The Rivanna Trail – Riverview Park

Riverview Park provides a great area to go for a walk or just enjoy the outdoors. A two-mile, paved portion of the Rivanna Trail- which encircles the entire City of Charlottesville- goes through the park. Another trail forms a loop through riparian forest and open, scrubby fields. The large open fields are a great place for blooming wildflowers and attract numerous butterflies during the warmer months of the year. Watch for red-spotted purples, eastern and black swallowtails, and the occasional passing monarch. These fields are also home to numerous indigo buntings whose high metallic chip sound similar to the northern cardinal.

When you reach the river, scan the overhanging branches for eastern phoebes and their constantly wagging tails. Check the open water for the occasional family of wood ducks or perhaps a chubby little muskrat swimming towards the far shore. The woods along the river host dozens of Carolina chickadees and tufted titmice along with a few families of Carolina wrens. These are joined in migration by yellow-billed cuckoos and a myriad of warblers. Once the cold weather comes, watch out for large flocks of American robins as they descend on the woods in mass, at times covering every branch in site.