Description

With forested rolling hills and a 53-acre lake, this 239-acre county park offers an excellent location for year-round birding and wildlife viewing. Explore the park by foot on 3 miles of moderately difficult trails or by water via boat, kayak or canoe. The area is locally popular for bird watching, particularly on the lake itself, which hosts a diversity of waterfowl in the winter, some shorebirds in the spring, and common loons in spring and fall. The park is also popular for viewing migrating wood warblers, which are attracted to the park’s forests surrounding the lake during spring and fall. Bald eagle, red-shouldered hawks, belted-kingfisher, cedar waxwing, and a diversity of woodpeckers have been observed year-round. Summer birding opportunities include wading birds, flycatchers, swallows, and orioles. In addition to the birds, careful observers may spot American beaver, eastern painted turtles, and American toads. On warm summer days, a diversity of butterflies may be observed, including silvery checkerspots, eastern swallowtails, and pipevine swallowtails.

Kayak and canoe rentals are available seasonally. A trail map for the park can be found on the Albemarle County Parks and Recreation website.

Directions

Physical Address: 4748 Chris Greene Lake Road, Charlottesville, VA 22911

From Charlottesville, travel on US-29 North to Airport Road. Turn left onto Airport Road following signs for Charlottesville Albemarle Airport. In less than a mile, take a slight right turn toward State Route 606. Continue on State Route 606 for just over a mile. Turn left onto State Route 850 and continue for 1.4 miles. Follow signs for Chris Greene Lake.