By Woodie Walker
I biked the Hutchinson Tract last week, located a mile upstream from Tappahannock, on the south side of Tidewater Trail (Route 17). The early January snow had just about melted when I parked at the Halfway Kiosk on a weekday. There was only one other truck in the parking lot. I packed my binoculars for the ride, and I’m glad I did. I noted more than a dozen species of songbirds, shorebirds, and raptors in the hour I spent exploring the biking loops.
The more than 700-acre Hutchinson Tract is part of the Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and managed primarily for habitat and cultural interpretation. The Hutchinson Tract is one of more than 20 tracts in the Refuge, totaling more than 8,700 acres. There are great maps available at Hutchinson Unit Trail Map.pdf | FWS.gov. Most of the Refuge tracts and the headquarters office are on the Northern Neck side of the river near Warsaw.
The northern boundary of the Hutchinson Tract is Mount Landing Creek, a tributary of the Rappahannock River. It’s about a mile by water from the canoe launch to the main river. Tappahannock is a mile downstream from that point, river right. There are several public access points in town for recovering boats.
The entrance gate is visible from Route 17 South, just after crossing the bridge at Mount Landing Creek. Greenfield Farm Road is packed with gravel and is only two miles long, from the entrance to the canoe launch and fishing pier at the end. Trail loops are clustered in the back half of the track. An interpretive kiosk at the halfway point tells the story of the area’s Native American history.
The quality of birding on the Hutchinson Tract is well-documented and outstanding. The USFWS lists more than 160 species recorded there. Local volunteers lead birding adventures along the trails. On my short bike ride, I saw a Belted Kingfisher, a Great Blue Heron, and a Bald Eagle, and I pushed a hawk up the bike loop for 10 minutes.
My small binoculars worked well and were easy to carry while pedaling. I like to park at the kiosk, ride over the elevated walkway, and take the trail that ends at the canoe launch and pier. From there, I circle back to my vehicle and bike down Magruder Loop to Daingerfield Loop, which has the best creek overlooks.
I say down, but the trails throughout the tract are level, packed, and well-maintained. That’s why I rate them as family-friendly and suitable for all skill levels. A youngster on training wheels could travel most places on the Hutchinson Tract trails. They’re long enough, however, that a rider looking for more of a workout has 2 miles from which to choose.
Hutchinson has a fascinating cultural heritage story, too. The Rappahannock Tribe maintained historical villages along the creek, mostly for seasonal hunting and fishing. The fishing is still good and somewhat accessible. The 30-foot pier is great when the tide is in, and anglers catch Blue Catfish, White Perch, and other species, depending on the time of year. The canoe launch is the key to fishing in this part of the creek, providing access to tidal creeks and sloughs in each direction.
If you are a history buff, check out the Essex County Museum in Historic Downtown Tappahannock. Look for John Smith in the Chesapeake in the gift shop, by local historian Edward Wright Haile. It’s the perfect explorer’s companion, linking John Smith’s historical narratives to modern locations.
Birders may want to learn more about the area’s pair of breeding Peregrine Falcons, which nest under the Downing Bridge on Richmond Road (Route 360). Peregrines are a Species of Concern in Virginia. Fledgling chicks from the Downing Bridge nest are translocated to permanent homes in the mountains of western Virginia.
The tract is supported by an active volunteer support group, the Rappahannock Wildlife Refuge Friends. They do good deeds throughout the Refuge, on both sides of the river. The Refuge Friends are active with hands-on projects, like tree plantings and more. They recently built a state-of-the-art fishing pier on the Cat Point Creek tract on the Northern Neck side. They are always seeking new Refuge Friends.
Woodie Walker is owner of Rappahannock Adventures, offering guided ecotours and angling adventures on the Middle Peninsula.