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. |
| Rapidan WMA – Middle River Tract Timber HarvestVisitors to the Middle River Tract of Rapidan Wildlife Management Area are advised that a timber harvest is underway. Loggers may be working in any of the areas shown on this map. Please use caution in these areas and do not block roads and or logging vehicles. |
| Rapidan WMA – Middle River Tract – 4WD Vehicle RecommendedPublic vehicular access to the Rapidan WMA has been restored to the Middle River Tract via Route 615/Bluff Mountain Road. However, it is strongly recommended that anyone wanting to drive into this area should do so with a 4WD vehicle due to the existing conditions. Foot traffic is still allowed throughout the tract. DWR and a number of partners have worked together to improve access to the Rapidan Tract. Even with these improvements, it is still a good idea to use a 4WD vehicle to reach this part of the WMA. |
Description
Elevation: 1556 ft.
The Rapidan Wildlife Management Area (WMA) provides access to the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge abutting Shenandoah National Park. The WMA is composed of six large tracts, not all of which are accessible by car. Several of the tracts are connected to Skyline Drive via fire roads and hiking trails. Rapidan WMA provides access to some of the more pristine parts of the eastern Blue Ridge, taking the wildlife enthusiast away from the sometimes-crowded Skyline Drive. Species to be encountered in this area are similar to those seen from a distance along the drive including many woodpecker species, flycatchers, vireos, white-breasted nuthatch, eastern bluebird, gray catbird, black-and-white, hooded, and worm-eating warblers, ovenbird, American redstart, scarlet tanager and eastern towhee. Butterflies are also numerous and eastern tiger, black, pipevine, spicebush swallowtails, great spangled and variegated fritillaries, red-spotted purple and a variety of skippers and azures can all be found easily.
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 Rapidan WMA website.
- If you are visiting this site during hunting seasons, please wear blaze orange/pink for safety.
Wildlife Sightings
96 species have been reported at this site to date.
Birds Recently Seen at Rapidan Wildlife Management Area:
Recent Checklists:
| Date | # of Species | Submitted By |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Oct 2025 | 4 | Art Drauglis |
| 21 Jun 2025 | 3 | Kayla Mikesell |
| 13 Jun 2025 | 6 | Haley Cisco |
| 21 Oct 2024 | 11 | Kent Davis |
| 26 Oct 2023 | 13 | Cory Swift |
Amenities & Accessibility
Amenities
- On-site Parking
Other Amenities: 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
From the Nearest Town:
From SR 29 (south of Madison), follow SR 230 west to Wolftown. From there follow SR 662 to Graves Mill and continue on SR 615 all the way to the management area.
Site Information
Access Requirements:
- Daily. Restore the Wild Membership, hunting license, freshwater fishing license, boat registration, or an access permit is required.
Contact Information:
- DWR Region 4 Offices: 540-899-4169 (Fredricksburg), 540-248-9360 (Verona), 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.