Lake Culpeper

Description

A variety of wildlife may be viewed on Lake Pelham (also known as Lake Culpeper). Check around the reed edges for other species such as wood duck, American coot, and pied-billed grebe. During winter, the lake can often support rafts of American widgeon, gadwall, northern shoveler, and ruddy ducks, to name a few. The numerous dead snags in the area support belted kingfishers and may occasionally turn up an osprey. A good variety of landbirds is also present. Other wildlife to spot include eastern painted turtles, sunning themselves in large groups.  In warmer weather the shoreline is a favored spot by dragonflies such as prince baskettail, eastern pondhawk and common whitetail; these odonates are often joined by eastern tiger swallowtails, common buckeyes and the occasional American snout.

Notes:

• This site is included on the VBWT as a place to bird and view wildlife on the water. Watercraft rentals are available from Lake Culpeper Adventures. There are no walking trails.
• A boating permit is required for visitors who don’t rent equipment from Lake Culpeper Adventures.

Directions

Physical Address: 18019 Country Store Drive, Culpeper, VA 22701

From James Madison Highway/US-15, merge onto James Monroe Highway/US-29 South toward Charlottesville, and the Lake Culpeper Adventures at The Ole Country Store & Bakery is on the right just past the bridge.