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 Reporter |
Summary: The trail starts in the C1 parking area and heads down to the Potomac River. The markers are yellow until you reach the river where you follow blue markers of the Potomac Heritage trail to the northwest along the river. You cross over Turkey Run and continue to Dead Run. Cross over Dead Run and go up stream, following the yellow markers again. Just after passing under the GW parkway bridge, turn left, cross the run and follow the yellow markers southeast until you reach Turkey Run again. Turn left and at the bridge cross over the run and follow the yellow trail up the hill and back to the parking lot. Trailhead: Trail starts at the C1 parking lot in Turkey Run park on the George Washington Parkway, about 1.5 miles southeast of the DC beltway. (Lat:38.57854 Lon:-77.09189) Trail Guides for Turkey Run Loop: None available by na (na) Best Seasons: Year-Round User Groups: Hikers, Dogs, Ranger Contact: GW Memorial Parkway Police 703.289.2500 Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Keith Ferguson, who has posted 10 other hikes on this site Trail Reviews Page 1 of 2 Submit your own review 
Reviewed by reddirt on 11/22/2009 are the dudes in the parking lot crusin for ghey rendezvous or are they spies from Langley, just up the road? FYI/IMHO the "dude cruiser" factor isn't as intense as some parts of Rock Creek Park. More importantly, Turkey Run has one of the best steep hills in the DC area... great for training. The shortness of the loop (0.75 mi) lets you make the hike as long or short as you want/have time for. 
Reviewed by KWilliams on 11/9/2009 Had a great fall hike here with our infant in a backpack. Really quite nice, no people, a fun scramble up Dead Run and routefinding through the leaves on the Yellow trail on the S side of the GW Parkway (with no traffic on the trail the leaves were 6" deep!). Some notes: 1. The PHT is now green blazed, not blue 2. Dead Run is a real scramble over boulders on the riverbed (fun but probably more difficult than the Billy Goat but only for a few hundred meters) 3. Crossing Dead Run with water flowing might be tough to do while keeping your feet dry (fine with boots) 4. We couldn't find the "yellow trail up the hill and back to the parking lot" after the GW bridge. Ended up back on the last .25 miles of the entry trail.
Reviewed by Jimbo on 8/28/2009 Turkey Run is an OK hike along the Potomac - part of the Potomac Heritage Trail. The PHT further north from Scott's Run through Great Falls Nat'l Park and up to Riverbend is much nicer, but much busier. I tried doing some trail running along Turkey Run Loop, but the trail is a little too rocky and narrow at points where you have to slow down. The other posters are correct - beware of the creepy men lurking in the parking lots at Turkey Run Park - this is a well known place for gay cruising and the police haven't done a great job controlling it. 
Reviewed by Jennifer on 3/8/2009 Too many men alone in parking lot (C2) and on trails - not hikers, not with families, not with dogs, not with binoculars, not with bird books. It gave me the willies. Also, trails not well signed. My friend & I didn't go too far.
Reviewed by Jen on 9/14/2008 Just did this hike for the first time today. It was pretty nice. The Turkey Run Loop is only about one mile, but it connects to the Potomac Heritage Trail. We chose to go north toward the American Legion Bridge, turn around and come back. We estimated the hike to be about 4.5 miles. The trail is nicely maintained, but would recommend day hiking boots to protect your ankles when stepping on roots and rocks. Also, you will be crossing a couple of creeks, so beware of slippery rocks. The trail was not crowded but that could be because it was 95 degrees today! Thank goodness for the shady trees!
Reviewed by Mike on 6/23/2007 Went out on a beautifully cool June Saturday and did the Turkey Run + Potomac Heritage loop, staring and finishing at the C1 parking lot. Very shady and some nice views to be had. Stopped at Wisteria Run waterfall - neat! Be wary... LOTS of poison ivy encraoching on the trail along the Potomac. We too saw a random man loitering in his vehicle in the C1 lot.
Reviewed by Nicolle on 4/22/2007 Be sure to write down the instructions above before you set off on this hike. It's a very pretty park that wasn't crowded at all on a beautiful saturday afternoon, but there are no maps in the parking areas or near the trailheads. There is a very nice trail along the ridge above the potomac that goes down to the river and follows it a long way. We walked on that about an hour and then had to backtrack. I'll have to try the roundtrip hike described on this website soon. It was a nice park.
Reviewed by Alice on 3/27/2007 We had a nice walk on the trail last Friday. We decided not to complete the loop though because there wasn't much of a trail left along the river due to the high water and we did not feel compelled to proceed given the conditions. We are definitely looking forward to going back again in the summer! Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: Virginia Hiking, Virginia Trails, Virginia Hikes, Fairfax County Hiking, Fairfax County Trails, Fairfax County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||