Nature Preserve

Bay Creek’s spectacular 350-acre Nature Preserve enhances the authentic coastal living our community is known for, offering a place for activity and exploration among forests and shorelines. Some of the most scenic land within the community, this natural wonderland is now protected from future development and will serve as a permanent conservation area for Bay Creek owners.

A crucial part of our mission in responsibly creating this Nature Preserve was to make it accessible for residents and guests. The Nature Preserve is a haven for hiking, walking, canoeing, kayaking and learning about the world around you. On foot or on the water, Bay Creek residents and guests have a beautiful natural world opened up for their enjoyment and for the preservation of the Eastern Shore’s valuable habitat.

Access & Exploration

We have partnered with Avid Trails®, one of America’s top trail companies, to design and implement walking and biking trails and activity stations throughout the Preserve. Avid Trails® provides the trail and experiential expertise that enhances the country’s most beautiful natural landscapes. Bay Creek’s network of trails traverse the Nature Preserve and offer some of the most scenic views on Virginia’s Cape. The trails are punctuated by planned activity areas and access points for exploring waterways by kayak or canoe. They will also be joined by the future ‘Base Camp,’ a launching point for all manner of outdoor activity.

Explore The Trails

MEET OUR RANGERS

Nature Ranger Cara Newbill

Cara Newbill brings a passion for environmental education, conservation, and connecting people with nature to her role as a Nature Ranger at Bay Creek. She graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Environmental Conservation, focusing on education. While in college and afterward, she worked as an interpretive ranger at Natural Bridge State Park in Lexington, Virginia. She also served as a district executive for Scouting America, coordinating volunteers and fundraising while developing her leadership and teaching skills. At Bay Creek, Cara enjoys helping residents and guests discover the trails, waterways, plants, and wildlife that make the Eastern Shore so special.

MEET OUR RANGERS

Nature Ranger Maggie Humphreys

Maggie Humphreys, a Virginia Master Naturalist, has a lifelong love of nature, and is passionate about environmental education. Now, as a Bay Creek Nature Ranger, she enjoys educating and inspiring others to appreciate nature. After graduating from college in 2023, Maggie joined the Virginia State Park system as a seasonal Interpretive Ranger at nearby Kiptopeke State Park. She also worked as an environmental educator at the North Carolina Estuarium in Washington, NC, before returning to Kiptopeke in 2025. Even before she joined the Bay Creek team, she had often enjoyed exploring the community’s Nature Preserve. She loves encouraging new nature lovers to look, learn and enjoy!