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 Reporter |
Summary: The Winkler Botanic Preserve is a private nature sanctuary hidden in western Alexandria. It's a lovely and unusual place to take a mini-hike. The trailhead lies at the edge of a meadow, flanked by woods and a mountain climbers training tower. The hikes route features include a lake, waterfall, mountain lodge, and even a Hobbit house, along with flora that validate the preserve's name. Trailhead: Take I-395 to exit 4 Seminary Road. Head West for approx. 0.2 miles. At second traffic light, turn left onto Beauregard St. North. Proceed for 0.9 miles. Turn left on Roanoke Ave (side street). Follow for 0.1 mile into preserve's parking lot. Metro bus can be taken to Beauregard Street North, and walk to Roanoke Ave. Contact Metro 202-637-7000 or www.wmata.com (Lat:38.8269 Lon:-77.125) Trail Guides for Winkler Botanic Preserve: 60 Hikes within 60 miles of Washington D.C. by Paul Elliott (Menasha Ridge Press) Best Seasons: Fall, Spring, Summer, User Groups: Hikers, Ranger Contact: 703-578-7888 Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Joe Cross, who has posted 56 other hikes on this site Trail Reviews Page 2 of 2 Submit your own review 
Reviewed by Gabriel Elias on 12/27/2005 I should update my review. I have sinced moved but this summer, August of 2005, in the morning I had the pleasure of seeing two foxes and some deer in the preserve. Now this may not seem incredible except that this park borders a major interstate and is surrounded by suburbia at its worst! I like to speculate on how the deer ended up in the preserve. Did they take a bus? And the foxes were beautiful. 
Reviewed by Kelly on 12/18/2005 I love this hike! It's a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, without having to drive very far. The staff at Winkler are also very friendly and knowledgeable. Fall - lots of beautiful fall colors, Winter - beautiful scenery, especially after a snowfall, Spring - lots of wildflowers, Summer - plenty of frogs, dragonflys, etc. A nature enthusiasts dream in the metro area!
Reviewed by Gabriel Elias on 10/7/2004 It's all relative. If you are moving, like I did, from Ohio and Michigan with wonderful park systems everywhere, you will be dissapointed. The park is small, the hike is easy, and quiet ruined by I-395 and airplanes. The worst thing in my opinion is the hours: it closes at 5 p.m. leaving those who work 9-5 no chance to hike and relax. As for the good, Northern Virginia is a suburban jungle, a park like this is priceless. The main trail is nice and you see a beautiful waterfall and a nice lodge, a fire tower, a small meadow (I'm a big fan of meadows in forest areas). There are dozens of side trails that you must take. One takes you to a hidden pond (not the main pond). I've seen so far a heron, brown watersnakes, bluegills and turtle
Reviewed by Mark G. on 2/4/2004 My wife and I did this walk/hike in late January with our two small children (each one in a hiking backpack). We all really enjoyed it. The scenery was very beautiful, even though parts of it are against a (partial) urban backdrop. The snow-covered woods and frozen lake made it especially scenic. The main loop is short (about a mile or so) and was well-groomed with snowmobile. We also found off-shoot trails that were less groomed but still very worthwhile. These wound over quaint wooden bridges crossing streams and through the areas where the botanical flowerings bloom in the warmer seasons. Less colorful, of course, in the winter, but still nice. If you live in the vincinity, I think this area is well worth a try! 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, Alexandria City County Hiking, Alexandria City County Trails, Alexandria City County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||