Description

Elevation: 826 ft.

The Martinsville City Reservoir is one of the premier wildlife watching sites in the Martinsville area. The open water body is at its best during migration and winter when Bonaparte’s or herring gulls as well as numerous waterfowl including ruddy, ring-necked, mallard and black ducks, bufflehead and hooded merganser occasionally join numerous ring-billed gulls. Migration can also turn up a few visiting sandpipers such as spotted sandpiper and the occasional solitary sandpiper that join the more regular killdeer along the lake’s edge. The lake has also recorded a number of anomalies such as tundra swan and red-necked grebe. A pine forest dominated by white pine surrounds the reservoir. This provides excellent habitat for brown-headed nuthatch and pine warbler. More regular birds to be encountered in the woods include Carolina wren, northern cardinal and American goldfinch. The quiet inlets around the lake provide serene environment for the eastern painted turtle, while the banks host a variety of damsel- and dragonflies including eastern amberwing, black-shouldered spinylegs and eastern pondhawk. Additional trails are accesible on the south side of the lake through the parking lot of Patrick Henry Community College.

Directions

Physical Address: 450 Redskin Dr, Martinsville, VA 24112

The Martinsville Reservoir is located just north of Martinsville off SR 108.

From Redskin Dr, there are two entrances. Turn right onto Caretaker Dr for the first entrance, or, for additional parking and ramp access, continue on Redskin Dr and turn right onto Boat Ramp Dr.

From Commonwealth Blvd (SR 457) in Martinsville, head north. Continue onto SR 174 W (Liberty St) for 1.9 miles. Turn right (northeast) onto College Dr (SR 714) and continue onto Redskin Dr. Turn right in 1.3 miles onto Caretaker Dr for the first entrance. For additional parking and ramp access, continue on Redskin Dr and turn right onto Boat Ramp Dr.

From US 220 in Roanoke/Rocky Mount, continue south. Turn left onto SR 618 and continue onto Mountain Dr. Turn right (southwest) onto Figsboro Dr (SR 890) and continue for 5.0 miles. Turn left (southeast) onto College Dr (SR 714) and then left (northeast)onto Redskin Dr.