Lake Mackintosh Park
Dennis Burnette
County: Alamance
Habitats: Lake, mixed hardwood, and pine forest.
Key birds: Summer: Wood Thrush, Gray Catbird. Winter: Ringed-necked and Ruddy Ducks, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Yellow-rumped Warbler, White-crowned, White-throated, and Chipping Sparrows, and Dark-eyed Junco. Year-round: Bald Eagle, Eastern Phoebe, Red-bellied and Downy Woodpeckers, White-breasted Nuthatch, Eastern Bluebird, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Towhee, and Song Sparrow.
Best times to bird: Late fall and late winter.
Description: Lake Mackintosh Park and Marina is a 67-acre park that includes about three miles of nature and bike trails through hardwood forest, and incorporates a scenic exposed rock wall of a former stone quarry at the edge of the lake. It provides good birding views of the lake from the wooded shore and from the fishing pier. It is closed during the months of December and January but is open in late fall and late winter.
Directions: Lake Mackintosh Park & Marina is located at 2704 Huffman Mill Road. From I-40/85, take Exit 141 and go south about 2.8 miles on Huffman Mill Road. Lake Mackintosh Park & Marina is located on the left. If coming from nearby Alamance Battleground turn right out of the Alamance Battleground parking lot and go 0.6 mile to Brick Church Road. Turn right again and proceed only about 0.2 of a mile. Take the first right turn oncto State Road 1134, Beaver Creek Rd. Continue on Beaver Creek Rd (which becomes Battlefield Rd) for 1.7 miles to the T intersection. Turn right onto Shoe Road, which becomes Huffman Mill Road, and go north 0.9 miles to the entrance of Lake Mackintosh Park & Marina. Watch for the sign and entrance on the right.
A second marina, Guilford Mackintosh Park & Marina, is just across the Alamance County line in Guilford County at 1345 NC South 61. From I-40/85, take Exit 138 and go south about 0.5 miles. Watch for the sign and entrance on the left.
Birding Highlights: At Lake Mackintosh Park & Marina a birder can scan the lake for waterfowl in relative safety. The lake edge and grassy coves along the shore should be checked for ducks in fall and winter. During the spring and summer the park has typical birds of open woodlands and lawns.
General Information: Lake Mackintosh Park & Marina is closed on Tuesdays and during the months of December and January. Hours of operation vary with the seasons, so call ahead if you want to arrive early or leave late in the day. Facilities include restrooms, fishing pier, and picnic tables.
Additional Help
DeLorme map grid: page 38, A2
North Carolina Travel Map grid: G2
For more information: Burlington City, (336) 449-2078.
http://www.burlington-area-nc.org/location.asp?id=97
http://nc-burlington.civicplus.com/index.asp?NID=240