The Blue Ridge Mountains are teeming with wildlife. Deer, foxes, black bear and other native animals are often spotted by hikers and even by drivers along quiet roads. And ornithologists love the Blue Ridge for its wide variety of birds, including raptors like red-tailed hawks and bald eagles, as well as water birds like geese, wood ducks and herons. Perhaps the favorite subjects of birdwatchers are songbirds like the northern mockingbird and the hooded warbler. The Roanoke Valley has lots of great places to spot wildlife, including nature preserves and parks as well as along hiking trails and greenways, quiet country roads, and on the valley's rivers and lakes.
The Roanoke Valley features expansive mountain vistas and endless forest trails. Here are several loops for you to explore. Now don't forget your binoculars!
