Ideal place to enjoy the park, see wildlife, bicycle, walk, and just immerse yourself in beautiful nature. It was our first time here, and we enjoyed bicycling the area for the first time. I liked how you had a two way lane to bike and walk. There was a lot of renovations on the Mt Vernon Trail going through the park and marsh area. It does get crowded there yet there was a lot of parking. It is parallel to Belle Haven Park. There were no nearby restrooms. You do hear sounds of cars & traffic along the Mt. Vernon Trail. The trail gets narrow at some areas and can get uncomfortable by the renovation area - close to oncoming cars. Bicycling through the woods over bridges and stopping by areas to enjoy the views were highlights we enjoyed at Dyke Marsh. We decided to just bicycle for an hour, yet it was enough for both of us. Looking forward to bicycling through all 18 miles of the Mt. Vernon Trail. read more

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Dyke Marsh is a gem. Hidden a few south of Old Town Alexandria, and situated between the Mt Vernon trail and Potomac, Dyke Marsh is a wetland preserve that George Washington noted centuries ago. This wooded area with a trail that runs a bit more than a mile along the river, has owl and eagle nests and amazing guess of small islands in the Potomac. On any day, there are families, couples, people with dogs. The Marsh attracts lots of birders with their binoculars and photographers with seriously long zoom lenses. This is a place to amble for 45 minutes and connect with the natural world. It's managed by the US Park Service. If you're interested, join the Friend of Dyke Marsh to help preserve this treasure. read more

I made a stop at the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Habitat this May. It was lovely. I loved walking the dirt trail amongst the tall trees. I went in the early evening. read more

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* Nice short out-and-back mile * Pretty chill deck/wooden boardwalk thing at the end to observe the calm waters and the nice view * Be careful when it rains/if it has rain, the trail can get pretty muddy/wet * Lots of wildlife--a lot of birdwatchers hang out on the trail * Flat/clear enough to do a quick jog in and out * Relatively peaceful branch off from the Mt Vernon trail read more

Dyke Marsh - Hiking Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

This is a nice little area. I'm not so much a fan of the picnic area as it seems to be perpetually muddy, but the boardwalk and path through the marsh itself is a nice diversion and very quiet. The whole area is very interesting for the amateur naturalist, with a lot of aquatic plants and animals you don't usually get to see up close near the city. The views at the end are worthwhile. The parking lot, while not small, does occasionally fill up on peak weekends. read more

Right off the busy path of the Mt. Vernon trail is a unpaved path with hidden splendor. Ride your bike or park your car at the trail head and be ready to escape the others. I lovely little hike with views of ospreys, boats, shoreline and eagles. When you get to the turn-around point, you are walking along a 200 yard wooden deck that wraps around the Dyke Marsh point. I like to bring a little picnic and set-up for a little party in the springtime. Check-out the website above for more info. At the Marina, you can rent kayaks for $20 for three hours! We took a bottle of Pinot Grigio and rowed to Maryland. There is also a public bathroom here and water fountains. read more

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Great place to walk around the lake. There are chestnut trees over there, and my friends and I were trying to find all the chestnuts on the ground. read more

Dyke Marsh - Hiking Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Peaceful spot close to Old Town but you can hear the cars from route 1 that runs along the park. Bikes are not allowed and only a few benches along the trail. Beautiful marsh life and a few informative signs. read more

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This is of my favorite places to walk the dog in Alexandria. A hidden gem since most people walk on the parkway trail and don't know that there's another trail just a couple hundred feet into the woods that stretches out into the Potomac. The part of the trail that travels through the marsh and out into the water is littered with big concrete chunks - literally everywhere - as it was originally created as a dumping ground for the concrete waste of the Wilson Bridge project in the early 60s. Now the dump has become a beautiful trail with a boardwalk and panoramic views of the new bridge, National Harbor, the surrounding marsh and tons of wildlife. We most recently saw a beaver dam (but no beaver), lots of ducks and migratory birds, and two bald eagles! It's crazy that you can find such unspoiled (well, not really, but I like to pretend it's still pristine) wildlife just minutes from DC. If you want to go somewhere peaceful and beautiful that your dog will love then head to Dyke Marsh. Just beware, it is periodically controlled by animal cops who will give you a leash law ticket if your pup is off leash. And muddy paws afterwards is a given. read more

There's plenty of parking nearby (Belle Haven Comfort Station) and it's only a short walk to the point. The walk can be muddy if there's a recent rain so be careful. Dogs aren't allowed off leash but some people do it. I've never seen an issue and the dogs seem very well behaved but something to note if you have little ones that are scared of them. If you are looking for a short and scenic hike that's very calm and secluded (feels like you are farther away from the parkway than you actually are), go explore the Dyke Marsh Preserve. You can even rent kayaks at the marina that's next door. Oh but do be careful if you are by yourself, especially if you are a woman. It gets dark quick due to the tree cover and I've seen (only on a few occasions) some 'unsavory folk' in the area. Just stay alert and you should be ok. read more

This is a lovely little oasis close to home! I live in a high rise apartment and never actually have to be outside if I don't want to be -- underground garage parking at home and garage parking at work. Who needs daylight, right? ME! I NEED OUTSIDE! I mean, the pool is nice, but you have to do the whole swimsuit, lotion, shower business... oh, and laps. I feel guilty if I go to the pool and don't fit in some laps. Oh, and no nature -- no trees, grass, critters, etc. That is where Dyke Marsh comes in.... Dyke Marsh is just this nice little place to take a walk or rest under a tree for a while. Maybe take a picnic. There are tons of picnic tables and benches that overlook the water and provide a pretty vista of National Harbor across the way. Watch out for the cyclists! They are fast and quiet. No wonder bears get all freaked out by them. read more

This trail is a gorgeous place off the GW parkway and it's much less crowded than the Mount Vernon biking/running trail. There are views of the Belle Haven Marina and the National Harbor from the trail and bald eagles are supposed to be residents of the marsh year round. It's about 0.8 miles each way so there is no rush to get to the end. There is a boardwalk at the end where you can walk out over the marsh and have good views of the bridge and National Harbor. read more

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This review pertains to bird-watching ("birding") along Haul Road and the water near the main picnic area. Friends of Dyke Marsh offers free birding walks on Sunday mornings. Sightings vary by season, of course, and, in the picnic/riverfront area, might include bald eagles and other water fowl (especially in winter), northern orioles, cedar waxwings. Haul road and the path leading to Haul Road from the waterfront, offer great diversity, especially during migration, with possible sightings of vireos, various warbler species (e.g., yellow, blackpoll, prothonotary). Lucky birders might also see marsh and (in fall/winter) winter wrens. The trail and picnic area can get mucky after a good rain, so dress accordingly. read more

Nice place to walk and enjoy nature. Good parking nearby.

A hidden gem of a place to walk and feel somewhat alone. You'd never know you were just a mile from city crowds. Lots of bird watchers frequent Dykes Marsh and I am sure appreciate the area. read more

Simply a beautiful place for a short nature walk.

What a fantastic surprise find today. A really lovely slice of nature - will definitely be returning.