Lizards, Turtles and Snakes, Oh My!

It never ceases to amaze me how you can have the downtown skyline of Richmond in your rearview mirror one second and then be surrounded by tall pine trees and open parkland a mere twenty minutes later. I am talking about the 7600+ acres that make up Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield County.

Wanting to take advantage of the sunny 70 degree weather this past weekend, we decided to go for a hike around Beaver Lake. While the trail is about 2.5 miles long, it is pretty family-friendly with wide paths and fairly even terrain. And it certainly is picturesque with water cascading over a beautiful stone spillway, beaver dams and footbridges throughout. We were on the lookout for wildlife and were pleasantly surprised to find a baby turtle bathing on a rock, a few lizards, a blue heron and well, a couple of snakes as well. And even though I did shriek when I realized my hand was just inches away from a water mocassin, it was a healthy reminder that we were the interlopers in his environment and not the other way around!

Looking for a great guide to hiking in and around Richmond? Check out 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Richmond by Nathan Lott.