Assateague Island National Seashore

Travel | Assateague Island National Seashore

Assateague Island National Seashore has a bit of goodness to explore. There are beaches, wetlands, marshes, wild ponies, birds and an abundance of other wildlife depending on where you happen to find yourself. Whether you want to go for a scenic drive, bicycle ride, relax on the beach, hop in a boat, camp or hike through woodlands, Assateague Island has you covered.

Recommended Hikes

Be sure to take a look at the hiking page on the National Park Service website for precautionary measures and things you should know about the island before setting out with your hiking shoes.

• Beach - there's 37 miles of beach available to explore. The center part of the island is only accessible by boat or foot.

• Black Duck Marsh Trail - a ranger recommended this trail for seeing the wild ponies. During the cooler months, they spend time in the marsh areas.

• Freshwater Marsh Trail - this one mile hike takes you through one of the beautiful marsh areas on the island.

• Life trails - there are three trails in Maryland, each 1/2 mile in length. They showcase the three different terrains on the island: dunes, forest and marsh.

• Lighthouse Trail - a quick and easy half mile trail to the Assateague Light (lighthouse).

• Wildlife Loop - the 3.25 mile, paved road, is open to vehicles during the late afternoon and evening. During the day, visitors hike and bicycle the quiet and scenic road.

• Woodland Trail - hiking through the woods, while visiting the beach, is a lovely change of pace. This 1.5 mile loop has plenty of tree cover. I had a very quiet hike during my visit.