Tag Archives: GW Parkway

Gulf Branch Trail (Arlington, VA)

Terminating at a multi-tiered waterfall, the Gulf Branch Trail follows one of northern Virginia’s several lush stream valleys from Glebe Road Park in Arlington to the Potomac River. The Gulf Branch Nature Center, situated roughly halfway through the hike, offers … Continue reading

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Potomac Heritage Trail – Turkey Run to Scott’s Run (George Washington Memorial Parkway, VA)

This 4.6-mile ramble from Turkey Run Park to Scott’s Run Nature Preserve in McLean, Virginia constitutes the third section of the Potomac Heritage Trail heading westward from Rosslyn in Arlington. (Note: Descriptions of the two preceding sections—Roosevelt Island to Fort … Continue reading

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Donaldson Run Trail and Loop (Arlington, VA)

Bearing westward from Rosslyn in Arlington, Virginia, Donaldson Run is the third notable tributary feeding into the Potomac River. Like its neighbors—Spout Run, Windy Run, and Pimmit Run—Donaldson Run cuts through rocky bluffs, with the last half-mile punctuated by minor … Continue reading

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Windy Run Trail (Windy Run Park, VA)

Arlington, Virginia’s Windy Run Trail offers a brief, scenic jaunt with four creek crossings, culminating at the base of one of the Washington, DC area’s best waterfalls. Starting at N. Kenmore Street, the nearly half-mile trail drops more than 120 … Continue reading

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Pimmit Run Trail – Fort Marcy to Solitaire Ln. (Fairfax County Parks, VA)

Generally less rip-roaring than several of its nearby tributaries, Pimmit Run nonetheless carries a rather significant volume. It weaves gently through McLean, Virginia—a generally upscale Washington, DC suburb—for eight miles before emptying into the Potomac River. Unpaved walking trails flank … Continue reading

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Dead Run Loop (Turkey Run Park, VA)

Dead Run. It’s an ominous name for what is actually quite a lovely stream, though at times this 3.6-mile loop hike can feel rugged and perplexing. The first half is relatively straightforward: nearly two miles of hiking through some of … Continue reading

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Potomac Heritage Trail – Fort Marcy to Turkey Run Park (George Washington Memorial Parkway, VA)

Envisioned to one day extend from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay, the Potomac Heritage Trail (PHT) for now only exists in fragments. It is perhaps the good fortune of Washington, DC residents, however, that one of the PHT’s finest … Continue reading

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Potomac Heritage Trail – Theodore Roosevelt Island to Fort Marcy (George Washington Memorial Parkway, VA)

It is a roughly six-minute drive from Theodore Roosevelt Island to Fort Marcy along the George Washington Memorial Parkway, a route predominantly used by commuters in the Washington, DC metro area. Most, however, are completely unaware of the charming underworld … Continue reading

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