Did you know that there are more than 570 national wildlife refuges in the United States? These properties are maintained by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and can be found in every state and many U.S territories.
We recently had the opportunity to visit the Rappahannock River Valley Wildlife Refuge. Though this particular refuge is currently made up of over 8,000 acres of protective land (with the goal of reaching 20,000 acres), the acreage is not contiguous. In fact, it is composed of multiple units that dot the river and its many tributaries. The Cat Point Creek Unit – one of the newest public additions to the refuge – was our chosen destination, primarily due to its brand new nature play space. Best of all, there is no charge for admission!
After making the turn into the property, we drove up the hill and parked in front of the large wooden meeting house, which was closed during our visit. Immediately to the right of the building is a kiosk with trail maps and interpretive signs. There, you can find information about the unit’s amenities (1.5 miles of trails, waterfront overlooks, kayak launches, a pavillion, seasonally open restrooms) and resident wildlife.
Just behind the kiosk is the first sign advertising Wild in the Woods, our reason for visiting. Wild in the Woods is a nature play space and discovery area nestled in the forest.
The first sign points to the trailhead, where a packed dirt trail and spaced wooden steps lead down to the play area.
Keep an eye out for the mosaic pavers propped up along the trail.
The downhill trail opens into a clearing with a series of eight play stations. Each station uses natural elements to mimic actions found in the animal world.
The Hop Station invites children to jump along a course of tree stumps.
The Crawl Station is composed of a series of scurry-worthy logs.
The Weave Station, my daughters’ favorite, features a human-sized, climbable spider web.
The Look Station is home to a picnic table with magnifying glasses and a box full of bones, shells, and other treasures.
Have you ever wanted to feel like a bird? Check out the Nest Station and its giant avian retreat.
The Build Station harbors wooden blocks of all shapes and sizes, encouraging kids to build their own unique structures.
The Watch Station features a little stage-like observation deck.
Last but certainly not least, the Dig Station is basically a giant sandbox populated with shovels and other tools in various sizes.
A few things to note about the property:
- If you drive a few hundred feet down the hill past the wooden meeting house, you will come to a handicap-only parking lot on your right that is adjacent to the play area. Towards the end of our visit, my husband walked up the hill and brought the car down to this lot to pick us up, helping to maximize the kids’ playing time.
- The play space is mostly flat, but no part of it is paved, so it may be challenging for wheelchair use.
- There are a few picnic tables tucked into Wild in the Woods, so it’s definitely easy to break for lunch. Just remember to bring your trash out with you.
- The only bathrooms that we encountered were farther down the hill and closer to the water, and they were locked during our winter visit. The good news is that a Dairy Queen and a number of other fast food restaurants are just seven minutes away.
- Though we were there on a gorgeous 70-degree day, were the only people in the play area for our ENTIRE VISIT. This is definitely a hidden gem.
If you happen to be visiting the Northern Neck with kids, Wild in the Woods is a great, low-key destination that promises lots of wholesome outdoor fun. We’re super grateful that the Cat Point Creek Unit of the refuge decided to add this thoughtful feature. Have you visited any part of the Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge in the past? Please feel free to share your experiences in the comments!
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