North Anna Battlefield Park

Description

North Anna Battlefield Park encompasses 172 acres and over 6 miles of well-marked trails through oak-hickory forest. The park offers two hiking trails, the Blue Trail (3.8 miles down-and-back) and the Gray Trail (2.04 miles down-and-back). The Blue Trail includes steep hills and uneven terrain making for a more strenuous hike. Both trails offer an overlook of the North Anna River near their turnaround points. In addition to wildlife viewing, history buffs may also enjoy the historic markers and interpretive signs along the trails, which describe the 1864 Battle of North Anna that took place at this site.

Year-round bird residents include a variety of woodpecker and other common species, such as American robin, mourning dove, blue jay, northern cardinal, Carolina chickadee, and tufted titmouse. Other observable wildlife includes white-tailed deer, gray squirrel, and other small mammals. During the spring and summer, birders may see or hear red-eyed vireo, ovenbird, wood thrush, scarlet tanager, great crested flycatcher, yellow warbler, black-and-white warbler, yellow-billed cuckoo, and blue-gray gnatcatcher. Observable species along the river include: bald eagle, belted kingfisher, ruby-throated hummingbird, northern parula, common yellowthroat, eastern kingbird, great blue heron, and osprey. Lizards and skinks may be observed around the trails and dragonflies may also be observed around the river. Wintertime visitors include yellow-rumped warbler, ruby- and golden-crowned kinglets, hermit thrush, and red-breasted nuthatch. During spring, a variety of migrating warblers may be seen such as the black-throated green and blackburnian. It may also be possible to observe spotted sandpipers near the river.

Directions

Physical Address: 11576 Verdon Rd., Doswell, VA 23047

From I-95 in Richmond, continue north. Take exit 98 for SR 30 toward Doswell and turn left onto SR 30 W, following signs for US 30 W/US 1/Doswell. In 0.8 miles, turn right onto US 1 N/Washington Hwy and continue for 1.4 miles. Turn left  (west) onto SR 684 and continue for 2.5 miles. Turn right to corner the battlefield.