Crow's Nest Natural Area Preserve

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Crow's Nest Natural Area Preserve supports:
- 895 acres of tidal and non-tidal wetlands. The wetlands on the Crow's Nest peninsula account for 60 percent of all the marshes in Stafford County, and represent some of the best examples of diverse and intact wetland habitats in the Potomac River drainage;
- 23 miles of stream, riparian and wetland buffer;
- 2,310 acres of mature hardwood forest including two forest types that are recognized as globally rare by DCR's Natural Heritage Program;
nesting bald eagles, habitat for the federally listed short-nose sturgeon, and habitat for twenty-two plant species that are significant for the Coastal Plain of Virginia;
- habitat for about 60 species of neotropical migratory songbirds, nearly 60 percent of which are experiencing population declines, including ten species that are high global priority species of Partners In Flight;
- spawning, nursery and/or feeding habitat for 49 species of interjurisdictional fish and seven species of mussels and commercially valuable shellfish; lands and waters that have played important roles in the Native American, Colonial and Civil War histories of Virginia.

VISITATION:
There are two access options for visitors to Crow's Nest Natural Area Preserve. The Raven Road Access point features an 18-car parking area and 8 miles of hiking trails within the forested interior of Crow's Nest via an improved 1.6-mile long entrance road. The Raven Road Access is open Thursday-Sunday. The Brooke Road Access point offers parking for 20 cars, a shoreline birding/nature trail to viewpoints of Accokeek Creek, and an ADA-accessible canoe/kayak launch facility serving as a trailhead for the Crow's Nest Water Trail. The Brooke Road Access is open 7 days a week.

Public Access Hours:
March 15 - October 31: 8:00 AM until 8:00 PM
November 1 - March 14: 8:00 AM until 5:30 PM

Nature Area Preserve Managed By The Department Of Conservation And Recreation, Division Of Natural Heritage

Crow's Nest Natural Area Preserve offers public access facilities and self-guided recreation experiences including birding, hiking trails, and canoe/kayak access. DCR offers focused field trips (e.g., birding, wildflowers, big trees, colonial history, etc.) for smaller groups by request and as staff are available.

A Checklist of the Birds at Crow’s Nest Natural Area Preserve: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/document/cn-birdlist.pdf