Description - Located in King George County along the Potomac River. Caledon boasts as the summer home to one of the largest concentrations of the American Bald Eagles on the East Coast. Preservation of the national bird's habitat is the primary focus of this park. Limited tours of the nesting bald eagles are offered seasonally.
Copyright: - Virginia State Parks
Caledon Natural Area
- Scottish settler John Alexander named this area Caledon after the great Scotland forest Caledonia. The family cleared the land for agricultural purposes and built a home in 1735, which later burnt to the ground. The Alexander family lived on this land for generations until the early 1900's when Egerton Smoot inherited the land and built a house which is now used for a visitor center which houses one of the best bald eagle exhibits on the east coast. Caledon has been known to have as many as 60 eagles on the bluffs overlooking the Potomac River.
Recreation - The park offers limited 1.5 hour minibus trips to Boyd's Hole or Caledon Marsh, popular eagle foraging areas. It has 5-foot trails totaling 5 miles in length. Visitors can enjoy the beauty of Caledon by hiking and picnicking but no swimming, fishing, hunting or overnight facilities are available. Tip: Take binoculars and be patient. Eagles fly with a straight-wing profile, whereas vultures fly with a v-shaped profile. Eagles tend to fly to their destination point and vultures will frequently circle.
George Washington's Birthplace National Monument, Robert E. Lee's Birthplace and Westmoreland State Park, where there are overnight accommodations, are approximately 20 miles south off Rt. 3.
Climate - Virginia generally has mild winters and warm humid summers. The tidewater and eastern shore have winter temperatures averaging 34 to 36 degrees Fahrenheit (1 to 2 degrees Celsius). The state's summer temperatures have little variation. The tidewater and eastern shore generally experience temperatures ranging from 76 to above 78 degrees Fahrenheit (26 Celsius). High humidity along with warm temperatures can be uncomfortable.
Caledon Natural Area is located in King George County between Fairview Beach and Owens. It is 20 miles east of Fredericksburg on Rt. 218.