Dan Daniel Memorial Park and Danville Riverwalk Trail

Elevation: 403 ft.

On the southwestern edge of Danville, Dan Daniel Memorial Park has woods and fields along the Dan River, a lovely waterway from which the City of Danville derives its name. The park also serves as an access point to the Danville Riverwalk Trail and its numerous viewpoints along the river. The variety of open country and eastern woodland species found in the relatively small area make this a prime location for wildlife watching. Birds here include mourning dove, chimney swift, ruby-throated hummingbird, red-bellied and downy woodpeckers, eastern wood-pewee, eastern bluebird, cedar waxwing, red-eyed vireo, indigo bunting, and song sparrow. The true excitement in the park is to be found on the river. Great blue and green herons stalk the shallows while purple martin and tree and barn swallows fly-catch overhead. The numerous exposed rocks on the river are outstanding for a variety of damselflies. Search for American rubyspot and powdered dancer or dragonflies such as eastern amberwing, widow skimmer, and blue dasher. Carefully check the large boulders along the river’s edge for retiring five-lined skinks. Butterflies are also well represented with hackberry emperor and pearl crescent filtered in among the more numerous eastern tiger and spicebush swallowtails.