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Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Cat Point Creek Unit

Description

Opened to the public on January 1, 2023, the 243-acre Cat Point Creek unit (formerly known as the Heritage Park Resort Unit) is a remnant of a several thousand-acre plantation. The entrance road rapidly ascends a steep hill. Its grassy crest offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding landscape that gently descends to the Rappahannock River a few miles away and to the shores of Cat Point Creek. Native Americans camped along the creek’s bank to harvest the water’s abundant fish and clams. The creek remains an important spot for spawning fish, which offer an abundant food source to bald eagles, osprey, wading birds, and waterfowl. The eclectic site offers a mix of old camp sites from when it was still in operation as a resort, deciduous forest, mowed fields, scrub habitat, as well as a pond and tidal freshwater wetlands. The woods are alive in summer with breeding birds, deer, and other wildlife, and a beaver occasionally shows off for visitors at the small pond.

Notes:

  • Hunting occurs at this site. Click here to see the current year’s schedule. If you are visiting during hunting seasons, please wear blaze orange or blaze pink for safety.

Directions

Physical Address: 2570 Newland Road, Warsaw, VA 22572

From Warsaw, head west on Richmond Road/US-360, turn right onto Newland Road/SR-624, and the driveway is the right in 2.6  miles.

 

Location & Directions

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Site Information

  • Site Contact: (804) 333-1470 william_crouch@fws.gov
  • Website
  • Access: Free, Daily dawn to dusk

Birds Recently Seen at Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Cat Point Creek Unit (as reported to eBird)

  • Canada Goose
  • Wood Duck
  • Ruddy Duck
  • Black Vulture
  • Turkey Vulture
  • Bald Eagle
  • Belted Kingfisher
  • Hairy Woodpecker
  • Pileated Woodpecker
  • Eastern Phoebe

Seasonal Bird Observations

Facilities

  • Accessible
  • Hiking Trails
  • Parking
  • Restrooms
  • Kayak/Canoe Launch