New little adventure for Desmond and I. I was on Yelp looking for a new dog park or trail for my…read moredog and I to explore not too far from home. Dora Kelley nature park was such a great find! There are several entrances. We entered off the Sanger Ave entrance next to the Nature Center. There's lots of informational signs along the trail, explaining all of the different things to be on the lookout for, including plants, flowers, birds, and other species you may encounter. There's a paved and unpaved trail that runs along a creek. I usually keep an AirPod in and listen to music or audiobook, but there were so many earthly sounds that made me want to walk in silence and take in everything nature was offering.

Wonderful to surround oneself in nature here. Please complete the access from Beauregard!! It has…read morebeen blocked for years.

This park is a hidden gem tucked away in the center of busy Alexandria. It has a few trails and a…read morenice boardwalk that traverses the marshland and gives opportunities for birdwatching. The boardwalk is exposed so make sure to bring a hat, sun glasses, and some sunscreen. The nature trails are mostly covered under tree canopies, are short loops, dog friendly, but depending on the time of day, can be a bit crowded. Also note that there is another Huntley Meadow Park at the junction of S. Kings Hwy and Telegraph Rd. This park has wide hardball paved paths that ends at the edge of the lake.

This nature reserve is a beautiful place for watching wildlife, with plenty of water fowls, dragon…read moreflies, grasshoppers, tree frogs and snapping turtles when I visited on September 5, 2026. Parking space is a bit limited here.

April 15, 2026 - A hidden gem and fascinating park we discovered recently since we moved here in…read more2023. It has been an incredibly fun adventure for us - finding parks and places to enjoy, hike, and immerse ourselves in the nature, beauty of the outdoors, and wildlife in Virginia & Maryland. We walked all the trails in the Hidden Pond Park and liked spending time in the Hidden Pond Nature Center in the park. There are many activities for children and adults in the parks. The staff there were friendly and helpful. The park is well maintained and there are so many picturesque areas and hiking trails to experience there. We spent about three hours in the park. The park was peaceful and quiet. We experienced no traffic and saw very few people during our hike on the trails. Austin, one of the staff in the Nature Center, said it had to do with the geography & location of the park. Along the trails are many sitting areas to take a break. We saw many kinds of birds, deer, flowers, and foxes during our time in the park. Strongly recommend wearing bug repellent & sunscreen and checking out a map of the trails in the nature center. Beautiful park to visit during each season and very ideal for wildlife photographers and for peaceful & quiet walks in the park.

What did we see on our first day walking the trails? -Red fox, 3 deer, red shouldered hawk,…read morecardinal, woodpecker, sleeping squirrel, sparrows, chickadee, carnivorous plant, and a turtle back at the pond. Pretty eventful day, April 15, 2026. Staff were helpful and nice! Nature Center provides wildlife education and animals, a place to refill water or use the utilities. I wouldn't expect to see all that we seen, as think we were pretty lucky to come across all of that in one day. For instance as soon as we sat down on the bench near the river, the hawk flew over and landed nearby, first to get a drink of water then perched nearby. The fox happened to be coming to the river before we locked eyes and ran off while I fumbled with my dang lens cap, as always. Good luck!

This park has it all! To start, it's situated in a less than ideal spot, between a road and a train…read moretrack. However, they made it more than an appeal. My kids loved watching trains go by, and it is fully fenced in, so you can relax and kids can get any kind of locomotive show. They also made a bike/running trail along side the park. There is plenty of seating and places for families to relax or do a picnic lunch. The playground itself is also amazing! There is a toddler and big kid side. Every type of play equipment you can imagine. I was especially impressed by the maze on the toddler side. I am also not a parent of a child with disabilities, but I recognized some equipment for disabilities. This park really has it all.

They did a pretty good job constructing this new park, however there are not too many trees. I…read morethink this park was constructed a few years ago when they developed the other buildings and apartments in the area. We came here today during Fathers Day, and it seemed like all of the fathers were seated in the park benches while the kids were playing in the fountain. There is also a large playset section wmthat has several slides, plastic ladders, and hoops for kids to play in. Down on the far end, I even noticed an old school swing set with actual chains holding the swings up. There are porta potties, and the entire park is also connected to a large walk and bike path. I believe this path connects to both Patomac Yards and Crystal City. We stayed for a good two hours, and everyone had a lot of fun, even the old folks.

