Seneca Park / Fraser Preserve

I was going to put off bluebell hunting for another week or so, but an afternoon splashing around in the rain convinced me there's no time to lose! Let's go check out the bluebells along the Potomac River!

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/9/b/c/a/600_355719882.jpeg

The route: From the trailhead in Seneca Park, we’ll walk about a half mile north and east to a rock outcrop overlooking the Potomac River. From there we'll turn east and head downstream along the Potomac Heritage Trail through woodland trails carpeted with bluebells and other wildflowers. Reaching the eastern boundary of Seneca Park, we’ll continue east into Fraser Preserve for about another mile before turning back and retracing our steps to the trailhead.

This is an out & back hike of about 5 miles of smiles, and should take about two hours at a moderate pace.

The hike difficulty is moderate to easy. The surface is a mix of gravel and dirt paths, with footbridges and fallen logs here and there. Aside from the descent into and climb out of the Potomac River Basin, it’s fairly flat and easy going.

Google map: http://tinyurl.com/murr4yj

How to get there: From I-495 (either direction) --

• Take Exit 47A for ​VA- 7/​Leesburg Pike/​Falls Church towards Tysons Corner

• Merge onto VA-7 W/Leesburg Pike and drive west for 9.4 miles

• Turn sharp right onto SR-193E/Georgetown Pike, then take the immediate left onto SR-602/Seneca Road (NB: SR = State Route)

• Follow Seneca Road north about 3.7 miles until it ends in the parking area for Seneca Park, just north of the intersection of Seneca Road and Stonehouse Place

What to bring: Water, sunglasses/sunscreen and comfy shoes. Sorry, the Nature Conservancy does not allow dogs on Fraser Preserve, so your furry friend will have hang out or turn back when we enter Fraser Preserve. The forecast is mostly sunny with a high of 76 degrees and breezy, so you'll want to lose the jacket during the hike. It’s a little early for bugs, but insect repellent might be a good idea.

Administrative stuff: There are no public restrooms on Seneca Park or Fraser Preserve! There are porta-johns at Turner Farm Park, at the intersection of SR-193/Georgetown Pike and SR-674/Springvale Road in Great Falls, VA. (The park entrance is on Springvale Road.) There is also a Starbucks in Sugarland Plaza Shopping Center, about 1.8 miles west of the intersection of VA-7/Leesburg Pike and SR-193/Georgetown Pike. As a reminder, this is a kids-free zone, no one under 18 years of age is permitted.

After the hike: There's a couple of places in Seneca Plaza that you'll pass on your way to the hike. I can't speak for either one, but Urban Spoon rates Brix 82% and Saffron Grill 90%. (Yelp says 3 and 3.5 stars, respectively.)

Notes:

• Turner Farm Park, 925 Springvale Road, Great Falls, VA, http://tinyurl.com/ktky7mv

• Starbucks, 21800 Towncenter Plaza #210, Sterling, VA, (703) 421-5767

• Brix American Bistro, 1025 Seneca Road, Great Falls, VA, (703) 433-9050, http://tinyurl.com/m97ads9

• Saffron Grill, 1025 Seneca Road, Great Falls, VA, (703) 421-0080, http://tinyurl.com/m7e9plx

HT to Rick for advance snooping!