Stewarts Creek Wildlife Management Area

Elevation: 1544 ft.

Perhaps Stewarts Creek is best known among locals for its high quality native brook trout fishing. This 1087-acre wildlife management area is located along the Blue Ridge Mountains and includes both the North and South forks of Stewarts Creek. Clear mountainside waters rush over rocky outcrops overlooked by extensive rhododendron thickets. The younger lowland creek bottoms, where not heavily vegetated by rhododendron, are wooded with yellow birch, tulip poplar, and several species of magnolias. Older, mature-growth forests at higher elevations are primarily composed of oaks, hickories, and maples. This is an excellent area to spy a diversity of wildlife. Canada warbler can be found in rhododendron thickets. In the woodlands at lower elevations, look for hooded and black-and-white warblers, American redstart, and wood thrush. In the more mature forests of upland areas, listen and look for black-throated blue and black-throated green warblers, scarlet tanager and veery. Wild turkey, ruffed grouse, white-tailed deer, and gray squirrel are abundant at Stewarts Creek; the elusive red fox may be seen as well.

Notes:

• To Access the Site: A Restore the Wild Membership, Virginia hunting license, freshwater fishing license, boat registration, or an access permit is required.
• This site may be closed during certain times of year for hunting or land management. See seasonal access information on the Stewarts Creek WMA website.
• If you are visiting this site during hunting seasons, please wear blaze orange/pink for safety.