Great Falls Park
Time: Totally up to you
Length: Variable
Gear: daypack – water – leash – map (optional)
Difficulty Level: 1 paws
Scenery: 4 paws
Pack: You and your dog
My friend, Judy K and her herd, reminded me of what a nice, reliable, beautiful hike Great Falls is. The park is well visited and can be busy, especially on a summer afternoon, but this time of year or in the mornings it is peaceful and scenic.
If you have never been, you are missing some amazing views of the Potomac River. The Falls live up to their reputation but be careful with your pooch near the edges! No kidding, people die every year there thinking they can tame the rapids and falls. Not!
Great Falls connects to Riverbend which I have talked about previously. Riverbend is fantastic in it’s own way and is much less busy. Just bring a map because you will have many less-traveled options for your hike.
Last week when the temperature crept over the 50 mark, it made me dream of spring and hikes in the mountains! Ahhhh. And that was the perfect reminder – am I in shape for the first hike of the season? More importantly, is my dog?
It’s easy to forget that while you may be hitting the treadmill in the winter, your dog relies completely on you for exercise. I don’t know about you, but when the weather is yucky I have been known to shorten a walk or opt for the backyard potty to avoid the elements or the dark.
Which is fine, of course, but it means that your dog will need to get back into shape before you do a three-miler with a grade change of 600 feet! Karma and I participate in other doggie activities year round but even agility runs aren’t the same as a few hours in Shenandoah National Park.
So what’s a team to do?
- Take advantage of the rare warm(er) days and double the time of your walk.
- Look for even slight inclines and small hills in your neighborhood and walk up and down them to work different muscle groups.
- Build both stamina and strength in your dogs – sometimes walks can be about duration, sometimes strength.
- Use a doggy backpack to make your dog think about what he’s doing and to build strength. A dog should be able to carry 1/3 of his weight but not right away! Start with a small bottle of water on each side of the pack (if you have a small dog, don’t fill the bottles all the way).
- Vary your dog’s pace to build cardio strength – chasing balls, fast walks, etc.
- Look at the calendar and work backwards. If you were to sign up to run a 10k in say, June, you would start training accordingly. Treat your dog the same way!
Cross Country Trail: Colvin Run Mill to Potomac River
Time: 1.5+ hours (or more depending on your route)
Length: Out and back – up to you
Gear: water – leash – map
Difficulty Level: 1 paw
Scenery: 3 paws
Pack: You and your dog
Recently Karma and I revisited one of my go-to trails near my home – CCT. It was before all the snow fell but after some drenching rain, so the right shoes were still a must for this trail. Remember, you will walk through some water.
This time we walked a bit further as the summer heat was long gone and Karma was enjoying the cold temperatures. The inset photo shows where we turned back, just before the trail crosses the stream. It’s a great crossing, but I started to over-analyze – what if Karma slipped and fell in? What if I did? That water is darn cold! – so I decided that in the warmer months we would cross.
I will let you in on a secret. Karma was mostly off leash! I cannot endorse such a thing, of course, as it is always safer to have your dog in full control in case of a deer, other wildlife, passers-by and other dogs. That is my official statement. But unofficially, we started early and basically had the trail to ourselves until we were almost back to the car when we did pass a jogger and two separate people with unfriendly dogs. Karma is definitely growing up as his recalls were great and he was a perfect gentleman around these distractions.
It’s interesting, you MUST have solid recalls but often it’s hard to practice them – especially with distractions – unless you can be off leash in those areas. Hmmm. But a reliable recall can save your dog’s life so find environments where you can practice and always have rewards on hand! I have said this before (and Karma and I continue to work this) you must be THE best thing in your dog’s life! The source of all fun and rewards and of course, great hikes!
It’s been snowing here in Virginia already this year and yet I can’t help but think forward to camping season. And as everyone knows, to do camping right means having the right gear! So that got me thinking … What are some of my favorite camping and hiking items for my dog?
Karma loves his travel bed from Canine Hardware and I love that it comes with its own stuff sack. It’s machine washable and has poly suede on one side and rip stop on the bottom. I found it at Back Country K9 which has great gear of all kings for your traveling adventures.
Though we usually car camp, I still pack Karma’s gear in his own backpack from Ruff Wear. In the off season, I also use it for an occasional work out for him by adding just a couple pounds of weight on either side, making sure to keep the weight evenly distributed.
Finally, depending on the terrain you will be crossing, boots can be another must have item. Last year Karma got frostbite from playing in the snow too long and that resulted in us purchasing some Muttluks snow boots. We also bought some all-purpose boots for the summer for when the terrain takes a toll on his feet.
