The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge protects and preserve a portion of the Great Dismal Swamp, a marshy region on the Coastal Plain of southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina between Norfolk, Virginia, and Elizabeth City, North Carolina in the United States.
The Great Dismal Swamp is a southern swamp, the northernmost of many swamps along the Atlantic Ocean's coast, including the Everglades and the Big Cypress in Florida, the Okefenokee of Georgia, the Congress and Four Holes swamps of South Carolina, and some of the Carolina Bays.
Native Plants at Great Dismal Swamp (NWR) in North Carolina and Virginia. Published by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS).
Great Dismal Swamp NWR
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/great_dismal_swamp
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Dismal_Swamp_National_Wildlife_Refuge
The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge protects and preserve a portion of the Great Dismal Swamp, a marshy region on the Coastal Plain of southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina between Norfolk, Virginia, and Elizabeth City, North Carolina in the United States.
The Great Dismal Swamp is a southern swamp, the northernmost of many swamps along the Atlantic Ocean's coast, including the Everglades and the Big Cypress in Florida, the Okefenokee of Georgia, the Congress and Four Holes swamps of South Carolina, and some of the Carolina Bays.
TRAIL INFORMATION
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
3100 Desert Road
Suffolk, VA 23434
757/986 3705
www.fws.gov/refuge/Great_Dismal_Swamp
To Williamsburg
664
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North Carolina
Interior Ditch
460
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Virginia
Windsor
64 165 Beach
Franklin
58 Suffolk
Chesapeake
168
Virginia 13
N. Carolina
S.
258 Sunbury
Elizabeth
City
Lake
Drummond
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Feeder Ditch
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Great Dismal Swamp
South Ditch
National Wildlife Refuge
Daniels Rd.
Legend
17
Dismal Swamp
State Park
Refuge Office
Auto Tour Route
by Permit
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West Ditch
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January 2019
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Gated Trail Entrance
Refuge Area
Hiking / Biking Trail
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South
Mills
158
Boat Access Area
Pier
17
158
Federal Relay Service
for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
1 800/877 8339
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
1 800/344 WILD
http://www.fws.gov
64
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To Outer Banks
_____Railroad Ditch Entrance, 3120 Desert Road, Suffolk, VA
Enter color-coded trail
_____Jericho Lane Entrance, 1330 WhiteMarsh Road, Suffolk, VA
networks at these
_____Washington Ditch Entrance, 3076 WhiteMarsh Road, Suffolk, VA
gated trail entrances:
_____Portsmouth Ditch Entrance, 3457 MartinJohnson Road, Chesapeake, VA
_____Feeder Ditch Entrance (by water only), Dismal Swamp Canal, Chesapeake, VA
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Great Dismal
Swamp
National Wildlife
Refuge
Trails
Underground Railroad Education Pavilion and
boardwalk trail
n Cypress Marsh boardwalk trail
n West Ditch boardwalk trail
n Pier at Lake Drummond
n Fishing from pier or boat per terms of self-serve permit
n Boating access per terms of self-serve permit
n Wildlife Drive auto access with required self-serve
permit. Gate opens every day with seasonal hours of
April 1 through September 30, 7:00 am to 6:00 pm, and
October 1 through March 31 as 7:30 am to 4:00 pm.
n Open daily for hiking and biking, sunrise to sunset
This blue goose, designed by J.N. “Ding”
Darling, has become the symbol of the
National Wildlife Refuge System.
n
Located in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North
Carolina, Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
is a wonderful place to experience the beauty of nature.
With more than 112,000 acres of forested wetlands and
the 3,100 acre Lake Drummond at its center, the refuge
contains some of the most important wildlife habitat in the
mid-Atlantic region.
Jericho Lane Entrance
1330 White Marsh Road
Suffolk, VA
Four dirt roads for hiking and biking
Parking located 2 miles from White Marsh Road on
Jericho Lane
n Vault restroom
n Open daily, sunrise to sunset
n
n
USFWS
Visitor Opportunities
Refuge trails are open daily, sunrise to sunset, unless
otherwise posted. Visitors may participate in a variety of
activities including hiking, biking, nature photography,
wildlife observation, hunting, fishing and boating. The
refuge was established for the purpose of protecting and
managing the swamp’s unique ecosystem which includes
wildlife and habitat. Therefore, portions of the refuge may
be periodically closed to public use activities in order to
accomplish this objectives.
