Description
This location, just below the Brasfield Dam, has a canoe or kayak launch point for exploration by water. Look for spotted sandpiper on the rocks, belted kingfisher, bald eagle, osprey, and wintering waterfowl.
This site is also the trailhead for the John J. Radcliffe Conservation Area, which consists of 87 acres of woodlands and swampland along the Appomattox River. Wildlife is abundant in this diverse environment of maple, sycamore, sweetgum, oak, ash, and pine. There are 1.5 miles of trail and over 500 feet of elevated boardwalk through the property provide visitors the opportunity for viewing woodpeckers, various forest songbirds, and migrating warblers in the spring and fall.
Wildlife Sightings
Birds Recently Seen at John J. Radcliffe Appomattox River Conservation Area:
- Canada Goose
- Wood Duck
- Mourning Dove
- Turkey Vulture
- Bald Eagle
- Red-shouldered Hawk
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Red-bellied Woodpecker
- Downy Woodpecker
- Pileated Woodpecker
184 species have been reported at this site to date.
Recent Checklists:
| Date | # of Species | Submitted By |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Mar 2026 | 33 | Andrew Rapp |
| 20 Mar 2026 | 25 | Mekhi Babauta |
| 19 Mar 2026 | 50 | Kristen Mathes |
| 19 Mar 2026 | 50 | Mekhi Babauta |
| 18 Mar 2026 | 36 | Cory Swift |
Amenities & Accessibility Considerations
Site Amenities
- On-site Parking
- Kayak/Canoe Launch
- No Fee or Permit/Pass Requirement
Other Site Amenities: Hiking Trails
Maps & Directions
Physical Address: 21501 Chesdin Road, South Chesterfield, VA 23803.
From the Previous Site on the Appomattox Loop of the VBWT:
From R. Garland Dodd Park at Points of Rocks, exit left from the main entrance onto Enon Church Rd (SR 746). Drive .01 mile then turn right onto Ramblewood Dr. Drive 1.5 miles then turn left onto Wood’s Edge Rd (SR 620). Continue on Wood’s Edge Rd for 1 mile. Turn right onto SR 746 and then turn left onto Jefferson Davis Hwy (US-1/ US-301). Drive 2.8 miles, and then turn right onto Lakeview Ave (SR 626). Continue 3.3 miles on Lakeview Ave, which becomes Woodpecker Rd. Continue straight as it changes names again to Matoaca Rd (SR 600). Turn left on Church Rd (SR 669). In 2.0 miles, turn right onto River Rd, then in 1.7 miles, turn left onto Chesdin Rd. In 1 mile, the Conservation Area’s entrance will be on the left.
Site Information
Managed By:
- Chesterfield County
Access Requirements:
Contact Information:
- Visit Website
Sites, or portions of sites, can be closed periodically for management activities. Please always check the site’s website for additional information prior to visiting.