Description

Dragon’s Swamp flows through this bottomland forest and provides year round viewing opportunities for a diversity of passerines. Spring migrations produce an abundance of wood warblers, including the prothonotary warbler. Some warblers can still be found in the woods in summer along with other common woodland inhabitants. Fall produces fewer migrants than the spring, but Swainson’s and gray-cheeked thrushes can occur on the forest floor; occasionally Baltimore orioles can be seen in the tall sycamores and oaks. Winter months can provide productive viewing for common winter bird species as well as the variety of mammals that inhabit the site. Visitors are reminded to observe property rights and not to trespass upon adjacent private property.

Directions

From the Glenns Campus of Rappahannock Community College, return to SR 33 and turn left. Travel to the stoplight and turn left onto US 17/SR 33 North. Follow US 17/SR 33 North to Saluda and then bear left onto US 17 North. Follow this road for approximately 3.6 miles to Rt. 603 and turn left onto Rt. 603. Continue on Rt. 603 for approximately 3 miles and turn right into the dirt parking area immediately before the bridge. Friends of Dragon Run, Inc. owns slightly less than 7 acres of forestland along the banks of the stream here. This tract is marked with yellow, diamond-shaped Conservation Area signs.