HIT THE TRAIL
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L o c a l wa l k s t o e n j o y
Windy Run Park and Nature Trail By Carol Brooks
W
hen I saw a park I’d never heard of, Windy Run Park, listed as a top vote-getter in the Arlington Magazine “Best Hiking Trail of 2016,” I wanted to find out more. I love exploring neighborhood parks and trails and wanted to know why this one got the votes. I checked the park’s website (www.parks. arlingtonva.us/locations/windy-run-park) for more information and then visited it on a warm weekday afternoon. I wasn’t immediately impressed, so my later discoveries came as a pleasant surprise. The park offers limited parking on a cul-de-sac, and the trailhead is a hard surface and gravel path leading past a brick building. Fortunately, I found an informative kiosk with a detailed trail map and planned to hike what looked like an easy loop. This was not a good idea after all. I followed the single trail for a short distance where it forks at a stream crossing. At the fork, I followed the trail to the right and over a bridge. This turned out to be a somewhat precarious and challenging climb to a high cliff. Although it offered stunning views of the Potomac River at its endpoint, there were no barriers to keep hikers and dogs from tumbling down a steep cliff. The rocky path leading downhill to meet up
About Your Guide Carol Brooks is co-owner of DogOn Fitness, a daily exercise service for dogs. She specializes in high-energy and overweight dogs, providing them with working walks, running, adventure hikes, and training reinforcement.
26 Northern Virginia Dog
| Summer 2016
with the rest of the loop required me to crab-crawl on all fours. I couldn’t imagine any scenario where this was a safe option for hikers with dogs. Do not take this trail! For a safe hike, take the left fork that crosses the stream, stay level with the creek, and follow this trail as it winds along and over Windy Run several times. This part of the trail, and what soon followed, must be what got those “Best Hiking Trail” votes! You and your dog will appreciate the cooler park temperatures on a hot summer day, and your dog will have many opportunities to cool off in the stream. The trail pauses at a rocky outcropping overlooking the Potomac River. If you’re just looking for a quick