In September each year, the Tom’s Cove Hook reopens to explorers and dreamers alike. By late March, it closes again to make way for migratory shorebirds who return to nest and raise their young on its windswept flats. The Hook’s brief open season is nature’s invitation to step gently into one of the most dynamic landscapes on the Virginia coast.

Here, the rhythm of the tides writes and rewrites the shoreline each day. The beach bends westward in a graceful crescent, and the Chincoteague inlet shifts with every storm. It is a place that reminds you that the island is alive and ever-changing.

At the threshold of the Hook stands a weathered U.S. Life-Saving Service station, one of the last tangible echoes of a bygone era when surfmen watched the horizon for ships in trouble. Beyond it, established dunes rise and fall, sheltering ghost crabs, dune grass, and prey as they skitter from raptors overhead. Whelk shells, driftwood, and the curious armor of horseshoe crabs scatter the tide line like artifacts of time itself.

It’s easy to see why photographers love this place—the light is ever-changing, the compositions endless, and the solitude complete. But even without a camera, you’ll find yourself pausing often, just to listen. The gulls, the wind, and the surf speak louder here than words ever could.

The Tom’s Cove Hook lies within the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, just a few miles from The Refuge Inn. Whether you arrive on foot or by sand track, remember: you’re stepping into an active wilderness. Leave no trace, tread lightly, and take only photographs.

• Drive or bike from the inn-- just turn right and follow the road all the way to the beach parking lot adjacent to Toms Cove Visitor Center, located at the end of Beach Road (approximately 3.5 miles).

• Turn right into parking lot 2 and park as far south as you can. Walk onto the beach and follow the shoreline southward. The full walk to the curve of the Hook is roughly 3 miles each way. 

• There are no amenities once you leave the main beach area, so bring water, snacks, sunscreen, and a container for shells (leave driftwood behind to stay in compliance with federal wildlife law.) 

• Expect soft sand underfoot and shifting terrain; walking at low tide is usually easiest because the recently exposed shoreline is firmer.

For those with a capable vehicle, you can also access the Hook by the Over-Sand Vehicle (OSV) route.

A $110 permit is required. You can apply online from home and pick it up within 10 days at the Toms Cove Visitor Center at the Virginia District of Assateague Island National Seashore during their open hours. The registered owner of the vehicle will need to collect the permit (bring your driver's license and vehicle registration inside with you.)

A four-wheel-drive or AWD vehicle with adequate ground clearance is required.

Self-rescue equipment is required, and rangers may check for this equipment at any time:

• Metal shovel with 6"+ blade and 18"+ handle

• Jack sufficient to lift one wheel clear of the sand

• 12x12" Jack support made of non-bending steel, 5/8" plywood, or 1.5" thick board

• Tire pressure gauge that can record pressure of 15 lbs or less

• 10ft length of tow rope, strap, chain, or cable with 6,000 lb pulling strength

Air down all four tires to 15-20 PSI, stick to established tracks, and be sure you don't need to traverse the narrow strip of beach at the old lifesaving station within a couple hours of high tide. You do not want to drive through salt water!

Please do not drive beyond posted boundaries, to protect sensitive habitat and shorebird populations.

 

 

The hook is an adventure we recommend to anyone seeking solitude, spectacular photography opportunities, or a deeper connection with the island’s wild side. The contrast between the comfort of your stay and the raw beauty of the Hook captures what a stay at The Refuge Inn is all about—a cozy starting point for discovery, with all the wonders of nature right at your doorstep.