Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: park (24) beach (19) bike (16) False (15) Cape (15) nice (13) miles (11) great (10) camping (10) center (9)
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  • 5/5 Rachel L. 8 months ago on Google
    First thing to know about this park is you cannot get to it except by foot, bike, or horseback. It’s about 3.3 miles on gravel to the park from Back Bay. An additional 1.2 miles to the visitor’s center. We happened to go to the Visitor’s Center when they were doing a fundraiser where they were handing out free hot dogs, watermelon, brownies, and drinks which really hit the spot! The visitor’s center also has a bunch of information about the park, maps, and sites to see, nice clean restrooms, and a place to refill water bottles (although to be honest the water tasted a bit strange). Within False Cape is the old abandoned community of Wash Woods. It’s about 3-4 miles on gravel to the community from the entrance of False Cape. The old church steeple is now enclosed within a little building I’m assuming to help preserve it. This is a great thing, but at the same time it is now very hard to see because of the glare on the glass. And the glass doors cannot be opened. The cemetery is a nice place as well. I love the seashells in front of the graves. Be careful there because we found a black widow! It was very underwhelming after I waited 4 years to see it, but it was still a nice place to visit and learn about. We also went to False Cape Landing. The beach was about 0.7 miles from the main trail. There are restrooms and campsites along the trail to the beach. We had the entire beach to ourselves! It was beautiful and the water was nice. I’m sure I would’ve been able to find some nice seashells if I had walked along the beach but we chose not to. There were a lot of horseshoe crabs too! The total trip I think was about 14 miles entirely on gravel. It took about an hour and a half to get from False Cape Landing back to Back Bay. The gravel made the biking significantly harder. I’m not in good shape so I’m sure that’s part of it, but keep that in mind travel time when going here.
    10 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 David L. 1 year ago on Google
    You can only get here by going through back bay wildlife refuge. The trails were great. We biked all the way to the NC state border from the beach in eaely April. It was cold 60s and windy. We took sand ridge trail down to wash woods trail and took it down to the beach. We had to hike our bikes for a quarter of a mile on wash woods to get to the nice sand on the beach. Vistor center was nice and ranger was super helpful. He gave us tips on getting to the state line. He said when he first talked with us he had his doubt with our 6 year old that we would make it. He said he has seen some very physically fit adults not able to complete the entire trip. We did the whole trip, about 27 miles, with our 12, 9 and 6 year old. We did stop at the currently closed education center to eat lunch. It had nice benches and picnic tables and we were the only ones there the whole time. There was a tram that was opertaing at the same time while we were riding. We were a little jealous on the people sitting on it just driving past us. The vistor center had some nice merchandise that we bought because only way to buy it was to hike or bike all the way there... or take the tram... they also have a bike repair station outside which was great and flushing toilet with running water. We would probably visit again and try more of the branch trails and take more time exploring. We spent 7 hours just trying to make it to NC and back to the car in back bay wildlife refuge. 2 hrs of that was just snack breaks. The ranger did give my younger kids props for making it to NC and gave them honorary junior ranger pins.
    9 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Malcolm K. 1 year ago on Google
    Absolutely gorgeous place to bike. I love that you can’t get into False Cape by car, it makes the experience safer and it feels more meaningful. The gravel is really pleasant to bike on for the most part, there are some roads that have a lot of potholes, but you can mostly ride along the edge without issue. There’s a lot of shade, which makes it comfortable, but there are a lot of bugs (as well as some snakes and turtles!) - the back bay side has less shade. I’d love to camp here. You could definitely kayak from little island to their campsites. It’s $5 to drive into back bay, and just a heads up that it’s a small parking lot, and trailers aren’t permitted!
