As we near spring and the weather starts to get warmer, it’s time to start planning outdoor activities. Luckily for those of us who live in the Alexandria area, there are a ton of great places to go hiking and enjoy nature. Let’s take a look at some nearby trails.
Mount Vernon Trail
The 18-mile Mount Vernon Trail stretches all the way from the Mount Vernon Estate, where George Washington once called home, to the historic monuments of Washington, D.C. The trail is great for hiking, jogging, and bicycling. While traversing the Mount Vernon Trail, you’ll be treated to a wide variety of beautiful sights, from stunning views of the Potomac River to the Dyke Marsh, a gorgeous habitat for beavers, Red-winged blackbirds, and red foxes. Another highlight along the trail is the historic Jones Point Lighthouse, built in 1855. The trail has something for everyone, from nature lovers to history buffs.
Dora Kelley Nature Park
The Dora Kelley Nature Park is a 50-acre nature preserve that serves as a home to the tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch, and belted kingfisher. While hiking along the park’s one-mile nature trail, you’re likely to see bald eagles, Cooper’s hawks, barred owls, and even a wild turkey or two. At the end of the trail is a stunning oak-hickory forest dotted with beautiful mountain laurel. The Holmes Run Stream Valley Trail, great for hiking or bicycling, also runs through Dora Kelley Nature Park. Along this trail is a freshwater marsh that a variety of frogs, toads, salamanders, and turtles call home.
Theodore Roosevelt Island
Theodore Roosevelt Island was conceived by landscape architects in the 1930s to serve as a tribute to our 26th President’s legacy of conservationism. Three trails traverse the island – the Swamp Trail, which passes through swampy woods and a cattail marsh, the Woods Trail, where you can view the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Plaza, and the Upland Trail, which runs the length of the island through woodlands. While hiking along these trails, you’re sure to spot a variety of frogs, snakes, and turtles. The island is also a great place for birdwatching, as it is home to the Baltimore oriole, palm warbler, and American goldfinch.
Huntley Meadows Park
Nature lovers and history buffs alike will enjoy a hike through Huntley Meadows Park. Near the park’s entrance sits the Thomson Francis Mason House, a villa built in 1825 as a summer retreat for Mason, who served as mayor of Alexandria from 1827 to 1830. The house has been restored and is open for tours.
On the two miles of nature trail that run through the park you’ll see beautiful wildflowers, Monarch butterflies, and several bird species. There is also a one-mile hike and bike trail that leads to the park’s stunning 1,500-acre wetland that is home to beavers, frogs, dragonflies, heron, and deer.
These are just some of the great hiking trails in the Alexandria area. Consider planning a trip so you can see for yourself the wonders of Northern Virginia.
Image via Flickr by Jojodub/Under use by CC BY 2.0
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