No. 1 - Huntley Meadows Park

Ratings

Off-Beaten Path:
Cost: $ (Free)
Distance: 10.2 miles from DC
Physical dificulty: Easy.
Kidability: Good (particularly for showing kids nature)
Website: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/huntley/
Directions:

Summary

Perfect for a Sunday afternoon stroll; this is a slice of South Carolina-like marshlands in our own backyard that can turn average joe's into first time bird and dragon fly watchers. Its beautiful, and hard to believe that it exists 10 miles from downtown.

Description

Huntley Meadows Park is one word - surreal.

For those of you who know Hybla Valley probably the only things that come to mind are the WalMart, Target, Home Depot, Lowes, and all the other big box stores that you can't find in D.C. and in Alexandria. I doubt many people consider Hybla to be a non-shopping destination to visit. Huntley Meadows may change your mind.


The park is over 1,400 acres large and is less than a mile from route 1. It consists of one main trail that is easy to find from the parking lot / visitor center. The first part of the trail is a beautiful outcropping of trees set among a rich green carpet that seems to go on indefinitely in all directions.

Although beautiful in its own right, the walk through the forest would not be enough on its own for Huntley Park to make the 52 list. After about 15 minutes of walking the path splits with the "Cedar Trail" to the left and the Heron Trail to the forward right. Go on the Heron trail.

The Heron trail leads to the real jewel of the park -- a freshwater wetland that was carved out by the Potomac River. The .5 mile boardwalk starks off by takign you past a meadow of cat-tails...



The cattails are in the wetland and, in the summer, hide a wealth of wildlife including frogs, and dragonflies that, during mating season, are docile enough to land and permit you to take pictures from inches away.


The boardwalk loops through the central wetland and provides great views of birds, including white herons.



Ultimately the board walk comes out upon a small tower which provides a nice vantage point to purvey the park and see the beaver dam which created the wetland.

If you are interested in a bit more of a walk, at the end of the boardwalk you can continue on a loop of the "Deer Trail" which links back up to the "Cedar Trail" which ultimately takes you back to the parking lot.