Prothonotary warbler
Feeder Ditch
Dismal Swamp Canal
Chesapeake, VA
Refuge Entrance Points
A by-water only access to Lake Drummond. The Feeder
Ditch connects the Dismal Swamp Canal to Lake
Drummond.
n Fishing and boating are permitted year-round on Lake
Drummond. A Virginia freshwater license is required.
n Vessels are limited to a maximum 25 hp on the lake.
n Lake hours are from sunrise to sunset.
Washington Ditch Entrance
3076 White Marsh Road
Suffolk, VA
The Washington Ditch Trail is the most often
recommended trail for hiking and biking.
n 3/4 mile boardwalk trail
n 4 1/2 mile dirt road for hiking and biking to Lake
Drummond
n Parking located 1 mile from entrance on White Marsh
Road
n Pier at Lake Drummond
n Fishing from pier
n Vault restrooms
n Open daily, sunrise to sunset
Headquarters/Pines Trail
3100 Desert Road
Suffolk, VA
Foot trail through pine forest surrounding headquarters
complex. Trail connects to Railroad Ditch Trail; ½ mile to
Underground Railroad Education Pavilion.
n Open daily, sunrise to sunset, for hiking
n Gate to parking area open during office business hours.
n
Be Aware
n Cell phone coverage is limited.
n Insect repellant is suggested during warm season.
n Off tr
Lake Drummond
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Lake Drummond, at 3,100 acres, is the largest natural lake
in Virginia. The lake was formed about 4,000 years ago
after a fire burned away several feet of peat soil.
The swamp’s peat soils are the reason the lake’s water
is a dark brown color. As groundwater perks through the
peat, it is stained just as tea in a teacup. Despite its murky
appearance, the water is very pure. The lake is home to
several species of fish, including mud sunfish, yellow perch,
brown and yellow bullhead catfish, bowfin, and crappie.
Contrary to popular myth, there are no alligators in the
lake.
Great Dismal Swamp
National Wildife Refuge
The Lake Drummond Wildlife Drive gate is open every
day unless there is a necessity for a temporary closing.
Access hours are April 1 to September 30, 7:00am7:00pm and October 1 to March 31, 7:30am-5:00pm. The
electronic entry gate closes one hour earlier to allow all
vehicles to exit on time. Permit and fee required. Selfserve permit and fee schedule can be found at Railroad
Permit Station, 1/2 mile from Desert Road.
Boat launching is allowed every day, year round, by use of
and by terms of the Wildlife Drive permit. Daily permit and
fee required.
Lake Drummond/USFWS
In the winter, the lake provides a resting place for
thousands of migratory birds including tundra swans and
snow geese. In the summer, you should keep an eye out
for great blue heron and great egret, as well as northern
parula and prothonotary warblers nesting in the cypress
trees. Bald eagle often build nests and raise their young
around the lake’s shoreline.
Lake Drummond is the main source of water for the
Dismal Swamp Canal, which forms the eastern boundary
of the refuge. The canal was initially proposed by George
Washington and later funded by then Virginia governor,
Patrick Henry. Hand dug by slaves and an important
strategic holding during the American Civil War, it is the
oldest continually-operating canal in America.
Hiking and biking are allowed every day on refuge trails,
including the Railroad Ditch Trail, sunrise to sunset.
Permit and fee are not required for hiking and biking.
The Railroad Ditch Trail and Lake Drummond Wildlife
Drive are occasionally closed for hunts, maintenance,
controlled burns, and other management events. For the
most current information on closings, follow us on our
Facebook page.
The refuge office is open Monday-Friday from 8:00am to
4:00pm. The office is closed on weekends and Federal
holidays.
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
Headquarters
3100 Desert Road, Suffolk, VA 23434
(757) 986-3705
www.fws.gov/refuge/Great_Dismal_Swamp
February 4, 2019
/greatdismalswamp
Lake Drummond/USFWS
Lake Drummond
Wildlife Drive
3120 Desert Road, Suffolk, VA
Sights and Stops Along the Way
to Lake Drummond
Welcome to Great Dismal Swamp!
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge contains
some of the most important wildlife habitat in the midAtlantic region. At near 113,000 acres, the refuge is the
largest intact remnant of a vast swamp that once covered
more than one million acres. It is home to some 200 species
of birds, nearly 100 species of butterflies and skippers, and
to one of the largest black bear populations on the east
coast. The swamp’s history includes land deeds for George
Washington and evidence of large communities of freedom
seekers, known as marroons, that once lived deep within the
swamp.
The Wildlife Drive is a popular way to see Lake Drummond
and there are plenty of other sights along the way. But first,
use caution while traveling the
route, to watch out for snakes
and turtles sunning themselves
in the road.
