Paddle from Chincoteague Island through the sheltered backwaters of Assateague Channel to see wild ponies, bald eagles, and the iconic Assateague Lighthouse from the water. This guided kayak tour takes you into the hidden coves, creeks, and shorelines of Assateague Island National Seashore and Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, areas accessible only by boat. Your guide leads you to the best spots for wildlife and provides paddling instruction, so the tour works for all skill levels.

Kayak the protected waters between Chincoteague and Assateague with views of the Assateague Lighthouse rising 142 feet above the island
Spot herds of wild Chincoteague ponies grazing along the shoreline and wading through the salt marshes
Explore hidden coves, tidal creeks, and remote beaches within the National Seashore and Wildlife Refuge
Watch for bald eagles, great blue herons, shorebirds, dolphins, and other wildlife along the route
Paddle premium single or tandem kayaks through warm, calm backwaters with full safety instruction and gear provided

This kayak tour is the closest you can get to the wild ponies and the Assateague Lighthouse without setting foot on the island, paddling through a landscape that has remained largely unchanged for centuries.

What's Included

Kayak and paddle
Personal flotation device (PFD)
Guide and necessary gear
Safety and paddling instruction

Things to know

Ages 5 and up are recommended. No prior kayaking experience is necessary; your guide provides full paddling and safety instruction before launch. Wear closed-toe shoes that can get wet (no flip-flops). Bring water, sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses. A waterproof bag or dry bag for your phone and camera is recommended. Stay at least 30 yards from wild horses at all times, as required by refuge regulations. Tours may require a minimum number of participants to operate.

Itinerary

This is a typical itinerary for this kayak tour. The exact route varies by day based on tides, wind, and wildlife activity. The total experience is approximately 2 to 2.5 hours.

Meeting Point

Meet your Assateague Explorer kayak guide 15 minutes before departure at Chincoteague Veterans Memorial Park, 7470 Memorial Park Drive, Chincoteague, VA 23336. Look for the white Ford truck with the Assateague Explorer sign and kayaks at the first parking lot on the left by the cross and the kayak launch dock. Your guide reviews the route, provides safety and paddling instruction, fits you with a personal flotation device, and assigns kayaks.

Launch and Paddle into the Assateague Channel

You launch from the dock and paddle into the Assateague Channel, the protected waterway between Chincoteague Island and Assateague Island. The water here is shallow, warm, and sheltered from open ocean swells, making it manageable for paddlers of all experience levels. Your guide sets the pace and direction based on the day's conditions, navigating toward the areas where wildlife is most active. The captain of Assateague Explorer's tour boat often relays real-time information to the kayak guides on the whereabouts of wild pony herds, helping the group reach the best viewing spots.

Wild Ponies and Wildlife

As you paddle along the western shoreline of Assateague, you enter the heart of the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. The wild Chincoteague ponies, a registered breed descended from horses that have lived on the island for centuries, graze in family groups called "bands" along the salt marsh grasses. Approximately 150 ponies live on the Virginia side of the island, and each summer about 60 new foals are born. Your guide brings you within viewing distance of the herds while maintaining the required 30-yard distance. Along the way, watch for bald eagles soaring overhead, great blue herons standing in the shallows, ospreys, terns, cormorants, and other shorebirds. Dolphins are frequently spotted during summer and fall.

Assateague Lighthouse Views

The route offers clear views of the Assateague Lighthouse, a 142-foot red-and-white striped tower built in 1867 to replace an earlier structure from 1833 that was too short to effectively warn ships. The lighthouse is still an active aid to navigation and sits within the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. From the water, the lighthouse rises above the pine forests of Assateague, framed by the barrier island landscape. Your guide shares the history of the lighthouse, the shipwrecks that made it necessary, and the ongoing changes to the barrier island environment.

Exploration and Return

Depending on conditions, the group may land on a remote beach, explore tidal creeks and hidden coves, or paddle through the pine-lined edges of the refuge. The calm backwaters between the islands reveal a landscape of salt marshes, oyster beds, and tidal flats that few visitors see from the road. After approximately 2 to 2.5 hours on the water, you paddle back to the launch dock at Veterans Memorial Park.

Wildlife commonly spotted includes: Wild Chincoteague ponies, bald eagles, great blue herons, ospreys, terns, cormorants, dolphins (summer/fall), stingrays, crabs, and various shorebird species

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