Beaverdam Park, Main Entrance

Description

Beaverdam Park provides access to 635-acre Beaverdam Lake. The Park’s two entrances are decidedly different in character. This southern access point is developed for boaters (electric motors and hand-carried vessels) and has docks, bathrooms, and a park office where visitors can pick up a trail guide. The lake view is attractive with many flooded snags that provide perches for osprey, herons, swallows, belted kingfisher, and other birds. Winter birding yields a rich assortment of woodpeckers and waterfowl. Summer residents include several species of warblers and woodland songbirds.

Dragonflies and damselflies are common and butterflies are numerous. Watch for mammals such as river otter, and beaver, the park’s namesake. Wood chip-surfaced trails enter the surrounding forest, and provide limited access to the shoreline away from the boat docks. Trails around the lake margin allow you to get close to several beaver lodges and dams. The diversity of insects, reptiles, amphibians, birds, mammals, and seasonal flowers makes this an attractive park for photographers.

Directions

Physical Address: 8687 Roaring Springs Road, Gloucester, VA 23061

From I-64 in Richmond, continue east. Take exit 220 for SR 33 E toward W Point. In 13.9 miles, turn right onto SR 14 E and continue for 6.0 miles. Turn right onto US 17 S and continue for 7.8 miles. Then, turn left (east) onto Main St and continue for 0.4 miles. Turn left onto SR 616/Roaring Springs Rd and follow for 2.4 miles until the entrance appears straight ahead.