Pines Trail
Begin your tour by walking
the Pines Trail, a ¼ mile
loop around the refuge
Pines Trail/USFWS
headquarters through a stand of tall pines.
You may notice a few young Long Leaf Pines, a species that
once dominated the southeast, but due to logging and
development have been reduced to only a fraction of their
original range.
The refuge conducts controlled burns in this area every few
years. Careful burning of the forest prevents the build up
of plant litter on the forest floor which could fuel a larger,
more destructive fire. Burns also aid in creating a more
diverse habitat for a variety of animal and plant species. It is
common to see a re-growth of wildflowers a few weeks after
each burn. Look for the pink lady slippers and other tiny
orchids if you are here at that time.
Permit Station and
Underground Railroad Pavilion
About ½ mile up the Railroad Ditch Road from the
entrance on Desert Road you will come to the self-serve
permit station and the Underground Railroad Pavilion. The
pavilion was built to showcase Great Dismal Swamp’s role
as a home for maroons.
In 2004, Great Dismal
Swamp became the
first national wildlife
refuge designated as
a site on the National
Underground Railroad
Network to Freedom.
The Dismal Swamp
Underground Railroad Boardwalk/USFWS
maroon story is also
a featured exhibit in the National M
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
3100 Desert Road
Suffolk, VA 23434
757/986 3705
757/986 2353 Fax
www.fws.gov/northeast/greatdismalswamp
facebook.com/greatdismalswamp
Federal Relay Service
for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
1 800/877 8339
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
1 800/344 WILD
http://www.fws.gov
October 2012
Swainson's warbler
???
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Great Dismal
Swamp
National Wildlife
Refuge
Birds
This blue goose, designed
by J.N. “Ding” Darling,
has become the symbol
of the National Wildlife
Refuge System.
Downy
Woodpecker
This brochure lists more than 210 birds that have been
identified on the refuge, and is in accordance with the
Seventh American Ornithologists Union Checklist.
Great Dismal Swamp National
Wildlife Refuge is one of more than
550 refuges in the National Wildlife
Refuge System administered by the
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The
refuge, established by Congress in
1974, consists of over 112,000 acres of
forested wetlands. Lake Drummond,
at 3,100 acres is the larger of two
natural lakes found in Virginia, lies
at the refuge’s center. The refuge was
established to protect and restore
the biologically important Great
Dismal Swamp ecosystem. Within
that mission a primary concern
is to provide protected habitat for
migratory birds.
Most birds are migratory and their seasonal occurrence
and relative abundance are coded as follows:
Season
Sp spring
S summer
F fall
W winter
March – May
June – August
September – November
December – February
Relative Abundance
Relative abundance indicates how frequently you might
see a bird in its favored habitat.
a
c
Birding is popular in the refuge April
through June, but is best from earlyApril to late-May, the peak of the
spring neo-tropical bird migration.
As many as thirty five species of
warblers have been observed and
provide the principal attraction.
u
o
r
acc
abundant
common
a species which is very numerous
likely to be seen or heard in suitable
habitat
uncommon present, but not certain to be seen
occasional seen only a few times during a season
rare
may be present but not every year
accidental seen only once
• Birds known to nest on or near the refuge
Sp
Swans – Geese – Ducks
David Schneider
Introduction
___ Snow Goose_________________________
___ • Canada Goose_______________________
___ Brant______________________________
___ Tundra Swan________________________
___ • Wood Duck__________________________
___ Gadwall____________________________
___ American Wigeon____________________
___ American Black Duck_________________
___ • Mallard_____________________________
___ Blue-winged Teal____________________
___ Northern Pintail_____________________
___ Green-winged Teal___________________
___ Canvasback_________________________
___ Redhead____________________________
___ Ring-necked Duck___________________
___ Lesser Scaup________________________
___ Bufflehead__________________________
___ Common Goldeneye__________________
___ • Hooded Merganser___________________
___ Common Merganser__________________
___ Red-breasted Merganser______________
___ Ruddy Duck_________________________
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Gallinaceous Birds
___ • Wild Turkey_________________________ c
___ • Northern Bobwhite__________________ c
S
F
W
c
c
c
c
c
c
r
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r
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o
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c
Loons
___
Common Loon_______________________ o
Grebes
___
___
Pied-billed Grebe____________________ u
Horned Grebe_______________________ r
Cormorants
___
Double-crested Cormorant____________ c
Anhingas
___
Anhinga____________________________ o
c
???
