?

Originally the lighthouse was part of the Department of the Treasury’s U.S. Lighthouse Service. The Service was then transferred to the Commerce Department.

In 1939, the U.S. Lighthouse Service was absorbed by the U.S. Coast Guard, transferring responsibility of the lighthouse.

In 2004, it was transferred from the jurisdiction of the U.S. Coast Guard to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The U.S. Coast Guard still maintains the light at the top of the tower and the Assateague Lighthouse remains an active navigation aid.

📸 USFWS/CNWR

06/17/2026

(233/250) The leatherback is the largest, deepest diving, and most migratory and wide ranging of all sea turtles. Adult leatherbacks can reach 4 to 8 feet in length and weigh 500 to 2000 pounds!

This time of year, females are busy laying eggs, please be mindful and keep your distance.



Photo by Claudia Lombard/USFWS

Yes, the Wildlife Trek will be running this coming weekend. Contact the Friends Bookstore for tickets. (757-336-3696) ...
06/16/2026

Yes, the Wildlife Trek will be running this coming weekend. Contact the Friends Bookstore for tickets. (757-336-3696)
Saturday - 10:30 - Driver Jim
1:30 - Driver Randy
Sunday - 10:30 - Driver John
1:30 - Driver Marcus

My partner at the North OSV Booth this morning …
06/14/2026

My partner at the North OSV Booth this morning …

Good Morning!! The Assateague Lighthouse will be open today, Friday, June 12, 2026 and tomorrow, Saturday, June 13, 2026...
06/12/2026

Good Morning!! The Assateague Lighthouse will be open today, Friday, June 12, 2026 and tomorrow, Saturday, June 13, 2026, weather permitting for climbing. The hours will be 10:00 a.m. with last climb at 3:30 p.m.

Please note: The climb is only up to the observation area. Visitors are not permitted to climb over the sign that says “Area Beyond this Sign is Closed. All public entry prohibited.” Only the Coast Guard is authorized to go past the observation area.

The lighthouse parking lot is very small and many visitors park on the grass area near the parking lot. This often causes problems with the flow of traffic on Beach Road. We suggest, if visitors are able, to please park in the much larger visitor center parking lot and walk to the lighthouse. There is an access road across from the entrance to the visitor center that leads to the lighthouse.

The climb is free but donations are welcome. You can donate in cash or use the new QR code at the lighthouse or by credit card at the Bateman Visitor Center. Renovations to the lighthouse are paid with donated dollars.

Please wear comfortable shoes. There are 175 steps up to the observation area…don’t worry, there’s a landing to rest every 25 steps. Bring your smiles, your questions and your patience for our wonderful volunteers both at the bottom and the top. Bring your bug spray. The Assateague nibblers are rumored to be flying in for an initial meet and greet.

After you climb the lighthouse, please come to the Bateman Visitor Center. While inside feel free to take in the exhibits about the Refuge and visit our great gift shop. The shop has many great items including lighthouse memorabilia. Children are encouraged to complete age appropriate booklets to earn a Refuge patch. Ask the wonderful volunteer at the front desk about these booklets and patches.

Enjoy the climb and the view!!

Some Assateague Lighthouse information:

Identifying the Assateague Lighthouse.

Have you ever heard of the word daymark? Most lighthouses have a daymark that identifies that particular lighthouse. The Assateague Lighthouse’s daymark is the beautiful red and white stripes. Mariners can identify the lighthouse during the day by these red and white stripes.

At night the Assateague Lighthouse has its own unique flash pattern to identify it. The flash pattern is a double flash every five seconds. Think you can see the double flash…try it out but you’ll need to be quick.

📸 CNWR/Debbie Ehst

06/11/2026

It's wild turtle week, a time to shell-e-brate some important turtle species and the roles they play in the wild!

Snapping turtles are the “janitors” of their ecosystem, keeping our waterways clean by eating decaying animals, much like vultures.


Photo credit: Thomas J. Miller/USFWS

Assateague Virginia NPS/CNWR OSV Update: Requires an Over Sand Vehicle (OSV) Pass. An Annual Pass can be purchased on ...
06/09/2026

Assateague Virginia NPS/CNWR OSV Update:

Requires an Over Sand Vehicle (OSV) Pass. An Annual Pass can be purchased on Recreation.gov. Then picked up at the Bateman Center on the Refuge.

As of June 8th, the South OSV access to everything on the "Hook" from the end of Parking Lot 4, is closed to pedestrian and vehicular access. Boats are not allowed to land on the Hook of Assateague Island.

Seasonal bird nesting and fledging is in full swing and these actions are necessary to protect endangered bird species. A rope fence with signs stretches across the Island form ocean side shore to cove side shore. Even if the tide recedes and a stretch of beach is open between the end of the fence and the water line... please do not go past the fence and signs. Law Enforcement (LE) and staff will be monitoring access and take any necessary actions.

The North OSV access is now open, but is limited to 12 vehicles. First come first served.

PLEASE NOTE: The North OSV is monitored by the Refuge Staff and LE. This area is designated for fishing. Other members of a group may use the area, but at least one person must be actively fishing. The booth will be staffed by monitors to make sure OSV passes are current, there are no pets, and visitors are fishing.

Permits are valid for one year, so we will be honoring permits dated June 2025 to present. The OSV permit requires that each vehicle has an OSV kit to ensure the safety of you and your vehicle. Law Enforcement will be conducting periodic checks for compliance.

For the fishermen/women... a quick reference chart
06/08/2026

For the fishermen/women... a quick reference chart

Address

8231 Beach Road, PO Box 917
Chincoteague, VA
23336

Opening Hours

Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+17573363696

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Chincoteague Refuge Friends posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Chincoteague Refuge Friends:

Shortcuts

Share

Category