Waid Recreation Area

Description

Elevation: 1152 ft.

This sprawling 512-acre park has numerous attractions to offer the wildlife watcher, including nature trails and river access. A nature trail leads from the first parking area on the left into pine woodlands that support numerous breeding birds as well as white-throated sparrows and dark-eyed juncos in winter. White-breasted nuthatches could occur throughout the year. Traveling down the hill to the next parking area provides access to a seasonal wetland that can support a variety of waterfowl during winter and migration including hooded merganser. In summer, the wetland attracts several species of damsel- and dragonflies. Numerous swallowtails, sulphurs and skippers should be searched for in the more open areas of the park, as should eastern bluebird and killdeer.

Directions

Physical Address: 701 Waid Park Rd, Rocky Mount, VA 24151

From Rocky Mount, take VA-40 W/ Franklin St for 2 miles. Turn right onto State Rte 640 and continue 1.8 miles. Turn left onto State Rte 800, then make a sharp right. The park will be on the left.