Shared by Andrew Philpot -- Park Manager, as Guest Blogger.

Fall and winter hiking are my favorite seasons to get out in the parks to explore.

Here at James River State Park there are over 20 miles of trail available, but my favorite to hike right now is a combination of the River Trail and the Cabell Creek Connector Trail that ends up being about three miles.

By utilizing parts of both of these trails I am able to make loops around the wetland impoundment and natural marsh adjacent to the river. I do this for a couple reasons: I love listening to the river as I hike, the trails are relatively easy to hike on, and the wildlife viewing is incredible.

A view of the flooded and iced over wetland impoundment

Custom route for a wetland adventure

On the first part of the hike, you are hiking near our wetland impoundment. This is an artificially maintained wetland that the park rangers raise and lower the water levels in to benefit migrating ducks and other waterfowl. Each fall the gates are closed and the impoundment is flooded with water for the ducks to over winter in, and each spring the water is drained to allow grasses and other beneficial plants to grow.

This area presents a great opportunity to see some of the waterfowl that you may otherwise miss when you visit the park.

Aerial View of the wetland impoundment and Green Hill Pond

On the second part of the hike, you will be hiking around a natural, marshy wetland that includes an active beaver dam. Those beavers are active, so if you’re lucky you might get the chance to see one. I startled one the other day, and they smacked their tail on the water loudly. You can see their dam from the upper part of the trail, and it is impressive how much water they can hold back with mud and sticks. There is evidence all along the trail that the beavers have been cutting fresh trees down for food and for building materials.

Did you know that in Virginia a beaver can average 40-50 pounds?

Beaver dam visible from the Cabell Connector Trail

Gnawed off stump showing beaver activity

A recent bird count, conducted by our amazing park volunteers, recorded the following bird numbers around the park’s wetlands that the hike described above:

• 3 Yellow Bellied Sapsucker
• 6 Bluebirds
• 5 American Crow
• 5 White Throated Sparrow
• 7 Carolina Wren
• 14 Turkey Vulture
• 3 Red-tailed Hawk
• 38 Starlings
• 27 Mallard
• 9 Goldfinch
• 19 Wood Duck
• 14 Song Sparrow
• 16 Black Duck
• 2 Tufted Titmouse
• 2 Pileated Woodpecker
• 4 Golden-Crowned Kinglet
• 2 Carolina Chickadee
• 3 Downy Woodpeckers
• 1 Great Blue Heron
• 2 Eastern Towhees
• 10 Dark-eyed Junco
• 1 Eastern Phoebe
• 1 Belted Kingfisher
• 1 Cooper's Hawk
• 2 Black Vulture
• 1 American Bittern
• 1 Northern Harrier
• 6 Swamp Sparrow
• 15 Red-Winged Blackbird
• 4 northern Cardinal
• 2 Northern Flicker
• 6 American Robins
• 1 Mockingbird

Volunteers conduct bird counts at the park

These bird sightings, plus a bunch of mammals, are all possibilities if you decide to come to the park to take a hike.

If helping the park conduct bird counts while you hike sounds like something you are interested in, or if you have any other interests that you would like to put to good use for the park please let us know. Our park rangers will work with you to find volunteer opportunities that suit your skills and still benefit the park.

If you would like to volunteer, or if you want more information about hiking at James River State Park, please contact the park’s Visitor Center at (434) 933-8527.