The beautiful "wild" North Beach is a 12-mile stretch where visitors who want remoteness will find it. The most popular places for wildlife observation, however, are on the 3.2-mile Wildlife Loop and Beach Road, both of which border refuge impoundments. Wildlife Loop is open from dawn to dusk for pedestrians and bicyclists; the loop is also open to automobile traffic each day after 3 p.m. The drive loops around Snow Goose Pool and through woodland. When water levels are high in winter, the pool can be full of waterfowl. Dependent on rainfall, the pool tends to dry out in summer, but the mudflats and even the dry spots can sometimes still attract shorebirds. As called for in the master plan, the feasibility of pumping water from deep wells to flood the impoundments during severe drought periods will be studied when funds permit.
Freshwater and tidal bay areas are easily observed along Beach Road, which leads to the beach and Toms Cove Hook. Pull-offs provide for close-up views of water birds as well as opportunities for seeing wild ponies. Woodland Trail is a 1.6-mile paved loop path with a spur that leads to an overlook where the wild ponies may also be seen. Another unpaved spur leads to a site for viewing Toms Cove and whatever water birds may be in view. Lighthouse trail leads to the picturesque lighthouse built in 1867 before Toms Cove and the hook were formed by shifting sands. It is still in operation by the U.S. Coast Guard. A former Coast Guard Station on Toms Cove Hook, once at the hook's tip, is now located some 2.5 miles away from it. An estimated 1,000 truck loads of sand are deposited by ocean currents annually on the rapidly growing sand bar.
For the hale and hardy, a 14-mile round-trip walk to the Wash Flats on the north end of the refuge in late summer, fall, or winter can provide exciting observations of seasonal bird species. Before venturing out on the day-long tour, the visitor contact station should be consulted for current information on both directions and presence of birds. Another option for seeing the north end is to take the one-and-a-half-hour tram ride provided by a refuge concessionaire. Daily trips are made in April, May, and September. Reservations for the fully narrated tour can be made at the visitor contact station.
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