Holmes Run/Winkler Botanical Preserve

Let's take a walk along Holmes Run Trail, followed by a snoop through Winkler Botanical Preserve!

The route: For the main walk, we'll exit the parking lot to the west to Holmes Run Trail and walk downstream to Charles Beatley Library and return. Afterwards, for bonus points, we'll walk down Sanger Ave to Beauregard Ave, turn left, and walk a block to Roanoke Ave. At Roanoke Ave we'll turn right and follow it to Winkler Botanical Preserve, where we'll do a lap around the preserve and return.

http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/a/c/8/2/600_289964162.jpeg

The total walk is about 6 miles of smile; 4 miles for the Holmes Run Trail, plus 2 miles for the Winkler excursion. The entire event is a little over 2 hours, or only about 1.5 hours if you opt out of the Winkler portion.

Google map here: http://tinyurl.com/nuc6p6z

How to get there: From I-395 (either direction), take exit 3B to follow VA-236/Little River Turnpike exit towards Lincolnia. At the second traffic light, turn right onto N Beauregard St and follow it for 1 mile. Turn left at Sanger Ave, and the Nature Center will be on your left. (It's just past the William Ramsey Rec Center.)

What to bring: Water and comfy shoes. Your furry friend is welcome (leashes please), but dogs are not allowed in Winkler Botanical Preserve, so he/she will have to skip that part of the event. There's a low water crossing on Holmes Run Trail, so a change of shoes and socks for after the walk may be a good idea.

Administrative stuff: There are restrooms and a water fountain at the Jerome Ford Nature Center and at Charles Beatley Library. Both open at 10 am, but there are also a couple of places nearby (Starbucks, McDonald's) for a pit stop en route to the walk.

Notes:

Jerome "Buddie" Ford Nature Center: http://tinyurl.com/7jflobb