Located on Virginia's side of Assateague Island about a quarter-mile away from Chincoteague Island is the historic Assateague Lighthouse (assateagueisland.com). Built in 1833, the 142-foot candy-striped tower includes two rotating lights that can be seen up to 19 miles away. Managed by the U.S. Coast Guard until 2003, its ownership was transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2004. This change in management allowed the lighthouse to become more accessible to visitors, and the tower is open to the public Fridays through Sundays throughout the year.
More than 300 wild ponies thrive on 40,000 acres of Assateague Island, and viewing these ponies in their natural habitats has become a major tourist attraction. Assateague Explorer's Pony Express Nature Cruise (assateagueisland.com) is a convenient way to view them. Led by a Chincoteague resident and former park ranger, the pontoon-style boat travels along many secluded areas along the Assateague coastline where many wild ponies are found. The tours are offered three times a day and last about two hours.
With more than 37 miles of beach and a variety of trails, hiking on Assateague Island (nps.gov) can be a great way to explore everything the barrier island has to offer. The trails travel through the landscapes that range from marshlands and sand dunes to duck ponds. The Maryland portion of the island includes three half-mile trails (Life of the Dunes, Life of the Forest and Life of the Marsh), while Virginia's portion offers seven trails ranging from the half-mile Lighthouse Trail to the seven-mile Service Road Trail.
For those who have access to horses and enjoy horseback riding on the beach, the Maryland and Virginia portions are open to seasonal horseback riding. Riding is limited to specific beach areas in each state called the Over Sand Vehicle Zones, and no permits are required for individual day use. Within the zones, riding is allowed in every area except for back-country campsites, public boardwalks, the back trails behind the dunes and posted unauthorized areas. The Maryland portion is only open to riders from Oct. 9 through May 14 due to the presence of the large number of biting insects that can spread disease.
