Admire The Tundra Swans are wintering in the Great Marsh

DATE CHANGED based on weather

About 8 miles with 150 foot elevation gain.

Let's greet the migrating Tundra Swans at the Great Marsh in Elizabeth Hartwell Wildlife Refuge as we also enjoy a bit of Pohick Bay Regional Park.

The Tundra Swans are back in town! These magnificent birds are spending the winter in the Great Marsh of Belmont Bay and will leave in mid-March for their breeding grounds in the tundra of far northern Canada near the Arctic Ocean.

“Swanfall” is the term used to describe the annual return of swans to their winter home here at Elizabeth Hartwell Wildlife Management Area.

The Tundra Swans are wintering in the Great Marsh, one of the largest freshwater marshes in Virginia.

Description:
We'll begin our hike in Pohick Bay Regional Park and make our way to Elizabeth Hartwell Wildlife Management Area and the Woodmarsh Trail to the bird viewing stand to see the Tundra Swans. We will retrace our hike back to Pohick Bay Park and the parking lot. There will be a great view of the bay area as well as a lake and marshes.
The pace will be about 2.5 mph.

There are restrooms at the Eagles Nest Veranda where we begin our hike.

Bring
Adequate water/hydration also snacks/lunch. The route is mostly level on a mix of hard and dirt surface. Some sections may get muddy after heavy rains. A good portion of the hike is on the multi-purpose paved bike trail and High Point Trail. The Woodmarsh trail is natural surface. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes. I recommend good hiking shoes as parts of some of the trails are covered by fallen leaves and tree roots.