This park is part of the Fairfax County Cross County Trail and is the trail is partially paved and…read morepartially gravel. I parked at Eaken Park across the street (don't tell anyone but there were plenty of parking spots on a sunny Saturday afternoon) and crossed Prosperity Avenue to get to the park. You'll see hikers, walkers with dogs, joggers, runners, bikers and even the occasional stroller along the trail bu it's less crowded than say the W&OD trail so you're not constantly dodging bikes, strollers and roller bladers. Much of the trail is shaded and runs along a creek and you'll see houses/backyards nearby but it does a great job of feeling like you're in the woods rather than almost in someone's backyard. I didn't see too much wildlife, mostly lots of squirrels and humans but no snakes either so that's always a plus and the bugs weren't too bad for a May afternoon. Don't expect any Instagram worthy views here if you're into that (I've never used it but my wife done sometimes) but it's a solid and not overly crowded place to hit the trail and get some steps whether you're just doing the park or going further along the traill.

It's a nice area along the county trail. Just decided today is too hot. Already at 0930 it's 89 and…read morewho knows what it'll be. Am not pleased as like hiking and biking. This area works for both. There are a lot of trees for shade here. That alone is something to be grateful for. There's not a lot going on here. No big time facilities or anything like that. Sometimes simplicity can be a pleasant surprise. Also there's a lot of wildlife here. Yes you're in a safe suburban location, but still back enough to see deer, squirrels, and birds. For that reason alone I happen to like it.

Bring your bike if you can, as the trails go all the way down to Mason Neck and Lorton. In summer…read morethe campsites are nicely shaded, and it was fun to watch the birds (including some eagle chips) with our morning coffee, the eagles on our hike down to the bay, see fireflies at dusk, then bats each night over the playground. The dogwoods are everywhere is spring, and I only imagine the foliage being lovely each autumn. This campground quiet yet convenient, having two boathouse/laundry house stations This park and the nearby Bull Run park have a ranger badge for kids much like National Parks Junior Ranger program, up to two badges per visit. In peak camping season Pirate's Cove has a discount for Pohick Bay campers. Souvenirs, a few sundries, and cold treats were at the camp store. Food Lion and more aren't far away, a bring your own frisbee if you want to skip the store markup.

A really nice spot at a good price…read more Great trails and the restrooms are good to go. Staff was friendly.

It's not going to win any awards. This is probably among the most forgettable parks in Burke. Just…read morefor the record I'm not insulting it, as this works for little ones. The main issue is Burke is known for its unbelievably huge and vibrant parks, that offer so many more recreational opportunities. This is a playground and a small basketball court. There is a bit of open space, and to its credit it's quiet. Little ones seven and under should like the playground and slides. There are some decent play areas on it, although it's not huge by any means. Playing basketball works. The court here is usually available to practice on. It could use a bit of renovation, but for the next year or so should be fine. I'll give this a recommendation, but don't expect high on the wow factor.

Quiet, tucked away. Not the most updated equipment however it's a ton of space packed into a nice…read morelittle secluded area. Basketball court but also a large field that, when it isn't wet, can be a soccer /lacrosse/football/wiffleball field. Also has a mini nature walk trail that will allow you to stroll along the creek and put you out by Carleigh Parkway. Dog frisky paths and generally pretty quiet. Covid shutdown has pushed some teenagers to frequent the playground equipment as a hide out spot, but they're pretty quick to go when you show with little ones.

Small neighborhood park. You'll find a place to park easily. This is for the little ones. Being…read moreresponsible for a couple last week, we went here and they enjoyed the playground. It's not huge but kept them occupied. That alone is a positive. Traffic on the way and out was a headache. Yet glad to have brought them here. Also a good bench to watch them run around. I like that quite a few trees are here. For a few you can escape the city. If you're in the area this works.

Nice wooded trails for a 40 minute walk. This included the paved and an unpaved trail through the…read morepark.