The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge spans a massive 45,000 acres across an area south of Chesapeake, Virginia, into North Carolina. Despite its unappealing name, the refuge is filled with activities that make the Great Dismal Swamp worth a visit.
Hiking and Biking
The Great Dismal Swamp offers multiple trails you can either use for hiking or biking. The Washington Ditch Trail is the most popular trail for hiking and biking. It is a 4.5-mile dirt road that goes to Lake Drummond where it then switches to a 0.75-mile boardwalk by the water. The Railroad Ditch Trail also runs to Lake Drummond, but from a different entrance point. This gravel road is 6 miles long and connects to a different set of boardwalks. There is also the Headquarters/Pine Trail, which loops around the headquarters building through a pine forest.
Auto Touring
The Lake Drummond Wildlife Drive Auto Tour is a self-guided driving tour that starts at the Railroad Ditch entrance and ends at Lake Drummond. The tour costs $5 and requires a self-obtained permit you can get at the entrance gate. The drive takes you through the park and gives you the opportunity to spot wildlife and sites along the way. One site is the Lateral West Fire Scar, which is a scar left from a fire in 2011 that scorched 6,300 acres. The Lake Drummond area is the most popular section for bird watching, so have your binoculars ready.
Wildlife Viewing
The Great Dismal Swamp Wildlife Refuge is filled with wildlife that you may get a chance to see during your visit. While birding is usually easier, the mammals you can catch a glimpse of are deer, black bear, coyotes, or river otters. There are over 200 species of birds that inhabit the refuge and around 80 different types of butterflies.
Fishing and Boating
Lake Drummond is a popular area in the swamp for fishing and boating on this 3,000-acre lake. Boaters are required to get a self-serve permit for their boat at the entrance gate, and the lake has a 25-horsepower limit. Lake Drummond has a limited selection of fish species due to its pH levels. Fishermen can catch crappie, chain pickerel, yellow perch, and catfish, but the most populous species in the lake are longnose gar and bowfin. The lake is also a popular spot to kayak and canoe due to its shallow depth and picturesque tree-filled views.
Hunting
For those that enjoy hunting, the refuge has a select few days every year where hunting takes place. There is a whitetail deer hunt that spans 12 days and a six-day long American black bear hunt, both of which overlap. In order to hunt, you need a special refuge hunt permit and your normal state hunting license and tags.
The Great Dismal Swamp is a great place for a day trip for outdoor enthusiasts of any kind. You will be able to enjoy nature while taking in the sights of wildlife at this refuge — just don’t let the name dissuade you!
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