Description
Elevation: 2469 ft.
Matthews State Forest provides an excellent representation of the forests of southwest Virginia. Three trails take the visitor through sections of forest and introduce them to common resident trees such as white pine, white oak, black birch, and American beech. The birds of the area are numerous and noticeable, especially along the 1.25-mile birding trail. Brown thrasher constantly flit across the path as they welcome nature enthusiasts to the forest. Red-eyed vireo call from the older stands of woods while white-eyed vireo make their presence known from the newer growth. The numerous plantings around the visitor center attract an array of butterflies. Eastern tiger swallowtail, great spangled fritillary and silver-spotted skipper are joined by common wood-nymph and eastern tailed-blue.
Wildlife Sightings
Birds Recently Seen at Matthews State Forest:
- Mourning Dove
- Turkey Vulture
- Pileated Woodpecker
- Eastern Phoebe
- Blue Jay
- American Crow
- Carolina Chickadee
- Tufted Titmouse
- Golden-crowned Kinglet
- Field Sparrow
78 species have been reported at this site to date.
Recent Checklists:
| Date | # of Species | Submitted By |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Mar 2026 | 13 | Randi Dandrea |
| 19 Jan 2026 | 20 | Brian Bockhahn |
| 19 Jan 2026 | 20 | Julie Thomson |
| 9 Jan 2026 | 14 | John Burleson |
| 17 Dec 2025 | 3 | Julian Dymacek |
Amenities & Accessibility Considerations
Site Amenities
- On-site Parking
- Restrooms
- No Fee or Permit/Pass Requirement
Other Site Amenities: Bike Trails, Hiking Trails, Observation Tower/Platform
Maps & Directions
Birding Trail Parking Coordinates: 36.638278, -80.957604
From Galax, head west on US-221 S/US-58 W/Reserve Blvd, turn left onto Wild Turkey Ln, turn left at the Y in the road in front of the Alice House, and follow that to the parking area.
Site Information
Managed By:
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.