Sp
Mourning dove
Sp
S
F
u
r
r
u
u
u
u
c
u
u
r
r
Osprey - Kites - Hawks - Eagles
___ Osprey_____________________________
___ Swallow-tailed Kite___________________
___ Mississippi Kite______________________
___ • Bald Eagle__________________________
___ Northern Harrier____________________
___ Sharp-shinned Hawk_________________
___ • Cooper’s Hawk______________________
___ • Red-shouldered Hawk________________
___ Broad-winged Hawk__________________
___ • Red-tailed Hawk_____________________
___ Golden Eagle________________________
r
Falcons
???
___ • American Kestrel____________________ c
___ Merlin______________________________ r
Brown-headed nuthatch
Bitterns – Herons – Egrets
___ American Bittern____________________
___ • Great Blue Heron____________________
___ • Great Egret_________________________
___ Snowy Egret________________________
___ Little Blue Heron____________________
___ Cattle Egret________________________
___ • Green Heron________________________
___ Black-crowned Night-Heron __________
___ Yellow-crowned Night-Heron__________
r
c
c
o
r
o
c
u
o
Ibises
___
White Ibis__________________________ r
New World Vultures
___ • Black Vulture________________________ c
___ • Turkey Vulture______________________ a
r
a
a
o
o
c
u
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r
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o
Rails
Snakes
Toads and Frogs
Brown water snake................................Nerodia taxispilota
Red-bellied water snake...................Nerodia erythrogaster
erythrogaster
Northern water snake...................Nerodia sipedon sipedon
Northern brown snake... ..................Storeria dekayi dekayi
Northern red-bellied snake.........Storeria occipitomaculata
occipitamaculata
Eastern ribbon snake.............Thamnophis sauritus sauritus
Eastern garter snake.................Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis
Eastern earth snake.....................Virginia valeriae valeriae
Eastern hognose snake...Heterodon platirhinos platirhinos
Southern ringneck snake....Diadophis punctatus punctatus
Eastern worm snake............Carphophis amoenus amoenus
Eastern mud snake....................Farancia abacura abacura
Northern black Racer.........Coluber constrictor constrictor
Rough green snake................................Opheodrys aestivus
Black rat snake.............................Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta
Eastern king Snake...................Lampropeltis getula getula
Scarlet king snake.........................Lampropeltis elapsoides
Southern copperhead......Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix
Eastern cottonmouth......Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus
Canebrake rattlesnake.......Crtotalus horridus articaudatus
Rainbow snake......Farancia erytrogramma erytrogramma
Eastern spadefoot..............Scaphiopus holbrooki holbrooki
American toad...........................................Bufo americanus
Southern toad................................................Bufo terrestris
Fowler’s toad................................Bufo woodhousii fowleri
Oak toad.......................................................Bufo quercicus
Spring peeper........................................Pseudacris crucifer
Pinewoods tree frog......................................Hyla femoralis
Squirrel tree frog...........................................Hyla squirella
Gray tree frog..............................................Hyla versicolor
Little grass frog....................................Pseudacris ocularis
Upland chorus frog..............Pseudacris triseriata feriarum
Brimley’s chorus frog..........................Pseudacris brimleyi
Southern cricket frog...........................Acris gryllus gryllus
Bullfrog....................................................Rana catesbeiana
Carpenter frog.............................................Rana virgatipes
Green frog...................................Rana clamitans melanota
Southern leopard frog................................Rana utricularia
Eastern narrow-mouthed frog....Gastrophyme carolinensis
Turtles
Common snapping turtle.....Cheldra serpentina serpentina
Stinkpot............................................Sternotherus odoratus
Eastern mud turtle.......Kinosternon subrubrum subrubrum
Spotted turtle.............................................Clemmys guttata
Eastern box turtle....................Terrepene carolina carolina
Eastern painted turtle........................Chrysemys picta picta
Yellow-bellied turtle..................Trachemys scripta scripta
Red-bellied turtle............................Psuedemys rubriventris
Lizards
Northern fence lizard...Sceloporus undulatus hyacinthinus
Ground skink...........................................Scincella lateralis
Five-lined skink......................................Eumeces fasciatus
Broadheaded skink...................................Eumeces laticeps
Southeastern five-lined skink............Eumeces inexpectatus
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Great Dismal Swamp
National Wildlife Refuge
Animals of the
Great Dismal Swamp
Salamanders
Greater siren.................................................Siren lacertina
Two-toed amphiuma................................Amphiuma means
Marbled salamander.............................Ambystoma opacum
Red-backed salamander..........Plethodon cinereus cinereus
Slimy salamander...............................Plethodon glutinosus
Many-lined salamander.................Stereochilus marginatus
Southern two-lined salamander..............Eurycea bislineata
cirrgera
Note: This list may be incomplete.
