The Bassett Trace Nature Trail is a 1.4-mile out-and-back trail starting at the Colonial Williamsburg (CW) Griffin Hotel Gold Wing parking lot continuing to the CW Green Course Clubhouse. The Historic Rivers Chapter first formed a continuing partnership with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in 2018 that resulted in the reopening of the trail with added improvements that created a natural outdoor learning venue in a woodland setting found within the boundaries of the historic colonial capital of the Commonwealth.
This project offers a unique variety of volunteer opportunities for our members by providing the means to fulfill 3 of the core missions of the Virginia Master Naturalist program:
- Citizen Science – volunteers identify and photograph fauna, and tag flora species found within the boundaries of the 585 acre tract and record that data on a public webpage that they created.
Everything you need to know can be found by opening either of these links:
The Friends of Bassett Trace Nature Trail at Colonial Williamsburg
Friends of Bassett Trace
- Education & Outreach – Trail Guides, trained by Colonial Williamsburg, lead guided tours for the public 3 times per week between March and December each year. In addition, special tours are provided upon request for school groups, and a variety of other interested organizations.
- Stewardship – Our members also serve as Trail Stewards performing assigned weekly trail maintenance walks throughout the 52 weeks of each year, and correct or report any issues that need to be addressed to keep the trail open, clear of trash and obstacles, and safe for the enjoyment of our visitors.
Members who participate in this project become Colonial Williamsburg Volunteers.
Hundreds of visitors to Colonial Williamsburg have discovered, enjoy, and return to this naturally preserved habitat thanks to the good works of the members of the Historic Rivers Chapter, Virginia Master Naturalists. Here are some of their comments: Hikers’ Reviews
