Lake Gordon

Although the waters of Lake Gordon are lazy and serene, the abundant wildlife is not. Great blue herons stalk the shallows and wood ducks dabble in the numerous bays and inlets around the lake. Bald eagles are often seen on the upper end of the lake. Follow the trail along the banks to search for basking eastern painted turtles and huge green bullfrogs. The woods along the shore are filled with seasonal blooms of wildflowers with large numbers of brilliant cardinal flowers lining the bank. The mature woods nearby support several species of woodpecker, as well as the largest nuthatch, the white-breasted nuthatch, whose nasal call can be heard echoing throughout the trees. Check the lake’s open fields for eastern bluebirds and the occasional red-tailed hawk hunting for rats and mice.

The lake is also great for dragonflies, with widow skimmers, common whitetails and eastern pond hawks constantly patrolling the banks. Butterflies in the area include red-spotted purples, question marks and monarchs, especially during late summer and fall when they migrate south.

• Note: To access the site, a Restore the Wild Membership, Virginia hunting license, freshwater fishing license, boat registration, or an access permit is required.
• Please be mindful of the property lines while exploring Land’s End WMA; adjacent properties are privately owned.