Dutch Gap Conservation Area
From the 'Facebook Dutch Gap Conservation Area Hike' page
Surrounding the 1611 Citie of Henricus is nature in splendid abundance. With the James River as a backdrop, the 800-plus-acre Dutch Gap Conservation Area includes a bounty of woodlands, wildlife and waterways. Dutch Gap also offers locations for those simply looking for a quiet place to reflect on life in a peaceful, open-air oasis. This magnificent offering of idyllic, richly diverse land is bordered by the James River on the north and encircled by the old oxbow channel. Featuring a bounty of birds, fish, waterfowl and other wildlife, the 4.5 Dutch Gap Trail is a multiuse trail open for hiking, biking and horseback riding, and is dog friendly. The easy trail takes hikers along bottomlands, meadows, a small pond and wetlands and circumnavigates the tidal lagoon.
Considered by the Audubon Society to be one of the top birding sites in Virginia, Dutch Gap contains a large heron rookery, bald eagles and other hard-to-find species. According to the county website, bird-watching is superb in all seasons. Wetlands and ponds attract gadwalls, pintails, widgeons, ringnecks, Canada geese, kingfisher, osprey and bald eagles. Meadows draw sparrows, goldfinches, indigo buntings, eastern bluebirds, kingbirds and sparrow hawks. Forests are filled with the songs of red-eyed vireo, scarlet tanagers, crested flycatchers, American redstart and more.
Dutch Gap Conservation Area
From the 'Facebook Dutch Gap Conservation Area Hike' page
Surrounding the 1611 Citie of Henricus is nature in splendid abundance. With the James River as a backdrop, the 800-plus-acre Dutch Gap Conservation Area includes a bounty of woodlands, wildlife and waterways. Dutch Gap also offers locations for those simply looking for a quiet place to reflect on life in a peaceful, open-air oasis. This magnificent offering of idyllic, richly diverse land is bordered by the James River on the north and encircled by the old oxbow channel. Featuring a bounty of birds, fish, waterfowl and other wildlife, the 4.5 Dutch Gap Trail is a multiuse trail open for hiking, biking and horseback riding, and is dog friendly. The easy trail takes hikers along bottomlands, meadows, a small pond and wetlands and circumnavigates the tidal lagoon.
Considered by the Audubon Society to be one of the top birding sites in Virginia, Dutch Gap contains a large heron rookery, bald eagles and other hard-to-find species. According to the county website, bird-watching is superb in all seasons. Wetlands and ponds attract gadwalls, pintails, widgeons, ringnecks, Canada geese, kingfisher, osprey and bald eagles. Meadows draw sparrows, goldfinches, indigo buntings, eastern bluebirds, kingbirds and sparrow hawks. Forests are filled with the songs of red-eyed vireo, scarlet tanagers, crested flycatchers, American redstart and more.