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
3100 Desert Road
Suffolk, VA 23434
(757) 986-3705
(757) 986-2353 fax
www.greatdismalswamp.fws.gov
www.facebook.com/greatdismalswamp
Bobcat (Lynx rufus)
Mammals
Fish
Opossum.............................................Didelphis virginiana
Least shrew.................................................Cryptotis parva
Eastern mole..........................................Scalopus aquaticus
Star nosed mole......................................Condylura cristata
Southeastern long-tailed shrew..............Condylura cristata
Greater short-tailed shrew.....................Blarina brevicauda
telmalestes
Northern long-eared myotis..............Myotis septentrionalis
Eastern pipistrelle..............................Pipistrellus subflavus
Evening bat.........................................Nycticeiu
Herbaceous Plants
Duckweeds......................................Lemna valdiviana
Duckweeds................................Spirodela oligorrhiza
Dayflower..................................Commelina virginica
Virginia least trillium...........................Trillium nivale
Indian cucumber-root...................Medeola virginiana
Blue eyed grass................Sisyrinchium angustifolium
Pink lady’s slipper.......................Cypripedium acaule
Southern twayblade...........................Listera australis
Downy rattlesnake plantain........Goodyera pubescens
Crane fly orchid................................Tipularis dicolor
Lizard’s tail......................................Saururus cernuus
False nettle................................Boehmeria cylindrica
Mistletoe.............................Phoradendron flavescens
Jumpseed........................................Tovara virginiana
Smartweed......................Polygonum hydropiperoides
Knotweed..........................Polygonum pensylvanicum
Pokeweed.................................Phytolacca americana
Chickweed...........................................Stellaria media
Yellow pond-lilly................................Nuphar luteum
Leather flower....................................Clematis viorna
Buttercups....................................Ranunculus-species
Bitter cress.....................................Cardamine hirsuta
Mock strawberry.............................Duchesnea indica
Partridge pea..................................Cassia fasciculata
Lespedeza......................................Lespedeza cuneata
Lady’s sorrel.........................................Oxalis dillenii
Wild geranium......................Geranium carolinianum
Jewel-weed......................................Impatiens pallida
St. John’s wort..................... Hypericum hypericoides
St. John’s wort.............................Hypericum mutilum
St. John’s wort.........................Hypericum virginicum
Violet..............................................Viola primulifolia
Water loosestrife.......................Decodon verticillatus
Meadow-beauty...................................Rhexia marina
Water primrose..........................Ludwigia alternifolia
Water primrose..............................Ludwigia palustris
Mermaid-weed........................Proserpinaca palustris
Queen Anne’s lace...............................Daucus carota
Marsh pennywort....................Hydrocotyle umbellata
Heal-all............................................Prunella vulgaris
Skullcap...................................Scutellaris integrifolia
Nightshade.................................Solanum carolinense
Gerardia..........................................Agalinis purpurea
Squaw-root..............................Conapholis americana
Beech-drops.................................Epifagus virginiana
Bladderwort.....................................Utricularia gibba
Purple bladderwort....................Utricularia purpurea
Great bladderwort..........................Utricularia inflata
Diodia.............................................Diodia virginiana
Partridge berry..................................Mitchella repens
Cardinal flower..............................Lobelia cardinalis
Yarrow........................................Achillea millefolium
Daisy fleabane..................................Erigeron annuus
Dog-fennel..........................Eupatorium capillifolium
Mistflower............................Eupatorium coelestinum
Joe-pye-weed...............................Eupatorium dubium
Goldenrod...........................................Solidago erecta
Dandelion..................................Taraxacum officinale
Ironweed.............................Vernonia noveboracensis
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Great Dismal Swamp
National Wildlife Refuge
Plants of the
Great Dismal Swamp
Grasses, Sedges and Rushes
Cotton grass...........................Eriophorum virginicum
Wool grass......................................Scripus cyperinus
Foxtail grasses.....................................Setaria-species
Panic grasses.....................................Panicum-species
Sedges................................................Cyperus-species
Sedges...................................................Carex-species
Switch cane...............................Arundinaria gigantea
Rushes.................................................Juncus bufonus
Rushes...................................................Juncus repens
Note: This is not a complete list.
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
3100 Desert Road
Suffolk, VA 23434
(757) 986-3705
www.greatdismalswamp.fws.gov
www.facebook.com/greatdismalswamp
Cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea)
Trees
Loblolly pine............................................Pinus taeda
Pond pine..............................................Pinus serotina
Longleaf pine.......................................Pinus palustris
Bald cypress................................Taxodium disti