Riverbend Park

Riverbend Park is less than 30 minutes northeast of Good Wolf Gear and offers over 10 miles of hiking trails, as well as excellent opportunities for nature observation. This Fairfax County park is free to visit, except for special events, and it offers restrooms and a visitor center, making it a local favorite. There is no camping available in the park, but it does feature a boat launch and boat rentals in season, and our friends at EX2 Adventures host trail runs there. Despite its popularity, I recently met some people at a Good Wolf Gear event who were not familiar with this park, so I wanted to provide more information, especially because spring is such a great time to visit.

Parking is available near the visitor center, with one lot just uphill on the left as you approach the center, and another lot on the right, closer to the river and the boat launch. Stop by the visitor center for information or a bathroom break, and then let’s take a hike on my favorite loop in the park. This 2¾-mile loop is highlighted in yellow on the map and takes you through a variety of habitats for nature observation.

Start by walking from the visitor center towards the river, then turn left to walk upstream, joining the flat, turquoise-blazed Potomac Heritage Trail. If you’re there in the spring, you’ll soon see plenty of bluebells. You might want to mark your calendar for the annual Bluebell Festival, usually held in early April. In less than half a mile, you’ll reach the point marked (1)Œ on the map. Here, you should be able to spot the huge bald eagle nest located on Minnehaha Island to your right. It’s visible from several points along the trail, and there’s even a bench if you want to take a break and wait for the eagles to appear. In late winter and spring, it’s worth bringing binoculars and a telephoto lens to watch the eagles with their eaglets or snap a picture. While it’s not guaranteed that you’ll see them, the odds are very good. Year-round, you’ll also find rough horsetail (also known as scouring rush) in this area. In the spring, look for trilliums, trout lilies, Dutchman’s breeches, and other wildflowers.

You’ll soon head uphill over a ridge before descending to Carper’s Pond, marked (2) on the map. Look for squirrel corn flowers when you ascend the ridge in spring, and Virginia Spring Beauties can be abundant. The pond is always worth a stop. In early spring, you’ll hear spring peepers and wood frogs, and later you’ll see their tadpoles. I have often seen adult red-spotted newts swimming in the pond. These fascinating salamanders begin their lives as tadpoles before entering a terrestrial phase for several years, then returning to an aquatic life when they reach maturity. The terrestrial phase, called a red eft, is a conspicuous reddish-orange color, alerting would-be predators to their toxicity.

From here, ascend on the red-blazed Bootlegger Trail through upland habitats and fields. Shortly after crossing the entrance road, turn left onto the yellow-blazed Madison’s Escape Trail, then turn left onto the orange-blazed Follow the Hollows Trail. Enjoy the mature woodlands in this area before descending, sometimes steeply, to the river where you’ll find a picnic table marked (3)Ž on the map. Walk ½ mile upstream on the Potomac Heritage Trail to return to the visitor center and parking lots.

The network of trails offers many variations on this loop. Ambitious hikers can take the Potomac Heritage Trail upstream from Carper’s Pond to reach Seneca Regional Park in about 4 ½ miles or can continue downstream from the picnic table at the Madison’s Escape Trail junction to reach Great Falls National Park visitors’ center in about 1 ¼ miles.

I'd love for you to stop by the store for more information about Riverbend Park, its plants and animals, or any of our other local destinations!

Links:

• Official Park Website