Mason Neck, Occoquan Bay and Featherstone National

Wildlife Refuges are all managed under the Potomac River

National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

Occoquan Bay 

National Wildlife Refuge

14050 Dawson Beach Road

Woodbridge, VA 22191

Visitor Contact Station: 703/491 6869

For further information, contact:

Potomac River 

National Wildlife Refuge Complex

14344 Jefferson Davis Highway

Woodbridge, VA 22191

703/490 4979

r5rw_msnnwr@fws.gov

Federal Relay Service for the 

deaf and hard-of-hearing

1 800/877 8339

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

1 800/344 WILD

August 2004

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Occoquan Bay

National Wildlife 

Refuge

Eastern meadowlark

©B. Henry/VIREO
Long before Europeans colonized

North America, humans and wildlife

shared the Occoquan Bay area. When

John Smith explored the Chesapeake

Bay and its tributaries, he found a well

established Dogue Indian village at the

Occoquan River’s mouth. Floods, fire

and native farming kept the vegetation

low or in early succession, creating

meadows and open areas. Migrating

birds followed the same waterways

that drew explorers and rested in the

meadows that Americans would farm

until recent times. Sturgeon, eels,

striped bass and shad in the adjacent

marshes drew humans and avians

alike. When the Army

obtained the site in 1950, for a

radio transmitting station,

fields of antennas replaced

cows and crops. In the 1970’s,

the base’s mission shifted to

top secret research.

Electromagnetic pulse testing

and sight lines for security

kept the vegetation low,

primarily in grasslands. When

the base closed in the 1990’s, the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service was able to

continue to preserve these grasslands

that had nurtured wildlife for so long.

Occoquan Bay National Wildlife

Refuge was established in June 1998,

to protect habitat for upland nesting

birds, migrating wildlife, habitat

diversity and environmental education.

This blue goose,

designed by J.N.

“Ding” Darling,

has become the

symbol of the

National Wildlife

Refuge System.

Twenty miles south of

Washington, DC, at the

confluence of the Potomac

and Occoquan rivers,

Occoquan Bay National

Wildlife Refuge is an oasis

where migrating birds

and busy city residents both

seek a quiet escape from

development. Its diverse

grasslands and marshes

attract songbirds, raptors,

waterfowl and butterflies

that depend on meadows

and open water for their

food, nesting sites, and a

place to rest. Visitors share

this feeling of respite as

they hike quiet trails and

watch wildlife drawn to the

one-square mile refuge, an

oasis in an urban setting.

History

USFWS

USFWS

Historical 

artifacts

Seeding native

grasses at

Occoquan Bay
■ Visitors must stay on posted trails.

Wetlands, fields and forests are

reserved for wildlife.

■ Foot trails are open to hikers for

wildlife observation and

photography. Most trails can

accommodate wheelchairs and

strollers.

■ Vehicles are allowed only on posted

roads and parking areas. Occupants

must stay in their cars on the

wildlife drive.

■ Bicycles are considered vehicles

and may only go where cars are

permitted.

Management on national wildlife

refuges (in contrast to a park),

focuses on habitat for wildlife. When

compatible, refuges provide wildlifeoriented recreation for people. A

network of roads from the site’s

military days forms the basis for

trails and a wildlife drive. Public use

is rotated between these trails to

permit a variety of wildlife

observations while minimizing stress

on nesting or migrating wildlife and to

facilitate management. Group use of

the refuge for education or other

activities is regulated to minimize

conflict with other visitors and avoid

pressure on sensitive habitat-see

permits and fees for information.

Hiking-approximately 4 miles of old

patrol roads are reserved for foot

traffic, rotating between 3 two-mile

loops. Information is posted at the

visitor contact station and at trail

heads.

Wildlife Drive-2 miles of old patrol

roads are reserved for motor vehicle

and bicycle access. Vehicles can be a

mobile blind, allowing visitors closer

views. The blind effect is also why

drivers and passengers must stay in

their vehicles while on the drive.

Photography-By controlling human

intrusion, wildlife may feel less

threatened and be more visible

providing great opportunities for

pictures. Special permits to

photograph in closed areas and

commercial photography are

discussed in the permit and

fees section.

Visitor

Opportunities

Regulations You can help ensure that wildlife has a

place to grow and survive for future

generations by respecting refuge

rules and obeying posted signs.

Dispose of litter properly or take it

with you. All visitors are expected to

comply with local, state, and federal

laws and regulations, as well as with

the following conditions:

Permitted:

EB uyw

jcT

Prohibited: ■ Pets in or out of vehicles

■ Picnicking, camping and fires

■ Jogging, inline skates and

skateboards

■ Kite flying or objects launched into

the air
Catamont Creek

Locust Road

Taylor Point Road

Painted

Turtle

Pond

Dawson

Beach Road

Lake Drive

Fox

Road

Easy

Road

Deephole

Point Road

Deephole

Point Road

Occoquan Bay

Marumsco

Creek

Belmont

Bay

Visitor

Contact 

Station

Maintenance

Charlie Bayvie

w Road

Bay view Road

Charlie Road

Road

Bravo

Road

Deltaa Road

Deephole Point

Road

Shady

N

Legend

Parking

Gazebo

Environmental 

Education

Vehicle Traffic Only 

(Bikes are vehicles.)

