Important Notices For This Site
| Notice |
|---|
| Seasonal Road Closures on WMAsSeasonal roads on Wildlife Management Areas are being closed early where possible due to the persistent poor winter conditions. These roads will remain closed until their scheduled spring opening the first Saturday in April. The public is asked to please use caution and if possible, avoid utilizing WMA roads that are open all year during inclement winter weather and poor road conditions. |
| Lake Thompson Trout StockingDue to inconsistent water levels, we have discontinued trout stocking at Lake Thompson indefinitely. |
Description
Elevation: 1006 ft.
G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area provides several access points to the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains. This area is primarily forested with a few clearings and the 10-acre Thompson Lake on the eastern side along Rt. 688. The majority of the forest in this area was originally dominated by oak and hickory. Many of the oaks died due to gypsy moth infestation. Currently, pole-sized poplar, red maple and ash are the most prevalent species. The variety of elevations within this management area provide for a greater diversity of bird life. Many of Virginia’s woodland birds can be found here with eastern wood-pewee, Carolina wren, red-eyed vireo and eastern towhee calling throughout the day. Several species of warbler nest in the area with worm-eating, black-and-white, hooded, Kentucky and cerulean all being recorded, and being joined by many more species during migration.
Thompson Lake attracts dragonflies, butterflies, and waterfowl. Photo Credit: Lisa Mease/DWR
Thompson Lake is worth checking in the summer months for a variety of dragon- and damselflies, including eastern amberwing, common whitetail, and widow skimmer. Butterflies are also present with eastern tiger and spicebush swallowtails, pearl crescent and eastern comma all congregating along the moist banks of the lake.
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 G. Richard Thompson WMA website.
- If you are visiting this site during hunting seasons, please wear blaze orange/pink for safety.
Wildlife Sightings
152 species have been reported at this site to date.
Birds Recently Seen at G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area:
Recent Checklists:
| Date | # of Species | Submitted By |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Nov 2025 | 4 | George Milinkovic |
| 29 May 2025 | 9 | George Milinkovic |
| 26 May 2025 | 20 | Michael Mayer |
| 24 May 2025 | 32 | Sally Taylor |
| 24 May 2025 | 32 | Russell Taylor |
Amenities & Accessibility
Amenities
- On-site Parking
- No Fee or Permit/Pass Requirement
Other Amenities: Camping/Lodging, Hiking Trails
Accessibility Considerations
This location does not have a Birdability Site Review available at this time
Learn more about Birdability’s efforts to map accessible outdoor spaces
Maps & Directions
Physical Location: Route 688, Markham, VA 22643
Coordinates: 38.95744, -77.98902
From I-66 in Markham, take Exit 17 onto Route 688 (Leeds Manor Road) north. Two parking areas are accessible on Route 688 (Leeds Manor Road). The first will be on the left about 1 mile after exiting I-66, the second is about 2.8 miles further north and will also be on the left.
Site Information
Access Requirements:
- Daily, sunrise-sunset; Restore the Wild Membership, hunting license, freshwater fishing license, boat registration, or an access permit is required.
Contact Information:
- Virginia DWR - Region 4 Office: 540-899-4169, Contact Us
- 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.