Take A Trip To Huntley Meadows Park

Take A Trip To Huntley Meadows Park

3701 Lockheed Blvd, Alexandria, VA
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Huntley Meadows Park in Fairfax County was created when the authorities decided to build Dulles International Airport way out west in Centreville, VA. If this land which borders a Coast Guard facility and Telegraph Road in the eastern part of Fairfax County had been chosen for the new international airport, they would have had to bring in lots of fill dirt because this land is really a wetlands. Every time I come here for a walk it always amazes me that this huge wetlands is right in the middle of a high traffic area of the county.

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Bird and wildlife watchers come here in droves toting huge cameras and tripods to photograph all the wildlife that lives here amidst a very bustling suburban environment. Fairfax county school children come here too to experience the wetlands and to visit the nature center.
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The other day when Jack and I came we were also amazed by something else. This huge stand of cattails that grew this year in the park. Thousands and thousands of eight foot tall cattails line the boardwalks that take you out on the wetlands.

The cattails are ripe and spilling millions and millions of seeds in the water so next year most likely there will be another bumper crop of cattails.

The autumn leaves on the trees that border the wetlands are very pretty in late October. If you look closely you can see a blue egret standing in the water in the middle of the photo. Jack and I also say lots of Canadian geese and ducks and various water birds here the other day.


If you look in the murky water you might spot a water snake. That happened to me on another visit.

And look at this house of wood among the cattails. The beavers have built a beaver dam home here in the wetlands.

To learn more about the history and wildlife of Huntley Meadows click here: www.fairfaxcountygov.parks/huntley/