    8 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Michael C. 1 year ago on Google
    False Cape is a challenging but spectacular State Park. It may only be a few miles from Virginia Beach, but it feels like you're in the wilderness. It is not accessible by motor vehicle (for the general public) so it's almost deserted. We have hiked to the park, but if you are camping I highly recommend renting a bicycle with a trailer. Ocean Rentals dropped off ours at Little Island Park - very convenient since that's where you have to park your car if you're camping. It's a ~10 mile bike ride to the campgrounds (the last 200 yards in soft sand). So, it's inaccessible. It's also buggy! Choose a warm fall/spring weekend rather than a summers day - the biting flies are murderous in summer! If you get it right though, WOW, this place is beautiful. The campsites are primitive but fine...and if you feel adventurous you can camp on the beach! We loved the sunset, sunrise, the wildlife, the primitive camping...the whole experience.
    8 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sebastian B. 7 months ago on Google
    False Cape State Park is a remote and beautiful park located on the Currituck Banks Peninsula in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The park is only accessible by foot or bicycle, which means that it is relatively uncrowded and offers a truly wild and natural experience. The park's main attractions are its pristine beaches and its diverse wildlife. The beaches are some of the most beautiful in the area, and they are often deserted, even during peak season. The wildlife in the park is also abundant, and you may see dolphins, sea turtles, herons, egrets, and a variety of other birds. There are a few different camping areas in the park, and all of them offer stunning views of the ocean or the marshes. The campsites are primitive, but they are well-maintained and offer everything you need for a comfortable stay. If you are looking for a truly unique and wild camping experience, then False Cape State Park is the perfect place for you. The park is a great place to escape the crowds and to enjoy the beauty of nature. Here are some pros and cons of False Cape State Park: Pros: Pristine beaches Diverse wildlife Remote and uncrowded Beautiful scenery Primitive camping Cons: No vehicular access Long hike or bike ride to reach the park Bugs can be a problem in the summer Overall, False Cape State Park is a great place to go if you are looking for a remote and wild camping experience. The park is beautiful and offers a variety of activities, including hiking, biking, swimming, and fishing. However, it is important to be aware of the limitations of the park, such as the lack of vehicular access and the potential for bugs. Here are some tips for visiting False Cape State Park: Bring plenty of water, especially if you are hiking or biking to the park. Wear insect repellent in the summer. Be aware of the tides and do not camp on the beach if the tide is coming in. Respect the wildlife and do not disturb them.
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Anne Margaret W. 1 year ago on Google
    Don't forget to BRING A BIKE! Parking in Back Bay leaves you 4.2 miles from the False Cape Visitors Center (3.5 to park +0.7 to VC). And another mile to the sandy Atlantic beach. You can walk, but it's a long, unremarkable gravel road. And then you have to walk back! A nice glimpse of Back Bay along the way, but it's in full sun with often a stuff breeze. You might get lucky with animal sitting - I saw a deer grazing, a turtle crossing the road, and a raccoon wandering about. Once in False Cape, there's a lot of beautiful speckled shade on the trails that are mostly under pines and live oaks. Again, the road isn't exciting, but there a few beautiful groves of live oaks. It's the lookouts and end points that are the reason for visiting. So much undeveloped coastline! Also, the greeter and ranger at the VC were a-maz-ing. They had lots of recommendations and were very welcoming and engaging. A mountain bike would be useful as the trails/service road has varying degrees of graves, potholes, and puddles. Great trip!
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Andrea M. 11 months ago on Google
    Beautiful park, just be aware of 3.5 miles to get to the entrance of False Cape Park. We didn't know and walked all the way there. I would've been nice to ride a bike in order to get there and actually explore the park. From Sandbridge, the entrance is $5 cash only per vehicle, and pets are not allowed!! If you are entering from NC, then you can bring your pets. Also, check the available hiking since they are open only from April to November.
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ian D. 2 years ago on Google
    This is a very unique park in Virginia. We hiked in and camped in the Bay side. It is an amazing environment with wetlands, coastal forests, and dunes. It seems much more isolated than all the other parks we've been too in Virginia. I would highly recommend camping if possible. Early April is fine for bugs, but we hear they get really bad really fast as it heats up.