What better to put in a stocking than boots? Ha!
Got a question about your nearby national park? Good news, The National Park Service has created this great site to provide all kinds of guidance and answers to your questions: Oh Ranger!
The site has videos like “How can I stay safe in bear country,” links to all the national parks, featured parks and pretty much all the answers to your park questions.
I used the search tool and entered my zip code with the parameters of within 25 miles. 100 results showed up – 100! Fantastic! A Google-powered map pops up and it’s easy to see which results are close to home. From either the map or the list below you can click on a park to learn more. Keep in mind that the park service often covers the museums so in the DC area you will see some of those listed as well.
When I searched on a specific park – this time Shenandoah National Park, a favorite of OBH – a ton of information came up. I actually like this site better than the national park service’s site for the same park. The Oh Ranger! site is much more friendly and fun to navigate and has all the same information and more. The best part is, under Shenandoah Regulations link on the left, they specify where pets are and are not allowed in the park! Yay!
So not only do you need to bookmark this site, you also need to watch the bear video – it’s both educational and fun! If you do, the title of this post will make sense!
Shenandoah National Park – Central District – Big Meadows
Time: 48 hours (camping + hike)
Length: Big Meadows hike is variable
Gear: your usual weekend gear
Difficulty Level: 1 paw
Scenery: 3 paws
Pack: You and your dog or a whole pack
This past weekend the OBH crew again headed west to the Shenandoah National Park for a weekend of camping at Big Meadows (mile 51.2).
Karma and I were able to leave a few hours ahead of Cannon and Katina who were stuck at their day jobs until the week’s official end. No matter, it gave Karma and I a chance to set up and open the wine before their arrival.
Karma has a broken toe and the vet’s instructions are to keep him resting – no agility class, no playing, no running, no hiking – so we altered our plan for the weekend and did not include our normal big, three-hour hike. Instead we mostly hung out at camp and had a delightful weekend.
We had stayed at the Big Meadows campground in July and again we scored one of the walk-up sites since we didn’t have a reservation. It seems it was a good thing I got there early because the campgrounds filled up. I also learned that you could leave a note for your friend on the message board at registration in case you have to communicate your campsite. (Not knowing this, I used the payphones to let Katina know where we were.)
When Katina and Cannon arrived, they set up their new, fabulous tent and then attention turned to dinner which was grilled chicken that had been marinating all day. Yum. We stayed up later than usual catching up while the dogs hung out (mostly) on their tie-outs.
The next morning we made breakfast burritos and hot chocolate as the weather definitely had a fall feeling to it. We then spent the morning telling stories and finally took the dogs to the Big Meadow after lunch. We could tell they were ready for their adventure!
The Big Meadow is actually on the east side of Skyline Drive or opposite the entrance to Big Meadows campgrounds. We loaded the dogs into my SUV and drove to the parking lot for the meadow only because of Karma’s toe. I imagine it would take about 15 minutes one-way to walk.
One at the meadow, it really is as the guidebook describes: there are multiple paths and you just wander until you are ready to go back. There are 134 acres of meadow and what struck me was how much the meadow changed throughout the walk. It was really beautiful in a really subtle way.
Because we had to do a more laid back weekend, Katina thought that we should make it a photo weekend and we did just that. We made a concerted effort to really notice everything around us –the monarch chrysalis hanging near the restrooms; the small moments with the dogs at camp; the variety of plants that inhabited the meadow.
After about 45 minutes we headed back to the car. Back at camp I iced Karma’s foot while Cannon snuggled up under a blanket as the day cooled off. Katina made an amazing Jambalaya and dessert was the classic s’mores with hot chocolate. Cannon elected to curl up in his warm car while Karma was thrilled with the fall-like air. Silly dogs.
In the morning we ate a leisurely breakfast and took our time breaking down camp, ever aware this may be our last overnight trip of the season.
Whenever you travel with your dog, you need to have water – everyone knows that, right? But when you’re hiking, carrying enough water for both of you can be a challenge. How do you lug it around? How much do you need?
How much you need will depend on many factors – what’s the weather? Does your dog drink a lot? Get hot easily? Will there be safe drinking water available?
Cannon and Karma have very different water needs. Cannon, our Africa dog, requires probably half the water Karma does on a typical summer hike. Katina and I have separately paid attention to how much water our dogs go through and have altered how much water we carry to accommodate our boys.
Karma will easily go through a 32oz Nalgene bottle on a 3-4 hour hike in the summer. To do this I have purchased a CamelBak daypack with a reservoir that holds about 48oz of water. I can also fit a 32oz Nalgene in the pack along with a collapsible water bowl and other necessities.
If you’ve ever used a CamelBak or similar product you know that you must bite the straw-like tube and suck the water out like a straw. It’s a little hard to train a dog to do this – haha. However, if you hold the tube open by squeezing it and then squeeze the reservoir – either by wearing the pack and leaning against a tree or taking the pack off and pushing on it – water will flow out and into the dog bowl.
Honestly, I think it’s easier to pour from a bottle but the CamelBak is a great option and it’s much easier to carry the water in this way.
A note on “safe drinking water:” Just because a trail has water – in the form of a stream or pond or other – does not mean it’s safe to drink! It is so easy for your dog (or you!) to pick up a parasite from a stream that looks perfectly fine. When in doubt, try to keep your dog from drinking water that you don’t know anything about. Also, monitor your dog’s health for a few days (especially his poop) following a slurp from an unknown stream.
Cross Country Trail: Colvin Run Mill to Potomac River
Time: 1.5 hours (or more depending on your route)
Length: Out and back – up to you
Gear: daypack – lunch/snack – water – leash – map
Difficulty Level: 1 paw
Scenery: 3 paws
Pack: You and your dog
Comments: Only saw one pair of joggers the entire time – we had the trail to ourselves!
I owed Karma some quality time after being away for 12 days. Karma managed to make himself sick while I was gone and the vet chalked it up to stress – my poor mama’s boy!
I consulted my Virginia books and chose the Cross Country Trail (CCT) beginning at Colvin Run Mill Park. The trail to the Potomac River is 8.7 miles along Difficult Run that is a beautiful stream which is actually pretty big. The trail is in the woods, is easy and mostly flat. It poured buckets just a few days ago and the ground was soft with areas of standing water and mud. So much for Karma’s freshly groomed coat!
We parked in the lot for Colvin Run Mill just off Route 7/Leesburg Pike. To access the trail cut through the general store to the mill and then head toward the intersection. Just before Route 7 there is a paved road across Colvin Run road and you follow that straight onto the trail. Just before the trailhead is a small area for parking – next time I will park there.
The CCT is incredibly well marked and considering my previous trail following attempts, I am grateful. The trail starts out wide and gravel-covered and eventually narrows to a dirt trail that wanders through the woods.
About 0.6 miles in the trail crosses a stream with cylindrical concrete “stepping-stones.” The water is pretty fast here and I can imagine in the winter it could be quite icy. On the way in I walked through the ankle-deep water but on the return trip I opted for the concrete to keep my feet dry. As always, Karma enjoyed playing in the water.
We got to this point in 15 minutes give or take, so I’m guessing that we ended up doing about three-plus miles total.
The trail opens up and crosses a small road in a neighborhood. It then continues to the left and it was a little hard to find the opening but it was well marked once I found it.
There were several opportunities for water play but since it was in the 60s, Karma was comfortable so I just tried to keep him out of the mud as much as possible – ha!
At Ramey’s Meadow Park the trail crosses another small road. Straight ahead is one trail opening and that’s what we took on the way out. It is marked by the familiar horseshoes on the posts but none of the CCT markers. This trail stays close to the stream and cuts through it at one point for which Karma was grateful as it gave him a great opportunity to wade in the cold stream.
This part of the trail rejoins the CCT trail and the markers are again visible. We turned around before the next fair-weather crossing. The guidebook describes this crossing of Difficult Run to contain boulders in the stream for stepping-stones.
On the way back I stayed on CCT to Ramey’s Meadow Park and learn that I should have looked right when I crossed the road the first time. We took a break at the park sign and Karma happily flopped in the grass.
I really enjoyed this trail and look forward to exploring more of it in the future. There is another parking lot at Georgetown Pike and near the Potomac River the trail goes into Great Falls Park. The only thing to be aware of is that weather will greatly affect the trail. So if your best pal is fresh from the groomer you may want to wait for a drier day.
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!
Shenandoah National Park – North District – Elkswallow Wayside.
Just in case you forgot something when hiking, camping or just visiting the North District of the SNP, at mile 24.1 is the Elkswallow Wayside.
The Wayside is open from mid-April through fall and sells a large variety of goods in a compact space: Souvenirs, beer, wine, groceries, fuel and most importantly, firewood (remember, you cannot bring your own firewood into the park and it’s often tough to scavenge enough dry wood for a good fire!). They also have a lunch counter/deli and ice cream – a great treat for a hot day!
