Dutch Gap Conservation Area is a wooded area in Chesterfield County, Virginia that surrounds Henricus, the second successful English settlement in Virginia. The site is nestled against the banks of the James River and consists of 810-acres of woodlands and wetlands. Dutch Gap received in name in 1611 when Sir Thomas Dale attempted to shorten river travel around a meander of the James River by cutting a new channel through the river.
Today, the conservation area offers activities and opportunities for visitors looking for a way to enjoy an outing on the idyllic James River. The site protects natural resources, including a blue heron rookery in the marsh, and offers observation blinds and walking trails for viewing wildlife.
Chesapeake Bay
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service