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Bryan V. 2 years ago on Google
    I enjoyed False Cape it's very remount nice hiking trails and the beach is pristine. You can hike or bike into the park. Beware the only way in during the waterfowl migration season is via the beach the other trails are impassable during that time.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Kayla D. 2 years ago on Google
    Wish there was a way into the STATE park side without having to hike or bike the 4mile trail through back bay. BTW if you have a state parks pass you still have to pay back bays parking fees. The state park it self was pretty for the little bit that we saw of it. We really didn't explore it much because we were exhausted from walking to it honestly.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Brian P. 2 years ago on Google
    Park was serene and chock full o'majestic birdfowl, and free plus dang near empty. Today I walked 16 miles 3 hrs in/3 out from Sandbridge to past the Wash Wood Historic Site. I about died, between the biting yellow flies (right through my tee) and the long distance in this summer heat. LoL. There are 2 or 3 inconspicuous water refill points along the way. There is a reason why everyone else was on bikes. Learn from my mistake. I was sure the passing park staff would take pity and let me solicit them for a lift back! Anyways, the church steeple, if you're going there for this, was semi-anti-climactic due to it being housed for protection. I couldn't even get a decent picture of it after walking all that way due to glare and angles. Veering off the main trail puts you at risk of poison ivy! If you come be prepared and don't underestimate the trail. Also, I saw a river otter cross the road!
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ashok K. 1 year ago on Google
    Amazing hike to the beach campsites, beautiful scenery, and well maintained trails. The primitive campsites are 6-8 miles away from the visitor center and you can either hike or bike the trail. We saw lots of wild flowers, deers, snakes, beavers, and turtles along the way.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 B B J. 1 year ago on Google
    An awesome destination. The fact that you have to either hike or bike to most of the best locations is a big plus. Almost everywhere we went we had the entire place to ourselves. Next visit we will tent one night on the beach. If you are in decent physical condition it’s worth the effort.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Logan T. 1 year ago on Google
    Trails are mostly roads, but easily accessible. Spent the night camping right on the ocean front. Certainly an amazing place. Make sure you wear good walking shoes or save a lot of time by riding a bike.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 James 6 months ago on Google
    So nice to have a beach to yourself surrounded by sand crabs and birds. A pod of dolphin passed by and pelicans were fishing all day. A bit buggy inland but the beach was stellar!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ron B. 6 months ago on Google
    I enjoyed the hike out to the park. The staff I met were very knowledgeable and helpful. I spent the day exploring and planning for a camping trip later in the year. The welcome center was an oasis. I enjoyed sitting on the porch in a rocking chair. I can't wait to get back.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 David M. 3 years ago on Google
    Hidden treasure with beautiful trails, constant amazing views, and great campsites. Rangers were helpful and constantly keeping up with maintenence.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Christina C. 2 years ago on Google
    $5 to get in and it was certainly worth it. Awesome gravel bike trail to the left of facility. Tons of turtles and wildlife....just beware of the bugs on the shaded paths.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Ajax 4 months ago on Google
    The only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is the signs and information can be mildly misleading. Be prepared to walk a lot. It is at least a five mile walk just to get to the entrance of the park. The seclusion and undisturbed nature is very cool can’t wait to return with a bike to be able to see more in a day.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Lauren K. 2 years ago on Google
    I LOVE this place! One of my favorite state parks. The walk from the wildlife refuge to the park's visitor center took me about 1.5 hours. It is then a short walk to the beach, which is gorgeous. I was the only one on the beach at the time. I was so excited to find a starfish on the beach and put him back in deeper water. There were also lots of cute ghost crabs. I didn't encounter any bugs when I visited in early September.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Matt T. 1 year ago on Google
    The visitor center has very clean bathrooms and it's a great pitstop. It's tucked away in a forested area so wind out on the open trails is not affected here. Rangers are friendly, and always a great experience!

  • 5/5 rhonda l. 4 months ago on Google
    We did the 4 hour Saturday tram tour. It was excellent. Bob Baxter was our guide & Jim did the driving. We had a great time

  • 5/5 Tammy T. 2 years ago on Google
    Take the tram tour! It's great! Wear a coat, hat, and gloves... it gets cold quickly.


Call +1 757-426-7128 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Activities
    • ✓️ Hiking
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance

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