Dameron Marsh Natural Area Preserve

SITE DESCRIPTION:
The 316-acre Dameron Marsh Natural Area Preserve is one in a series of protected lands that line the western and eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia. This preserve contains one of the most significant wetlands on the Chesapeake Bay for marsh-bird communities, and its pristine beach habitat is highly important for the federally threatened northeastern beach tiger beetle. DCR's efforts to conserve sites like Dameron Marsh are an effective means to sustain these important coastal ecosystems and both rare and common species. Dameron Marsh supports impressive salt marsh communities, sand beach, and upland forest habitats. Most upland portions of the property have been used for agricultural purposes over the preceding 3 centuries.

The Department of Conservation and Recreation will work with The Nature Conservancy and the Army Corps of Engineers to restore former fields to forested habitat that can support a diversity of wildlife and improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay. The Department's Chesapeake Bay Region Steward oversees the management and restoration activities at the preserve and will be monitoring marsh and beach habitats, birds, tiger beetles, and other natural elements.

VISITATION:
Public access facilities include a trail and boardwalk, a wildlife viewing platform, and a small parking area. An online Dameron Marsh NAP Self-Guided Field Trip guide. is available to help you enjoy your visit. You'll need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view or print this file.

Kayak / canoe launch site now open at Dameron Marsh Natural Area Preserve
New access improvements have been completed to better accommodate launching of kayaks, canoes, or other small "car-top" boats. On weekends through October from 9am - 6pm, a drop-off point and vehicle turn-around will be open to facilitate launching. A designated put-in location is accessible via a trail from the drop-off, with all vehicles to be returned to the parking area. DCR staff will be on-site during open hours. Visitors can also use the launch during normal weekday hours, simply by carrying their boats the additional 300 feet from the main parking area to the launch site.

Seasonal beach closures at Dameron Marsh and Hughlett Point natural area preserves
Dameron Marsh and Hughlett Point natural area preserves contain some of the most significant Chesapeake Bay wetlands for marsh birds, and also support pristine beach strands providing habitat for the federally threatened northeastern beach tiger beetle and nesting sites for rare shore birds. To protect these species and their significant habitats, designated sections of preserve beaches are closed during specific periods of the year to both land (walking) and water (boat landing) access. Thank you for your help in conserving some of Virginia’s rarest wildlife by observing the posted seasonal closings of select beaches at these two Northern Neck preserves.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
From Kilmarnock, go north on VA 200 towards Burgess. Turn right onto VA 606. Turn left at the Shiloh schoolhouse onto VA 605. Turn right onto VA 606, and then left onto VA 693. Follow VA 693 into the preserve.