When thinking of Assateague Island, it’s presumed that most people automatically think of the wild ponies or the beach. What about the miles of nature trails? Or the beautiful bayside landscapes? There is much more to Assateague than most could imagine. In this little light-hearted column revolving around the great outdoors, I always encourage readers to get out there and explore. The winter, referred to as the off-season by many locals, is a great time to do so. If a New Year’s resolution was made to become more active, getting outside and seeing fresh scenery is a great form of motivation.
After staying warm and cozy in my bed all of New Year’s Day fighting a cold that has been more prevalent than hoped, I missed the 32nd Annual Ilia Fehrer/Judy Johnson Memorial New Year’s Day Beach Walk at Assateague Island. The annual walk is a way to commemorate the actions of Fehrer and Johnson, eco-enthusiasts who fought to preserve Assateague when a plan to commercialize the land was proposed in the 1970’s. A park ranger took more than 260 folks on a tour of the National Park on New Year’s Day… and I missed it.
No worries, though, I made up for it on January 2nd. I woke up feeling much better and rejuvenated after resting for hours on end. I felt well enough to venture out into the 42 degree and windy weather to partake in some physical movement. Once again, I loaded my dog into the car, grabbed my camera and binoculars, and made my way to Assateague National Park. I figured it’d be best to stay close to home while recuperating.
I greatly enjoy walking bayside Assateague during low tide. Mollusks, crustaceans, and prowling birds all seem to enjoy the tidal changes, too. The Life of the Marsh Nature Trail offers a short hike through the brush on an elevated wooden boardwalk. I prefer walking the coastline to staying on the boardwalks.
Upon entering the National Park, make your second right past the entrance/fee booths. Drive as far back as you can and park your car in the parking lot that overlooks the bay. Hop out, smell the fresh sea air (don’t you just love the smell of decomposing salt grasses?), and set forth towards the water-line covered in sea foam. If it’s low tide, there will be at least 4 feet of beach to walk on. I suggest walking south-east from the parking area while hugging the coast. It’s not a long walk, but it sure is enlivening.
The view of the salt marshes was beautiful yesterday. The dynamic coastal environment of our area never ceases to amaze. The sea grass and Loblolly pine needles were the only green vegetation visible on the cold winter day and they perfectly matched the green murky water. The depressions in the bay beach sand, both white and black in color, illustrated the movements of the past high tide. Broken, and a few perfect, shells were strewn across the little beach and crunched under my Chuck Taylors.
The bayside beach will run you straight to the Life of the Marsh Nature Trail. If you choose to hop the boards there are nice placards that explain the marsh lifecycle, identify sea plants, and encourage guests to look for native birds and animals. It’s not like being with a park ranger who explains everything in-depth, like on the New Year’s Memorial Walk, but the trail signs are quite helpful.
My loyal canine companion and I walked for about 45 minutes, stopped to watch the waters, and then turned around after reaching a muddy peninsula. I let the dog prance in the bay for a little. She would have swum out, away, and as far she possible could if I would have let her. Instead, she remained relatively short-leashed. The water was way too frigid to be enjoyable. Even just splashing in the water, her paws were frozen and she was extremely excited to get back into my car and defrost on the heated front seat. A wet dog riding shotgun; she isn’t spoiled at all.
How far is Assateague Island from your home? If it’s close, take full advantage of this great preservation of land, water, and living resources in your own back yard. Even if you’re not as close as you’d like to be, make sure you treasure these coastal lands. The 48,000 acre national park is one not to be missed. Visit both ocean and bay and remember to notice the beauty of the beach, estuaries, and the entire barrier island not altered by man.
