FIND YOUR WAYPOINT

The wild horses of Assateague are beautiful, but they are wild animals. For your safety and the protection of the herd, federal law requires that you maintain a distance of at least 40 feet (about one bus length) at all times.

• Do not feed the horses: This encourages "nuisance" behavior that can lead to the horses being removed from the island.

• Store food securely: Horses are experts at raiding unsealed bags or open coolers. We provide high-quality, latched coolers to help keep your lunch safe and the horses wild.

We provide the vehicle, the navigation, and the cooler, but you should pack these essentials to stay comfortable:

• Bug Spray: The Assateague mosquitoes and biting flies are legendary (especially if the wind is blowing from the marsh). We highly recommend bringing a heavy-duty repellent.

• Layers for All Tours: Even in the summer, the Atlantic breeze can be surprisingly cool.

  • Sunrise & Night Tours: Bring extra layers or light jackets. During the winter months, we strongly encourage you to bring your favorite heavy blankets to stay cozy under the stars.

  • Day Tours: Bring lightweight, long-sleeve layers (like sun-shirts) for added protection against UV rays.

• Sunscreen: The reflection of the sun off the white sand and ocean is intense. Even on cloudy days, high-SPF sunscreen is a must.

• Food & Beverage: You are welcome to bring any food or drinks that can fit into a standard-sized cooler. We will provide the ice and the secure storage.

At Waypoint Studio, stewardship is a core value, not just a policy. To be a good steward means acting as a temporary guardian of the land to ensure it remains pristine for the next explorers—and the local wildlife.

When you book a tour with us, you are joining our commitment to "Leave No Trace." We take this seriously by:

• Handling the Waste: We provide trash bags for every tour and will haul away all waste ourselves.

• Protecting the Ecosystem: By following established OSV (Off-Sand Vehicle) paths and maintaining federal safety distances from the wild horses, we protect the delicate coastal environment.

• A Shared Agreement: By choosing Waypoint Studio, you are agreeing to help us keep Assateague wild and beautiful. We appreciate you helping us protect this special National Seashore.

Yes, you are welcome to play music! We want you to enjoy your "waypoint" to the fullest. However, to respect the unique environment of the National Seashore, we ask that you keep the volume at a low, ambient level.

Why the volume matters:

• The Wild Horses: Assateague’s horses are highly sensitive to sudden or loud noises. High volumes can spook the animals or disrupt their natural grazing patterns. In fact, under federal law (36 CFR 2.2), making noises that "distract or attract" wildlife is strictly prohibited.

• Park Tranquility: Many visitors come to Assateague to enjoy the sounds of the surf and the wind. We aim to be good neighbors to other beachgoers.

Official Regulations & Limits:

• The "Unreasonable Noise" Rule: Per the Assateague Island National Seashore Superintendent's Compendium, "unreasonable noise" is prohibited. Noise is generally considered unreasonable if it can be heard from a distance of 50 feet or more from the vehicle.

• Quiet Hours: If your tour extends toward late evening (especially near the campgrounds), please note that quiet hours begin at 10:00 PM.

• Decibel Limits: While there is no specific decibel meter required for casual music, a good rule of thumb is the 60-decibel limit (roughly the volume of a normal conversation). If your music can be heard clearly by someone standing 20-30 feet away from the Bronco, it's likely too loud for the park's environment.

In short: Feel free to set the mood with your favorite playlist, but keep it at a level where you can still hear the ocean!

In short: No, Waypoint Studio does not allow bonfires on our tours at this time.

While the National Park Service (NPS) does permit beach bonfires on Assateague under specific conditions, we have made the professional decision to exclude them from our current experiences.

Understanding the Park Rules

To protect the shoreline, the NPS has strict regulations regarding beach fires:

• Location: Fires must be built on the beach between the high and low tide lines (the "wet sand" area). They are never allowed on the high beach or near the dunes.

• Firewood: To prevent the spread of invasive species like the Emerald Ash Borer, only locally purchased firewood (from within 50 miles) or "down and dead" wood may be used.

• Extinguishing: All fires must be completely extinguished with water. You are strictly prohibited from burying a fire with sand, as this creates a "thermal oven" that can severely burn unsuspecting hikers or horses hours later.

• Total Cleanup: Every piece of unburned wood, ash, and debris must be removed from the beach and disposed of in an approved metal container outside the OSV zone.

Why Waypoint Studio Says "No" (For Now)

As a professional guide service, our priority is your safety and the preservation of the National Seashore. At this time, Waypoint Studio is not equipped with the heavy-duty metal containers or the large-volume water transport systems required to properly extinguish and haul away fire debris.

Because we operate under a Leave No Trace philosophy, we will not light a fire unless we can guarantee the beach is returned to its exact natural state. For now, we recommend enjoying the natural "light show" of a coastal sunrise or the brilliance of the Milky Way during our Star Watching Cruise!