Historic waterway is a refuge for wildlife – and humans.
When you dip a paddle into Cat Point Creek, you become part of a story that began soon after the last ice age. Nobody knows for certain when people first came to this Rappahannock River tributary, located near Warsaw in the Northern Neck, but the general theory is that indigenous communities arrived here about 10,000 years ago. A warming climate was filling up what became the Chesapeake Bay, leading to a new ecosystem teeming with food for people.
Their descendants thrived, developing over thousands of years into communities whose names we know well today. The Patawomeck, Piscataway, and Susquehannock lived near the Potomac River. The Mattaponi, Chickahominy, and Pamunkey lived further south, near the James River. In the middle, living along places like Cat Point Creek, were the Rappahannock people. Today, the river that bears their name is the tourism connection between the Northern Neck and the Middle Peninsula.
“Cat Point Creek is a pristine, freshwater creek, and part of the Virginia Scenic Rivers program,” said Alice French, director of education at the Menokin Foundation. “Menokin is a National Historic Landmark marking the 1769 home of a signer of the Declaration of Independence.” Menokin is on one side of the creek, at a wide spot called Menokin Bay. On the other side is the Cat Point Creek Unit of the Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge.
“The unique Menokin architectural preservation project demonstrates how conservation of our landscape supports preservation of the history of all Americans,” French said. “We welcome you to take a tour to uncover these stories, explore the trails with your dog, and rent a kayak while contemplating the building of America as eagles soar overhead.”
Visitors to the Northen Neck-Middle Peninsula region can join one of Menokin’s guided paddling trips, exploring the history and ecology of the creek. It’s a great option if you are traveling and need a place to rent a kayak.
Visitors with their own boats can launch from the refuge side. Steve Colangelo is president of the Refuge Friends group, which enlists volunteers to assist with projects like habitat maintenance and educational outreach programs.
“The Refuge Friends were heavily engaged in the transformation of the Cat Point Creek Unit from an abandoned vineyard and a shuttered campground into a vibrant wildlife habitat and premier site for outdoor recreation, said Colangelo.
Refuge Friends repaired the boat launch and replaced the small pier with a new, accessible pier extending 100 feet into Menokin Bay. “We also built an observation and hunting blind at the foot of Dancing Point,” Colangelo said, “providing a perfect vantage point to observe waterfowl in Menokin Bay. The Friends also designed and built a natural discovery play area for children called Wild in the Woods.”
The Cat Point Creek Unit is open year-round, from sunup to sundown. Colangelo said the pier and the observation blind are ideal spots to fish for catfish, snakehead, bowfin, and longnose gar. Canoes, kayaks, and small boats (no gasoline motors) can be comfortably launched from the boat ramp from early spring to late fall. 
After your Cat Point Creek adventure, nearby Warsaw and Tappahannock have many fun destinations, with a variety of eateries, pubs, and live music. Check out the Northern Neck Tourism Commission and Visit Tappahannock for more information and suggested itineraries. Virginia Water Trails lists more public access points for paddlers, anglers, and photographers.
Driving time to Cat Point Creek is about an hour from Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Gloucester.
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Woodie Walker is executive director of the Essex County Economic Development Authority. Photo credits to Friends of the Rappahannock River National Wildlife Refuge.