U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Lake Drummond

Lake Drummond, at 3,100 acres, is the largest natural lake in . The lake was formed about 4,000 years ago, likely after a fire burned away several feet of peat soils. Peat from the National Wildife Refuge swamp’s organic soil colors the lake’s water a dark brown, but despite its murky appearance, the lake is only about three feet deep in most places. The lake’s acidity and dark color limits the abundance of plants in the lake. Despite this, the lake is home to several species of fish, includ- ing mud sunfish, yellow perch, brown and yellow bullhead catfish, bowfin and crappie. Contrary to popular myth, there are no alligators in the lake. In the winter, the lake provides a resting place The Railroad Ditch Trail vehicle access gate for thousands of migratory birds including is open Monday-Saturday, 7:30am to 3:00pm. Tundra Swans and Snow Geese. In the summer, Pick-up and complete the self-service pass keep an eye out for Great Blue Herons and Great found at the entrance gate. Vehicles must exit Egrets, as well as Northern Parula Warblers and the area by 4:00pm. Prothonotary Warblers nesting in the cypress trees. The shore of the lake is also home to a Hiking and biking are allowed everyday on Bald Eagle nest. refuge trails, including the Railroad Ditch Trail, sunrise to sunset.

The Railroad Ditch Trail is occasionally closed for hunts, maintenance, prescribed burns and other management events.

The refuge office is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. The office is closed on weekends and federal holidays.

Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge Lake Drummond is the main source of water 3100 Desert Road, Suffolk, VA 23434 for the , which borders the (757) 986-3705 eastern edge of the refuge. The canal, origi- www.fws.gov/refuge/Great_Dismal_Swamp nally dug by hand with slave labor, was initially Railroad Ditch Trail Guide proposed by George Washington. It was also an important strategic position during the Ameri- can Civil War. The canal is still in use today, greatdismalswamp Sights and stops along the way to making it the oldest continually-operating canal in America. Lake Drummond Welcome to the Great Dismal Swamp! Underground Railroad Pavilion West Ditch Boardwalk Trail

The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife As you travel down Railroad Ditch, you will Midway down West Refuge is a place of both ecological importance see the Underground Railroad Pavilion on Ditch, you will see and historical significance. The refuge is the your right. The pavilion was built to showcase a boardwalk trail largest intact remnant of a vast habitat that the Great Dismal Swamp’s role as a stop on on the right. The once covered more than one million acres of the Underground Railroad as well as a hiding trail leads to a Bald southeastern Virginia and northeastern North place for permanent, multi-generational com- Cypress tree approxi- Carolina. Over 200 species of birds and nearly munities of escaped slaves known as maroons. mately 800 years old. 100 species of butterflies and skippers have In 2004, the Great Dismal Swamp became the Although the entire been identified on the refuge. It is also home first National Wildlife Refuge designated as an Dismal Swamp has to the largest black bear population in eastern important site on the National Underground been logged, a few Virginia. Railroad Net- old-growth trees like The Auto tour route is a popular way to work to Freedom. this one remain. This tree was topped by light- see Lake Drummond, but there are plenty The Swamp will ning and is only about one-half to two-thirds of of other sights along the way. As you drive, also be a fea- its original height. Centuries ago, much of the please watch out for snakes and turtles sun- tured exhibit in swamp was dominated by cypress like this one. ning themselves in the road. And be sure to the new Na- If you would like to walk out to the tree, please bring your binoculars and cameras, because tional Museum park your car along the opposite side of the road you never know what you might see! of African-Amer- so others can drive past. ican History and Pines Trail Culture being built on the National Mall in Lateral West Fire Scar Washington, DC. Stop by the pavilion to learn Begin your tour by more about this important aspect of American In recent years, several severe wildfires have walking the Pines Trail, a history. affected the swamp. The 2008 South One Fire quarter-mile loop around lasted 121 days and burned the refuge headquarters Railroad-West Marsh 4,800 acres. It was followed that winds through a in 2011 by the Lateral West At the intersection of Railroad and West stand of pines, includ- Fire, which burned 6,300 Ditches lies an area where the dense hard- ing recently planted long acres, much of which was wood forest is replaced by tall marsh grasses leaf pines. Long leaf pines once dominated in the South One fire scar, and cypress trees. This 10-acre marsh was cre- the Southeast, but logging and development and smoldered for nearly ated through a series have reduced them to only about 5% of their four months. The elevation of prescribed burns, original range. in the fire scar is now up to allowing a different The refuge conducts prescribed burns in this five feet lower than it was habitat type to take area every few years. Carefully burning the before the fire, and it will hold. forest under controlled conditions prevents take centuries for this peat The Railroad- the buildup of plant matter that could fuel to regenerate. West Marsh is home a larger, more destructive fire. Addition- Fire has always been a part of the Dismal to several beaver ally, long leaf pines depend on periodic fires Swamp’s history, especially during times of lodges, including one to clear out undergrowth and allow seeds to drought. Wildfires in the swamp are difficult to that is visible from the road. You might also germinate. Burns also create a more diverse put out because even the swamp’s peat soils can see otters, turtles, wood ducks, herons and habitat for a variety of animals. burn. In the early part of the 20th century, a fire mallards. Some animals you might spot along the raged for three years. As the area surrounding Future plans for the marsh include a board- Pines Trail include: Redheaded Woodpeckers, the swamp has become more populated, however, walk trail with several bird photography Pileated Woodpeckers, Summer Tanagers, fire suppression and prevention have become a blinds, so be sure to come back and visit again! black rat snakes and deer. priority.