Canoeing along Cumberland Marsh
Cumberland Marsh Canoeing along Cumberland Marsh © Daniel White / TNC

Places We Protect

Vandell Preserve at Cumberland Marsh

Virginia

Enjoy views of the marsh from an ADA-accessible boardwalk.

Vandell Preserve at Cumberland Marsh is a mixture of freshwater tidal marsh and wooded upland. This preserve provides pristine habitat for wetlands species, migrating waterfowl, and has the world's largest population of the rare sensitive joint-vetch (Aeschynomene virginica), a member of the pea family listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act.

Situated along the Atlantic Flyway, the marsh provides important migratory and wintering habitat for waterfowl.

Conditions

An ADA-accessible boardwalk and observation deck on the marsh offers views of a wide variety of bird species, including bald eagles.  There are no restrooms.

Download a trail map (pdf)

View Preserve Guidelines

Why TNC Selected This Site

Purchased in 1993, the preserve protects a pristine marsh habitat on the Pamunkey River, a major tributary of the Chesapeake Bay.

TNC also monitors the endangered sensitive joint-vetch plant. Part of the preserve consists of working farm, and we are working with a local farmer to use best-management practices on the land. The adjacent Cumberland Hospital for Children also uses the preserve for outdoor rehabilitation programs.

Cumberland Marsh in the News

Download a trail map of Vandell Preserve at Cumberland Marsh (pdf)

View Preserve Guidelines

What to See: Plants

World's largest population of the rare plant sensitive joint vetch occurs here.

What to See: Birds

Bald eagles, ospreys, great blue herons, and egrets; wintering populations of black ducks, wood ducks, mallards, and Canada geese.

What to Do:

The nearest launch site for paddle craft is four miles downstream at the Whites Landing (Lestor Manor) ramp, just downstream of the Pamunkey reservation.

Paddlers are encouraged to plan trips in accordance with tidal currents, which can be very strong along this section of the river.

A set of river maps can be ordered from the Mattaponi and Pamunkey Rivers Association at mpra.org.

For more information, contact the Virginia State Office: (434) 295-6106.

Vandell Preserve At Cumberland Marsh
Cumberland Marsh Preserve provides pristine habitat for wetlands species, migrating waterfowl, and the world's largest population of the rare plant sensitive joint-vetch. The Pamunkey River is one of four major tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay that are the focus of the Conservancy's Chesapeake Rivers Program.
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Vandell Preserve at Cumberland Marsh An observation deck on the marsh offers views of a wide variety of bird species, including bald eagles.

Take a closer look at Cumberland Marsh

This preserve provides pristine habitat for wetlands species and migrating waterfowl.
Cumberland Marsh This preserve provides pristine habitat for wetlands species and migrating waterfowl. © Glenna Goldman/TNC
An ADA-accessible boardwalk and observation deck on the marsh offers views of a wide variety of bird species, including bald eagles.
Cumberland Marsh An ADA-accessible boardwalk and observation deck on the marsh offers views of a wide variety of bird species, including bald eagles. © Whitney Hall / TNC
Cumberland Marsh is home to the world's largest population of the rare sensitive joint-vetch.
Sensitive Joint Vetch Cumberland Marsh is home to the world's largest population of the rare sensitive joint-vetch. © Shaina Huynh / TNC
An ADA-accessible boardwalk and observation deck on the marsh offers views of a wide variety of bird species, including bald eagles.
Cumberland Marsh An ADA-accessible boardwalk and observation deck on the marsh offers views of a wide variety of bird species, including bald eagles. © Glenna Goldman/TNC
An ADA-accessible boardwalk and observation deck on the marsh offers views of a wide variety of bird species, including bald eagles.
Cumberland Marsh An ADA-accessible boardwalk and observation deck on the marsh offers views of a wide variety of bird species, including bald eagles. © Glenna Goldman/TNC
× This preserve provides pristine habitat for wetlands species and migrating waterfowl.
× An ADA-accessible boardwalk and observation deck on the marsh offers views of a wide variety of bird species, including bald eagles.
× Cumberland Marsh is home to the world's largest population of the rare sensitive joint-vetch.
× An ADA-accessible boardwalk and observation deck on the marsh offers views of a wide variety of bird species, including bald eagles.
× An ADA-accessible boardwalk and observation deck on the marsh offers views of a wide variety of bird species, including bald eagles.