Description

This trail was developed to provide a 3.5-mile soft surface venue for hikers and joggers. The naturalist might find it difficult to believe that this extensive site, with its remarkable diversity of habitat, was created for humans and not wildlife. One of the three interconnecting trail loops encircles a 34-acre beaver pond and incorporates a 1,000-foot boardwalk with an observation deck overlooking the water. Abundant red-headed woodpeckers and ospreys share nesting rights to the snags flooded by this pond, and waterfowl use it as a resting area during migrations. Over 200 nesting and migrant bird species have been documented here, including several kinds of warblers and other songbirds. Botanists will appreciate knowing that wildflowers previously located in the path of the trails were relocated out of harm’s way, and, subsequently, the entire trail was designated a wildflower sanctuary that continues to receive transplants from other developments within the county. The trail and the boardwalk may be used during all seasons and are ADA accessible.

Directions

Physical Address: 3751 John Tyler Highway, Williamsburg, VA 23185

Parking at the trailhead is located past Jamestown High School, at the end of Eagle Way.

From the Previous Site on the Lower Peninsula Loop of VBWT:

From York River State Park, exit left on Rt. 606/Riverview Plantation Drive. Continue 1.2 miles to Newman Road. Turn right on Rt. 646, travel 2.8 miles (Newman Rd turns into SR 199), and continue on SR 199 another 4.7 miles to Longhill Road/Rt. 612. Turn right and proceed west 3 miles to Centerville Road/Rt. 614. Turn left (south) on Rt. 614, continuing 4.7 miles to John Tyler Highway/SR 5. After 0.6 miles on SR 5, turn right onto Eagle Way. Parking is available at the end of Eagle Way where the trailhead begins.