Description

Note: This site is included on the VBWT as a place to bird and view wildlife on the water. Kayak and canoe rentals are available from Lake Pelham Adventures (see rental information below). A boating permit is required for those not renting from Lake Pelham Adventures. There are no walking trails.

A variety of wildlife may be viewed on Lake Pelham. Check around the reed edges for other species such as wood duck, American coot, and pied-billed grebe. During winter, the lake can often support rafts of American widgeon, gadwall, northern shoveler, and ruddy ducks, to name a few. The numerous dead snags in the area support belted kingfishers and may occasionally turn up an osprey. A good variety of landbirds is also present. Other wildlife to spot include eastern painted turtles, sunning themselves in large groups.  In warmer weather the shoreline is a favored spot by dragonflies such as prince baskettail, eastern pondhawk and common whitetail; these odonates are often joined by eastern tiger swallowtails, common buckeyes and the occasional American snout.

Kayak and canoe rentals from Lake Pelham Adventures:

To rent, check-in at the back counter of The Ole Country Store & Bakery. For Sunday rentals, check-in is located at the storage shed. When renting, please park in the gravel area away from the store entrance as a courtesy to other customers due to the anticipated extended period of your stay. See website for rental fees.

Directions

Physical Address: 18019 Country Store Drive, Culpeper, VA 22701

From the Previous Site on the Culpeper Loop of VBWT:

From Kelly’s Ford, return to State Rte 620 and head north. Continue onto State Rte 674 for 4.9 miles.  Turn left onto US-15/ US-29 South and travel 12 miles. Turn right onto Country Store Dr. and park in the gravel area away from the entrance to the Ole Country Store and Bakery.