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The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
Nowhere is the beauty and history of the Chesapeake, VA region on greater display than in the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
From legends about the ghostly maiden sometimes seen paddling across Lake Drummond and the real-life saga of the swamp as a stop on the Underground Railroad to the tales day-trippers leave with about the wildlife they’ve seen, the canals they’ve kayaked, and the fish they’ve caught, one thing is abundantly clear: the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is full of stories. Just one visit to this natural treasure is sure to leave you with memories of your own to tell.
Nature on Full Display
With more than 112,000 acres of forested wetlands covering about 170 square miles in Chesapeake, Suffolk, and North Carolina, the Great Dismal Swamp offers hikers, birders, photographers, and butterfly chasers countless opportunities to seek out once-in-a-lifetime memories, images of pristine nature, and undisturbed wildlife.
Rare native tree species such as the tupelo gum-bald cypress and Atlantic white-cedar make up approximately one-fifth of the swamp’s forest and that figure is projected to grow with the recovery efforts in place to restore the effects of past logging.
While the region’s native panthers can no longer be found, the swamp still abounds with a mind-boggling degree of biodiversity, including black bears. White-tail deer are a common sight, while sharp-eyed hikers and quick-clicking photographers can occasionally catch red foxes, beavers, river otters, bobcats, minks, and the southern flying squirrel.
In fact, it can be hard to keep your eyes on the trail when so much of the beauty is in the canopy, including more than 200 species of birds, nearly 100 species of butterflies, and—when the sun starts to go down—10 different species of bats.
Explore the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Chesapeake, VA
Kids in Parks TRACK Trail - Black Bear Trail
The Kids in Parks TRACK Trail at the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is a 1.5-mile trail that follows the Black Bear Trail to Wood Duck Loop. This is considered an easy trail that meanders through the forested woodland, and includes a series of brochure lead adventures. The lands of the Refuge were the traditional hunting grounds of several groups of Indigenous people, including the Nansemond Tribe. Today, the refuge protects the unique pocosin forest ecosystem of the Great Dismal Swamp. As you walk the trail, you will see a landscape different than the one Indigenous people walked through, but equally important for wildlife.
Biking the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail
The Dismal Swamp Canal Trail is a 8.6-mile multiuse trail open to bicycling, walking, running/hiking, and horse back riding. The trail runs adjacent to the Dismal Swamp Canal, and along the trail you will find historic markers that talk about the history of the refuge and Dismal Swamp Canal, including being a part of the Underground Railroad and Maroon communities. You will find 2 restroom buildings, and plenty of parking.
Kayaking the Dismal Swamp Canal
The Dismal Swamp Canal Trail, is a former section of Virginia State Route 17, now a multiuse trail open to bicycling, walking, running/hiking, horseback riding, and boating. The north trail head is located at 1246 Dismal Swamp Canal Trail, close to the intersection of George Washington Highway South/Business US 17 and Dominion Boulevard South/US 17 in Chesapeake, VA. The trail runs south 8.6 miles, adjacent to the Dismal Swamp Canal. The Dismal Swamp Canal Trail is designated a Virginia Treasure with the area well known for its historical significance.
