Description

Woodland trails, amidst the 8.5-acre natural area behind the Girl Scout program center, offer access to a diversity of ecological habitats including tidal Belles Mill Creek, marsh, a riparian bottomland, and an old pine stand. The woodland trails are worth birding during any season. In the summer, look for warblers, flycatchers and other woodland birds. Boardwalks over the creek’s brackish waters provide views of estuarine species such as killifish, fiddler and blue crabs. The elevated platform overlooking the creek is an excellent place to scan for large wading birds and provides eye-level views of the ospreys that nest nearby. The trail continues to meander past a canoe launch, picnic areas, and for the active naturalist, onto a fitness trail.

Directions

From Northwest River Park, go west on Indian Creek to Battlefield Boulevard. Turn right (north) onto Battlefield Boulevard and continue for several miles to Cedar Road in the Great Bridge area of Chesapeake. Turn left onto Cedar Road and go several miles to the marquee on the right in front of a red brick building.