What to do on a hot summer Friday night in Central Virginia? How about a kayak paddle along the Lagoon Water Trail at the Dutch Gap Conservation Area. Recently, Dr. Richard Young—senior research chemist for DuPont Protection Technologies by day / Rich Young, avid paddler and flatwater kayak instructor by weekend—invited my husband and me to join the kayaking meet-up group for an after-work evening paddle.

Dutch Gap is located south of Richmond, on the James River. We put in at the Peninsula (trail map and brochure available here) around 6:30 p.m. with about 40 new boat-friends and paddled off into the half-mast sun, toward the Graveyard. Not a people cemetery, but one for boats—old barges, to be more precise. You see, this lagoon is a flooded sand and gravel pit. Richmond Sand & Gravel started mining here in the 1920s, and Southern Material and Lonestar followed. A channel was cut to connect to the James River for barges from the mine to access ports. At some point during the 1960s, the James River flooded the pit.

Looking across the lagoon, you see many small islands. Most are sunken barge clusters that now host plants such as river birches, sycamores and the heavenly rose mallows. We paddled on, falling behind the pack. Way too many wildlife treasures to survey. When the sun is at its best, low on the horizon, each surface ripple carries ominous, glittery reflections. Add to that dashing swarms of small fish zipping at crazy angles like a giant itch is chasing them, and you have more visual stimulation than 500 channels on TV—silhouettes of giant blue herons, and yapping osprey squawking at their young, “Dinner’s on the way!” Why, we even scared up a large kingfisher, swooping around our heads.

From the Graveyard, we paddled into the Wetlands through forests of cattails and arrow arum, then out into the lagoon proper, then back through the Labyrinth. As we headed back to shore around 8:30, we heard a duel building between an owl and a terrified bunch of squirrels. A wildlife paradise, so close to urban centers. And, even more amazing, you are always paddling in the shadow of the pre-1970 federal Clean Air Act Dominion Virginia Power Plant.

—Tricia Pearsall

Getting there: From I-95 north or south, use Exit 61A. East on Route 10 to first stoplight, then north on Route 732 to Route 615. Right on Route 615 to Henricus Road. The public can launch from the public boat landing straight ahead, or turn into the Henricus site and portage down from the visitors center parking lot to the Sycamore dock.)

For more information about the Dutch Gap Conservation Area and the Lagoon Water Trail, call 804.706.9690.