The Dismal Swamp Canal and the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal form alternate
routes along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW) between the Chesapeake
Bay and Albemarle Sound. The AIWW provides pleasure boaters and commercial
shippers with a protected inland channel between Norfolk, Virginia and Miami,
Florida. The history of these two canals, which contain the only locks along
the AIWW, paints a vivid picture of the development of transportation that
goes back over 200 years. Boating and fishing are allowed at Lake Drummond in
the Great Dismal Swamp Wildlife Refuge.

The Dismal Swamp Canal and the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal form alternate routes along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW) between the Chesapeake Bay and Albemarle Sound.  The AIWW provides pleasure boaters and commercial shippers with a protected inland channel between Norfolk, Virginia and Miami, Florida.  The history of these two canals, which contain the only locks along the AIWW, paints a vivid picture of the development of transportation that goes back over 200 years.  Boating and fishing are allowed at Lake Drummond in the Great Dismal Swamp Wildlife Refuge.

Bird's eye view of the park

Dismal Swamp Canal

Bird's eye view of the campground

A - Read Loop - (103-136)

B - Collier Loop - (66-99, 101, 102)

Cabins

C - Wingfield Loop - (137-149, 151-154)

D - Percy Loop - (155-165)

E - Gosnold Loop Group - (44-65)

F - Gosnold Loop - (32-43)

G - Archer Loop - (166-186, 188-205)

H - Kendall Loop - (1-5, 7-31)

Shelter

Yurts

First Landing State Park

The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is the largest intact remnant
of a vast forested wetland that once covered more than one million acres of
southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. Formal protection of
this resource began in 1973, when the Union Camp Corporation (a local forest
products company) donated 49,097acres to The Nature Conservancy. The Nature
Conservancy conveyed the donated land to the federal government, which,
combined with additionally purchased land, was used to establish the Great
Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in 1974.The refuge's conservation
priority endeavors to restore the biological diversity of the swamp ecosystem
through hydrological restoration, forest management, and fire management. The
refuge is home to over 200 species of birds, nearly 100 species of butterflies
and skippers, many turtles, numerous white-tailed deer, bobcats, otters, and
one of the largest black bear populations on the east coast. Special
designations for the refuge include:

  * Virginia and Globally Important Bird Area designations
  * National Parks Services National Natural Landmark
  * Underground Railroad Network to Freedom site
  * Virginia Birding Trail

  
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<table><tbody><tr><td>The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is the largest intact remnant of a vast forested wetland that once covered more than one million acres of southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. Formal protection of this resource began in 1973, when the Union Camp Corporation (a local forest products company) donated 49,097acres to The Nature Conservancy. The Nature Conservancy conveyed the donated land to the federal government, which, combined with additionally purchased land, was used to establish the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in 1974.The refuge's conservation priority endeavors to restore the biological diversity of the swamp ecosystem through hydrological restoration, forest management, and fire management. The refuge is home to over 200 species of birds, nearly 100 species of butterflies and skippers, many turtles, numerous white-tailed deer, bobcats, otters, and one of the largest black bear populations on the east coast. Special designations for the refuge include:<ul><li>Virginia and Globally Important Bird Area designations</li><li>National Parks Services National Natural Landmark</li><li>Underground Railroad Network to Freedom site</li><li>Virginia Birding Trail</li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table>

Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1938 to protect and
provide habitat for migratory and wintering waterfowl, or ducks, geese and
swans. The refuge encompasses a variety of habitats including beach, dunes,
shrub-scrub, freshwater wetlands and woodlands. The primary unit of the
wildlife refuge sits a thin strip of barrier island coastline typical of the
Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Other areas of the refuge include islands in Back
Bay and upland areas on the west bank of the bay, including a public kayak
launch and fishing site at the end of Horn Point Road (open April - October).

Thousands of tundra swans, snow and Canada geese and a large variety of ducks
visit the refuge during the fall/winter migration. Refuge waterfowl
populations usually peak during December and January. The refuge also provides
habitat for other wildlife, including such threatened and endangered species
as the loggerhead sea turtle, and recently recovered species like the brown
pelican and bald eagle.

In addition to providing habitat for migratory birds and wildlife, Back Bay
Refuge provides over eight miles of scenic trails, a Visitor Center,
interpretive programming and, with advance scheduling, environmental education
opportunities. Popular outdoor recreation activities at the refuge include
hiking, biking, freshwater fishing, surf fishing, kayaking/canoeing, wildlife
photography and wildlife observation.

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1938 to protect and provide habitat for migratory and wintering waterfowl, or ducks, geese and swans. The refuge encompasses a variety of habitats including beach, dunes, shrub-scrub, freshwater wetlands and woodlands. The primary unit of the wildlife refuge sits a thin strip of barrier island coastline typical of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Other areas of the refuge include islands in Back Bay and upland areas on the west bank of the bay, including a public kayak launch and fishing site at the end of Horn Point Road (open April - October).Thousands of tundra swans, snow and Canada geese and a large variety of ducks visit the refuge during the fall/winter migration. Refuge waterfowl populations usually peak during December and January. The refuge also provides habitat for other wildlife, including such threatened and endangered species as the loggerhead sea turtle, and recently recovered species like the brown pelican and bald eagle.In addition to providing habitat for migratory birds and wildlife, Back Bay Refuge provides over eight miles of scenic trails, a Visitor Center, interpretive programming and, with advance scheduling, environmental education opportunities. Popular outdoor recreation activities at the refuge include hiking, biking, freshwater fishing, surf fishing, kayaking/canoeing, wildlife photography and wildlife observation.

Dismal Swamp Canal

Directions

Reviews

Nearby Parks

First Landing State Park

Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge