As part of my Amazon splurge, I picked up two books specifically about hiking in this region.
The first one, Doggin’ Northern Virginia: The 50 Best Places to Hike with Your Dog in NOVA, is exactly as it says on the cover, so judge away. The beginning of the book has some great tips about preparing to hike with your dog as well as a top 10 list of things to look for on your hikes.
The main part of the book summarizes the 50 hikes and consistently contains directions, trail information, dog friendliness and even canine swimming (a favorite feature of Karma’s). This is a great book when determining where you can take your dog.
The second book is 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Washington, DC. Now this is a “real” hiking book as it contains the type of information usually found in more serious hiking books, such as elevation changes, map references, trail surfaces, scenery, configuration and more. If you have read other guides or even the ones I talked about last time, this is the type of book you are used to.
If I had a magic wand I would combine these two books. The “Doggin’” book doesn’t have enough trail information and the “60” book doesn’t tell me about dog friendliness. I find I am using the “Doggin’” book to find the trail then the “60” book as the real guide. Yes, it’s kind of a pain, but together they are all the information you need. Best of all, they are expanding my knowledge of the nearby area and encouraging me to try new hikes!
Riverbend Park
Time: 1.5 hours (depending on your route)
Length: ~3 miles – I think?
Gear: daypack – water – leash – map
Difficulty Level: 2 paws
Scenery: 4 paws
Pack: You and your dog
Comments: Only saw one bike and that was on the paved path; dog owners were some of the most responsible I have come across. The handful of dogs were well behaved and completely in control – bliss!
Before the thought of winter even enters our consciousness, I decided I wanted to get to know some nearby parks that might be great options when the mercury dips into Karma’s favorite season. So we chose Riverbend Park in Fairfax County which is adjacent to the more famous Great Falls Park.
The park covers 409 acres of wooded uplands, hiking trails, flood plains and shoreline along the Potomac River on the Virginia side. In the summer, the hike was mostly shade, but in the winter I expect a much different, sunnier, story. The paths are in great shape and well traveled with a mix of mostly dirt, some pavement, gravel and a few rocky places. There is a visitor center complete with toilets, phones, water, picnic areas and, during the week, information desk.
Pretty much everywhere we stopped to enjoy the river, we were getting an eyeful of beautiful scenery. A great place for photographers and wanna-be photogs alike!
The park opens at 7a in the summer and closes around dark/8:30p. Karma and I started at 8a knowing the August day would heat up and Karma would melt! On this hike I decided to try out his RuffWear Swamp Cooler. It looks like a small lifejacket. Basically it works by using water to absorb the heat and keep the dog cooler. Without being able to get a verbal report from Karma, the vest seemed to help as he actually didn’t take any rests (or flop-downs) and didn’t overheat. Reviews on the product remind users to keep the vest “activated” which really means keeping it wet. Not a problem!
We started out at the visitors center and headed out on the loop going counter-clockwise or left if you’re standing at the visitors center looking at the river. My intention was to follow the 4.8 mile loop starting with the shortest length along the Potomac, turning upland, then finishing along the long part of the river hike.
I should have gone right.
The trail was great, but even with the map, I stayed too long on the river trail when I should have headed upland. Don’t get me wrong, the trail is fantastic and Karma loved the many opportunities to go for a dip! But there was an opportunity to turn left/inland/upland along a fire road and we should have taken it. So after realizing that’s what I should have done, we doubled back and picked up the fire road and headed through the woods.
So basically I took what should have been the short end of the loop and made it long. Nice. But contrary to what the books say, I really didn’t think it’s that well marked – obviously. Oh well.
We headed thorough the woods enjoying the scenery – I am always surprised at how many awesome trails are in this area, just minutes from malls and the hells of traffic tie-up. Virginia is awesome.
On our way back around, we walked by the nature center and then cut across the loop essentially to return to the visitors center instead of continuing towards Great Falls and Clay Pond which marks the point where the two loops meet. Since I had already hiked more than I meant to, I didn’t feel comfortable doing the rest of the loop now that it was getting hotter and Karma can only take so much heat. So we made it back to out starting point 1.5 hours after beginning.
Back at the visitors center, Karma got to swim and hang out in the water much to his delight. By the time we left, traffic was increasing and fishermen were scattered along the river, but it was not crowded like the neighboring Great Falls Park – I assume because it’s not a tourist area.
I LOVED this hike and vow to return and get it right so that I can really learn it. I think this is a great suburban option and will be a winter hike because only in a few places could rocks become slippery in wetter weather. Plus with all the water opportunities for Karma, I feel like I can keep him from getting too hot, even in the summer.
I am not a vet nor have I ever played one on TV. This is important because you should always take your vet’s advice over mine. Always. That said, I do have some tips and advice to share about making sure you are prepared when you head out on your next adventure.
One argument for always hiking with a buddy – I actually mean a person, not just your dog – is in case of serious injury to you or your dog, there is someone who can go for help. I am not a paranoid person, but it is possible that someone sustains an injury that keeps him or her from hopping out of the woods on his/her own. Also, I have a big dog and I only outweigh him by (ahem) 20 pounds so carrying him anywhere is out of the question!
So in my day pack at all times is the first aid kit from Ruff Wear. It comes with a first aid booklet and let me say, the first time you read this should NOT be on the trail when you need it! Know what information and materials it contains before you head out – you may even want to add to it.
For instance, recently I had to make a muzzle out of an old T-shirt in order to examine Karma’s foot. It worked great and I learned two things: 1) Karma is more the biting type than the submissive type when he’s hurt and 2) the T-shirt worked great. (I cut a 4” strip off the bottom of a cotton T-shirt in one long strip all the way around. I then applied the center of the strip to the top of Karma’s muzzle, then crossed it under his muzzle then wrapped it up behind his ears where I tied it around the high part of his neck.)
You should also have a little kit of other necessities that are more specific to your dog in a waterproof baggie. Karma’s contains Pepto Bismol, K9 aspirin, a tick remover (or tweezers) and that stretchy & sticky bandage stuff known by a brand name of Vetwrap made by 3M. (Be careful with this wonderful invention as you can easily pull it too tight and cause a different problem than the one you’re tying to solve. Practice on yourself to see how it feels it you’ve never used it!)
I also just read about another 3M product – Pet Care Spray-On Liquid Bandage to use on split or cut paw pads. I am definitely going to pick up a bottle of this.
Dog “booties” are another thing to have on hand. On our last hike, Karma started out great, but by the end of 3+ miles and several rock scrambles, a rear foot was hurting him. Dogs have to build up the toughness on their pads just like we would if we suddenly went from walking on grass and sidewalks to gravel. Be sure you are checking their feet throughout the hike and looking for signs of stress.
Finally, I picked up a great book that also comes with a DVD. Dog First Aid by the American Red Cross is a great reference book and video. This is a great reference for every dog owner and covers topics from giving your dog medications all the way to choking and serious injuries. Within the book it also has little disc icons that refer you to the included DVD for more information.
Got a first aid tip to share? Tell us!
These days it seems that every adventure brings its own etiquette – from Twitter to hiking with your dog. While I haven’t personally encountered it, there apparently is a growing contingent of people who want to ban dogs from trails – can you imagine?
So what is our responsibility in all of this? We all have to demonstrate that our dogs can be well behaved on the trails and give others we encounter only positive experiences sharing the trails with our best friends.
Myths & Misunderstandings
Some believe that dogs on trails will discourage wildlife from using the area. So long as dogs are trained not to bark and don’t chase the animals, they actually can alert you by pointing in the direction of wildlife and providing a heads up.
Another myth is that dogs spread disease through feces and waterborne illnesses. Actually, there isn’t any real science behind the feces argument. However, good trail etiquette says you should either pack out your dogs business or bury it off the trail at least 10 feet. As for waterborne illnesses, usually people are talking about glardia which is a real issue but actually humans are the biggest spreaders of the disease. Best for both you and your dog to drink the water you bring with you or trust a high-quality filter system. Ticks can also spread disease, but again, dogs do not worsen the problem.
Some believe dogs can damage sensitive environments, but certainly less so than humans. It is important to keep dogs on the trails and not to let them wander off into fragile areas. Both you and your dog need to respect the environment and keep all six feet on the trail (Um, that’s your two, plus Fido’s four – get it?).
Finally there is an argument that trails are already too crowded and some trails are too narrow or restrictive for dog passage. First of all, if trails are too crowded for dogs, who else will soon be banned? Kids? (The people, not the goats.) This is a silly argument. And if a trail is wide enough for a person, it’s wide enough for a dog.
Responsible Hiking with Fido
We are responsible not only for our actions but also for those of our dog. Simple. We want to make sure that everyone that encounters us has a great experience. Here are some reminders:
- Keep your dog on a leash or under very tight voice command. Most trails require leashes anyway, plus it’s just safer for everyone.
- Be sure to yield to everyone else – horses, hikers coming in the other direction, people passing you. Pull off the trail slightly if possible and make sure people can pass without getting “sniffed.” Remember, some people are deathly afraid of dogs like others are of spiders or clowns.
- Speaking of yielding, when hikers meet other hikers, the group going uphill has the right of way for safety reasons so keep that in mind as well.
- Stay on the trail and minimize your impact in general and obey all rules specific to the trail you are on. Don’t know the rules? Get a guidebook or ask a ranger if there are any special guidelines of which you need to be aware.
- Do not disturb wildlife, creatures or any aspect of the land. Leave it as you found it and try to minimize your impact at all times. This is the only way we will preserve these spaces for generations to come.
- Don’t roll rocks – or anything else – off of overlooks or cliffs as you have no idea what (or who!) may be below you.
- Some advise that your dog should wear a bandana, reflective vest or pack because it helps to make them look friendlier. I guess that could be true. Also, a reflective vest could be especially smart during hunting season; a pack really useful; and a bandana could be soaked with water to help keep you dog cool … so sure, why not?
- Your dog should have basic obedience and listen when you tell him/her to sit, lay down, stay, etc. It’s also really helpful if they have a “no barking” command as they will for sure see or hear something they want to talk about! If you normally have treats to reward/reinforce good behavior, then by all means, bring some along!
At the end of the day, it’s about being a steward for our environment and realizing that not everyone thinks your dog is as perfect as you do. We should all try to convince those we encounter that having dogs on trails is a perfectly pleasant experience!