Foot Traffic Only 

Vehicle & Foot Traffic 

Portalet

Marsh

Occoquan Bay 

National Wildlife 

Refuge

Entrance
balanced use benefitting

wildlife and humans. Selective

mowing and prescribed burns

keep the vegetation as grasses

and shrubs, which are

attractive to birds and other

wildlife. Removal or control of

exotic species using physical or

chemical methods help ensure

that less competitive or

threatened species have their

place in the refuge’s ecosystem.

Hunting and fishing are sometimes

used as management tools with the

added benefit of providing wildlifeoriented recreation in a highly

developed area.

■ Fireworks, firearms or weapons

■ Audio devices disturbing to

wildlife/people

■ Disturbing, introducing or

removing plants and animals (living

or dead)

■ Feeding wildlife

■ Entry by foot or vehicle into closed

areas

■ Foot traffic on vehicle trails

■ Vehicles (including bikes) on foot

trails

Management The highlights of Occoquan Bay

National Wildlife Refuge are its

grasslands for upland nesting birds,

its location along waterways for

migrating wildlife, its many habitats

in a small area, its location in an urban

area, and its role as a learning and

inspirational focal point. To enhance

these strengths, the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service manages the area to

protect existing species, maintain and

enhance desired habitat, provide

wildlife oriented recreation and offer

public education programs.

Refuge management considers overall

refuge conditions, current species, the

needs of wildlife (locally and as part of

the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem) and

available resources to provide

Environmental

Education and

Research

The refuge features many sites for

environmental education with an

emphasis on management and human

impact. Teachers and youth leaders

may set up appointments with staff to

discuss projects and tour the refuge.

Some field study equipment is

available for loan including a small

audiovisual lending library. Staff can

also present workshops to prepare

teachers for using the area. Fees

may be waived for educational

programs, but deposits on loan

material may apply.

Researchers should contact the

refuge biologist for a permit to

conduct studies on the refuge.

USFWS

USFWS

USFWS

Red fox kit

Canada goose

eggs beginning

Mowing to hatch

encroaching

brush at

Occoquan Bay
The refuge welcomes volunteers to

help staff the visitor contact station

and preset programs, assist staff in

biological projects and help with

maintenance in supporting the refuge.

Groups and individuals are needed.

Many activities have age and skill

level requirements. Ask for a

volunteer application.

Safety Please stay on trails. Otherwise, you

are more likely to encounter ticks,

bees, chiggers or poison ivy. Insect

repellent is recommended. The lack of

shade on trails increases your chance

of being exposed to the sun. Please

dress appropriately for your visit and

bring plenty of water.

Refuge wildlife is not tame. Do not try

to approach wildlife too closely or

touch an animal. Move away if an 

animal shows signs of nervousness,

sudden changes in its activity or rapid

flicking of head, ears, tails or wings.

The Service encourages adult and

youth groups to use the refuge for

wildlife-dependent interpretive and

educational programs but they must

obtain a permit from headquarters in

advance to schedule an activity. The

permitting process allows the refuge

to accomodate groups, reduce

pressures on habitat and wildlife, and

allow other visitors the opportunity to

enjoy the refuge.

Photographers may apply for permits

to photograph in closed areas. A fee is

required to cover the cost of

administering the permit.

Permits are required for any

commercial activity.

Fees collected at the refuge are used

to improve public use services and

facilities.

Volunteers

Refuge Facts Acreage: 642 acres — roughly 1

square mile

Primary habitat: grasslands

and marshes

Hours: Variable, most weekends —

call for hours

Occoquan Bay National Wildlife

Refuge is located on the east side

of Woodbridge in Prince William

County, Virginia, at the junction

of the Potomac and Occoquan

rivers. From Route 1 (Jefferson

Davis Highway) in Woodbridge,

go east on Dawson Beach Road

.75 miles to refuge and visitor

contact station at the end 

of the road.

National Wildlife

Refuge System

Occoquan Bay National Wildlife

Refuge is one of more than 540

national wildlife refuges and

thousands of waterfowl management

areas in the National Wildlife Refuge

System administered by the U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service. The National

Wildlife Refuge System is a network

of lands and waters managed

specifically for the protection of

wildlife and its habitat and represents

the most comprehensive wildlife

management program in the world.

The Service also manages national

fish hatcheries and provides

leadership in habitat protection, fish

and wildlife research technical

assistance, and the conservation and

protection of migratory birds, certain

marine mammals and threatened and

endangered species.

The refuge honors the annual or lifetime entrance permits

listed below:

Federal Duck Stamps $15

Golden Eagle Passport $65

Golden Age Passport (age 62 or older) $10

Golden Access passport-free with written proof of

permanent disability

Per person $1 Per car $2

Bus less than 20 passengers $20

more than 20 $30

Annual Pass/Occoquan Bay NWR $10

Fees

USFWS USFWS

Two aerial views

of Occoquan Bay

NWR

Directions

Permits and Fees