Public Lands Day Natural Area Preserve Guided Hikes – Sept. 30, 2017
Bald Knob – Rocky Mount, VA
Guide: Colin Huber
Time: 10 a.m.
Meeting location: Park in a field on the north side of East Court Street between the intersections of East Court Street and Donald Avenue and the East Court Street Highway 220 overpass. Look for a DCR sign and park in the mowed portion of the field.
Reservations: The hike is limited to 15 participants. Please call 804-786-7951 to reserve your spot.
Bald Knob is one of the most significant conservation sites in the Piedmont and is known for the largest occurrence of Piedmont fameflower on Earth. Because of its exposed rock and poor soils, few plants survive on the rocks, giving visitors a 360-degree view of the surrounding landscape.
This is an intermediate hike and there is no developed trail. The hike has a steady uphill climb of 15 percent grade with some steeper sections at the top. There are many tripping hazards. The hike will be approximately 1 mile.
Wear long pants and boots as poison ivy, ticks and chiggers are common in this area. Bug spray and sunscreen are also recommended. Bring plenty of water. Hiking poles and a snack are also good to have on hand for this strenuous hike.
Crow’s Nest – Stafford, VA
Guide: Summer Cleary
Time: 10 a.m.
Meeting location: Stafford County Administration Center, 1300 Courthouse Road, Stafford, VA 22554
Reservations: The hike is limited to 15 participants. Please call 804-786-7951 to reserve your spot.
Crow’s Nest is a peninsula between Accokeek and Potomac creeks in Stafford County. At 2,872 acres, the preserve contains mature hardwood forest and some of the best examples of diverse, intact wetlands in the Potomac River drainage basin. The preserve supports habitat for a variety of species, including bald eagles, migratory birds, the federally endangered short-nosed sturgeon and 22 plant species important to Virginia’s Coastal Plain.
Participants will enjoy a 3-mile hike along the Accokeek Creek Loop Trail. Along the trail, hikers will enjoy a walk through one of the best remaining mature hardwood forests in the Coastal Plain of Virginia as well as excellent views of the freshwater tidal marsh along Accokeek Creek. The hike has an elevation loss and gain of approximately 200 feet.
Remember to wear sturdy shoes and bring plenty of water. You may also want to bring a snack, your camera and binoculars.
Pinnacle – Lebanon, VA
Guide: Brad Kreps, Program Director of the Nature Conservancy’s Clinch Valley Office
Time: 10 a.m.
Meeting Location: The preserve is in Southwest Virginia, about 25 miles north of Abingdon. From I-81 at Abingdon, take ALT 58 west through town to U.S. Route 19 north. Go about 20 miles to Business 19 into Lebanon. At the second light, turn left on Route 82 west. Go 1.1 mile to Route 640 (River Mountain Road) and turn right. Go 4.2 miles and turn left on Route 721 (a gravel road). Go 0.8 mile to the parking area on the left.
Reservations: The hike is limited to 15 participants. Please call 540-335-1302 to reserve your spot.
The Pinnacle Natural Area Preserve is located near the confluence of the Clinch River and Big Cedar Creek where towering cliffs, sheer limestone ledges and waterfalls can be enjoyed from the trail. The preserve is named for a towering rock outcrop known as The Pinnacle — a sheer spire of dolomite created by the dissolving action of groundwater in combination with down-cutting of the gorge. The preserve’s unique habitats support at least nine rare species and two rare natural communities.
This is a moderate 4-mile roundtrip hike to Big Cedar Falls.
Remember to wear sturdy shoes and bring plenty of water. You may also want to bring snacks, hiking poles, your camera and binoculars.
Chub Sandhill -- Waverly, VA
Guide: Brian van Eerden, The Nature Conservancy
Time: 10 a.m.
Meeting Location: Garland Gray Forestry Center, 19127 Sandy Hill Road, Courtland, VA 23837
Reservations: The paddle/hike is limited to 12 participants. Please call 434-951-0572 to reserve your spot.
Chub Sandhill Natural Area Preserve is located along the Nottoway River, a state-designated scenic waterway, and features a diverse set of Coastal Plain habitats. Longleaf pine is making a comeback at this preserve where Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, The Nature Conservancy and other partners are planting seedlings and using prescribed fire to restore longleaf habitats.
Enjoy a paddle and hike led by The Nature Conservancy’s Virginia Pinelands Program Director, Brian van Eerden. This is a gentle 2-mile paddle. Following the paddle, for those interested, there will be a 1- mile hike on the preserve to see young stands of longleaf pine, one of Virginia’s rarest tree species. The paddle and hike will take three to four hours.
Participants are responsible for bringing canoes or kayaks and PFDs. Shuttle service will be provided. Bring plenty of water. You may also want to bring your camera and binoculars.