huntley meadows park

I have been going to Huntley Meadows for over 20 years with family, friends and our dogs. Whether you're an avid birder, you're looking for some nice trails to walk with your dog, or you have kids who'd enjoy an interesting nature center with hands-on exhibits, there's something for nearly everyone at Huntley Meadows. The park also offers special nature programs on various animals who inhabit the park, and periodic bird walks. The nature center features occasional wildlife photography exhibits as well. For those who seek meaningful volunteer activites, the park offers these, too. My daughter did her high school community service projects here, and had a wonderful experience. The park is open year round, and is interesting to visit in all seasons.

The wildlife abounds and the plant life is ever-changing. the path is easy walking. the nature center is great. .

This delightful bit of wet lands and woods is located amongst some very dense urban development in the Groveton neighborhood of Fairfax County. It used to be a dairy farm, then an airfield but now changed into an unexpected semi-wilderness area right near highway U.S. 1.It serves as a park but one which has swamps, birds, beavers and woodland trails. Those who live near it in apartments and houses can just stroll over and enjoy it all. But even if you have to drive a considerable distance to get here, it's well worth the effort and time. A boardwalk passes through the swamp enabling you to see the beavers and birds up close. It's really a great experience for small children who may not have had this opportunity before. Keep in mind that there are bathroom facilities at the Visitors Center; so you won't be caught short with kids who need quick relief. The woodland portion of the park provides trail that makes for a moderate walk. The distances are rather short; nobody will get exhausted hiking on these trails. Again, it's an attractive feature for both kids and adults.

The only thing that keeps me from giving this location a higher rating is the incredible amounts of poison ivy just off the trail. I know that it is a native plant and that the birds like the berries, etc., but to have enormous vines within a few feet of the main trail seems irresponsible. As a result, this is not a place for preschoolers. Oh, and people aren't supposed to have dogs out on the boardwalk (picture a narrow pier over open water with no guardrails), but they often do.

If you are in the area at all, please do yourself a favor and stop in here!Admission is free, but a modest donation is requested (not required, but you really should)This is a lovely little wildlife area with level, well-marked trails and an impressive boardwalk system to get you up close and personal with the local marsh birds. We saw a heron as well as numerous ducks, geese, swans, etc. In addition, it does require any expertise at all to see the presence of beavers whose work is largely responsible for creating this wetland.A very pleasant change of pace!

The newly renovated walkways were impressive. Plenty of beaver dams, heron, geese & ducks. Bathroom was closed mid-morning, swampland was frozen, but an enjoyable escape from the city.

A pleasant walk int he woods. Trails lead to a boardwalk over a restored marsh. Birds, turtles, frogs, snakes, plus a visitor center. Flat -- not strenuous or long. A great interlude. Different in each season.

One of the few tidal marshes left on the Potomac. Great birding site, and, in season, reptiles. Attractive conservation center and gift-shop with access to the boardwalk through the wetlands. Active beaver colony!

A beautiful park south of Alexandria that continues to draw nature lovers, walkers and those simply looking for solitude. A set of very walkable trails weaves through the park beneath a canopy of tall trees and the complex underbrush that has grown up around them. The fallen trees throughout, with their exposed roots and dramatic decomposition, add to the realization of the slow, steady natural cycle of life, death and renewal. The boardwalk leads through a swamp area to a wetlands that is home to birds, fish and beavers. (The latter have built a 400-foot dam over the nearly 40 years that the Fairfax County Parks Authority took over management from the US Navy. A trained eye will get a glimpse of them swimming around their recent additions to nautical housing.) There is a two-story observation tower that brings the full family of wildlife into view. The FCPA provides a good introduction to Huntley Meadows at its information center along with a schedule of events. This place a must for those tired of traffic, noise and concrete.

Very nice walk thru the woods and wetland. I really enjoyed the walk on boardwalk thru wetland. You can observe many animals and birds. Beavers come out during dusk. There's a nice Visitor Center where children can feel/touch certain objects related to nature.

It's small. But the trees are so tall and the walk is so quiet. The wetland is beautiful with birds and beavers. Great for walk.

This is a gem in the suburban sprawl of Fairfax County! I love this park and visit as often as I can, sometimes several times a week. There is a wonderful boardwalk through the hemi-marsh that creates a loop with a trail through the woods (the entrance off Lockheed Blvd). Every time I come, the place is different. The vegetation changes as weather, seasons, and water levels do and different types of birds stop on their migration routes. I see beavers quite often and this year there was also a baby that swam around with its parents. Great blue herons, green herons, red winged blackbirds, wood ducks, muskrats, turtles, frogs, dragonflies, and deer are a common sight but you can also spot less common animals. There are usually a few people around in the afternoon and evenings and I have not felt unsafe there. The fantastic people who work and volunteer at the visitor center are very knowledge and able to answer all sorts of questions about the park and its wildlife. There are also great educational programs and fun events. On the negative side, while most visitors come to quietly appreciate the nature, some can be loud. In addition, some do not follow the rules of not running and not bringing dogs on the boardwalk which can interfere with the peaceful enjoyment of the park. Overall, however, it is a wonderful place for a walk and seeing wildlife!

This is a nice short hike. Dogs are welcome, but not on the wetland observation areas. There is a lot of plant and animal life including beaver dams and many frogs and birds. This is family friendly, a very easy walk. There is a welcome center with water fountains.

A wonderful place to walk, some woods, some wetlands. Limited parking. Off the "beaten track" but a very short distance from U.S. 1. Favorite of birders. Small exhibition area in visitors center. That's where the restrooms are and it is not open every day. The park is free. 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria, VA 22306. Check the website for special events. fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/huntley-meadows-park/

A really nice walk around the park through wetlands and woods. The visitors center is well done and the staff is very friendly. They ask for donations and they deserve them. A favorite walking place for locals.