Sleepy Hole Park

Important Notices

COVID-19 & the VBWTBefore heading out to visit a site on the Virginia Bird & Wildlife Trail, be sure to check if that site has any COVID-19 policies or closures in place. This information is typically posted on a site's own website.

Description

This is a small multi-use park nestled between a rural subdivision and a local golf course. The park is primarily managed for public recreation. The site includes manicured grass fields, eastern deciduous forest and a river front bluff. The bluff offers great views of the Nansemond River, which may hold a number of waterfowl species, particularly in winter. A 2-mile nature trail meanders through the upland forest in a loop and is marked by arrows, serving as a great path for light hiking or biking. The woods may be crowded with birds during spring migration because it offers a small patch of habitat for feeding and resting in an otherwise heavily developed landscape. The 30-acre lake here may also attract a variety of wildlife.

Directions

Physical Address: 4616 Sleepy Hole Rd, Suffolk, VA 23435

The entrance to Sleepy Hole Park is straight down Sleepy Hole Park Rd.

From I-64 in Newport News/Hampton, take exit 264 for I-664 S towards Downtown Newport News/Suffolk. Continue on I-664 south over the Monitor-Merimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel. Take exit 9 to merge onto US 17 N/Bridge Rd toward James River Bridge. Continue for 3.6 miles before turning left (southwest) onto Bennett’s Pasture Rd (SR 627). In 2.8 miles, turn right onto Sleepy Hole Rd. In 0.9 miles, turn right onto Sleepy Hole Park Rd.

From I-95 in Petersburg, continue south. Take exit 47 for SR 629/Rives Rd and turn left onto SR 629 E/Rives Rd. In 1.9 miles, turn right to stay on SR 629 E and then right onto US 460 E. In 49.5 miles, merge onto US 13 N/US 460 E/US 58 E via the ramp to VA 10 W/Newport News/Norfolk/Virginia Beach. In 2.8 miles, take the SR 642/Wilroy Rd exit and follow Wilroy Rd northeast for 2.0 miles. Then, turn left onto Nansemond Pkwy and continue for 1.7 miles. Turn left (northwest) onto Sleepy Hole Rd and follow for 2.8 miles until Sleepy Hole Park Rd appears to the left (north).

Location & Directions

View on Google Maps

Site Information

Birds Recently Seen at Sleepy Hole Park (as reported to eBird)

  • Canada Goose
  • Hooded Merganser
  • Mourning Dove
  • Ring-billed Gull
  • Double-crested Cormorant
  • Great Egret
  • Turkey Vulture
  • Osprey
  • Bald Eagle
  • Belted Kingfisher

Seasonal Bird Observations

Facilities

  • Bike Trails
  • Environmental Study Area
  • Accessible
  • Hiking Trails
  • Parking
  • Picnic
  • Restrooms
  • Kayak/Canoe Launch