The Virginia Bird and Wildlife Trail (VBWT) is an organized network of outdoor sites highlighting the best places to see birds and wildlife in the Commonwealth. Walk a nature trail, paddle a river, or enjoy a scenic overlook to experience Virginia’s wealth of natural diversity, ranging from brown pelicans and bottlenose dolphins along our Atlantic Coast to bald eagles and black bear in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The VBWT features 65 trail loops to help you plan your outdoor travels. Each loop contains multiple birding and wildlife viewing sites; select those that interest you most or drive from site-to-site. Each loop has a webpage with a map of the loop, descriptions of its viewing sites, and links to tourism information.
To get started select a region:
Coastal Region
Virginia’s Coastal Plain contains 18 trail loops to explore its scenic seashores, untouched barrier islands, cypress swamps, great stands of pine forest, and bayside salt marshes. Look for bald eagles and osprey, wintering geese and ducks, rails, shorebirds, and migrating songbirds. Additional wildlife includes marine mammals, turtles, lizards, snakes, and frogs, plus abundant butterflies and dragonflies.
Piedmont Region
Virginia’s Piedmont region contains the rolling foothills and river valleys between the Coastal Plain and the Blue Ridge Mountains. This area offers 13 loops to explore expansive grasslands, forests, pineland savannahs, and large reservoirs. Look for bobolinks, meadowlarks, turkey, grosbeaks, indigo buntings, prairie warblers, and northern parulas. Additional wildlife includes white-tailed deer, lizards, and turtles. Along the way you’ll also discover an abundance of rich history and culture!
Mountain Region
34 loops through the Blue Ridge, Allegheny, and Cumberland Mountains help you explore the expansive vistas, scenic overlooks, back roads, forests, reservoirs, and rivers of the Appalachians. Look for over 20 species of warblers, migrating hawks, owls, and grouse. Additional wildlife includes black bear and white-tailed deer. During your travels, be sure to enjoy the unique Appalachian food, music and culture.
Contact Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail
REMINDER: This listing is a free service of VirginiaLandCAN.
Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail is not employed by or affiliated with the Virginia Land Conservation Assistance Network, and the Network does not certify or guarantee their services. The reader must perform their own due diligence and use their own judgment in the selection of any professional.
Contact Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail
Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
4010 W Broad St
Richmond, VA 23230-3916
Phone: (804) 367-1000
Service Area
Statewide service provider in: