Begin the New Year with a refreshing walk at one of your favorite natural areas.

Check back for details and additional First Day Walks!

• Belle Isle State Park - Start your new year off on the right foot by joining Belle Isle SP staff for the annual Virginia State Parks First Day Hike at Belle Isle State Park.

  • 10 am - Watch House Trail, meet at Camp Store
    First hike is on Watch House Trail, where we will look back at some New Year's Day history and traditions, and the links to American Indian and other ancient societies, then look forward and set our intentions for 2022. We will celebrate by throwing pollinator Wish-fetti seeds. Meet at the Camp Store at 10 a.m.

  • 1:00 pm - Mulberry Creek to Mud Creek, meet at Canoe Launch parking lot
    Second hike is a little later in the day for those who celebrated the end of the old year and rang in the new and want a quiet, slower paced hike along the Mulberry Creek to Mud Creek trails. Meet at the Canoe Launch parking lot at 1 p.m.

  Other details:

  Standard parking or admission fee applies: No.
  Extra fee: No.
  Children welcome: Yes.
  Phone: 804-462-5030
  Email Address: BelleIsle@dcr.virginia.gov

• Hickory Hollow Natural Area Preserve - Cancelled due to Covid-19
  Sadly, because of the rapid spread of the new Omicron Covid strain reported in the last few weeks, the Audubon Board and cosponsors have reluctantly decided it is not quite the time to offer a public walk.

  • However, the Northern Neck Audubon Board hopes everyone takes advantage of a New Year’s Day walk with family and friends at Hickory Hollow to see the Skunk Cabbage blooms along the boardwalk at Cabin Swamp. Please do not step off the Boardwalk at the Swamp.  The trail to Cabin Swamp is somewhat narrow and steep so wear sturdy shoes and be careful. 

  • Two local naturalists and Audubon Board members, Kevin Howe and Betsy Washington, put together a winter Virtual walk for Hickory Hollow entitled “Virtual Hickory Hollow Skunk Cabbage Walk”. This virtual presentation is again available with a few additions and updates. It can be found on the Northern Neck Audubon’s main page website at https://northernneckaudubon.squarespace.com.  The Virtual Walk describes the location, provides a map and lots of pictures and description of what you will see including Skunk Cabbage.
    
    Happy New Year to all.