There is also a picnic area, staff to answer questions and a few items of clothing in case the weather changes or you need a clean, dry T-shirt!
Manassas National Battlefield – 5-miler
Time: 1.5 – 2 hours
Gear: daypack – water – leash
Difficulty Level: 1 paw
Scenery: 3 paws
Pack: You and your dog
My go-to hike on the weekends, when I want to get out of the neighborhood, is the First Manassas Trail (loop) at the Manassas National Battlefield in none other than Manassas, VA. This a scenic trail that winds through woodlands and uplands, has wide trails to accommodate a day out with the family, and is a great place to walk or run with your dog. The traffic here is light to moderate. You’ll definitely encounter other dogs as well as a jogger or two.
I park at the Henry Hill Visitors Center and hop on the First Manassas Trail, well marked, on the east side of the parking lot. You’ll walk down a very wide path (can accommodate several vehicles side-by-side) that’s flanked by tall grass. This leads you past a row of Civil War era cannons then narrows and into the woods. You’ll quickly come to a fork in the trail. Follow the right branch, which is marked with the First Manassas Trail’s blue blaze.
You may see deer out in the field to the left of the trail. This should be a reminder not to take your dog off leash in this park, especially if they have a prey drive that you don’t have voice command over (park rules state all dogs must be leashed at all times). The trail will come to a four-way trail intersect that sometimes appears to be a T. You’ll follow the trail to the left.
As you gradually descend (no difficult slopes on this trail) you’ll come to a stream running through the path. I don’t recommend crossing here unless you don’t mind continuing on the next 4 miles with wet shoes. Just before you come to the stream you’ll see a side trail to your left that leads to a wooden bridge. Use this to go over the water and the trail connects following to get you back on track. You’re now out of the woods and are again flanked by fields.
This leads you to a crossing at Route 29. There is no light or cross walk for pedestrians. Please use caution and use this as an opportunity to practice your sit-stays. Cars that travel this road are used to people crossing here but you may have to wait a moment before you get a chance to make your move or until the cars slow for you to pass.
Across the road you’ll ascend a short slope and then follow the trail along the woods edge. If you’re feeling adventurous you can take the trail marked for “Stone Bridge”. This will loop away from your current route and direct you past the beautiful old bridge that crosses Bull Run river. It’s a good photo opp. At the bridge you’ll take the trail going to the left and away from the bridge, along the river, and will connect back to the First Manassas Trail. When you hit the trail, take a right.
After running along the edge of the woods you’ll enter into them once more. You’ll follow the trail to a fork, following to the left this time and out onto the battlefield. These upland fields are some of my favorites. You’ll see nothing but tall grass on either side of you, besides the singular row of cannons, until you crest the slope. From here you see the trail wind downhill, through the fields, and then back up again for the next mile. You can see the historic Stone House, the historic Henry House and the visitors center in the distance.
Continue on past Stone House. You’ll come to the intersection of Route 29 and Route 234 Business. There is a traffic light here with a cross walk and a crossing indicator-light. Make sure to watch for turning cars.
You cross a wooden bridge over Youngs Branch and continue up the hill past Henry House and back to the parking lot. Don’t be surprised if you catch a tour, tourists visiting the Henry House or a riffle loading demonstration. The park is a very active Civil War destination.
An item to note is that the park does require you pay an entrance fee while visiting the battlefield. I’ve never encountered park police monitoring the trails but it is courtesy that you obey the rules and obtain the entrance pass inside the visitors’ center. If it’s your first time in the park then I recommend you head inside to grab a park map (outlines trails), check out the small museum and informational displays and ask the rangers on staff if you have any questions. Warning: dogs are not allowed inside the visitors center.
Directions to the Henry Hill Visitors Center, Manassas National Battlefield from Northern Virginia/DC Metro Area:
- Take I-66 West to Exit 47B
- The ramp merges onto Route 234 Business
- Continue past Northern Virginia Community College
- Take your next Right into the Manassas National Battlefield. If you hit Route 29 then you’ve gone too far
W&OD Trail – Vienna, Virginia
Time: 2 hours (or whatever you like)
Gear: water – leash
Difficulty Level: 1 paw
Scenery: 1 paw
Pack: You and your dog
Comments: Lots of people traffic & bicycles
Lucky me, I live within a few miles of the W&OD Trail which is a beautifully maintained, paved, 45-mile trail from DC to Reston, VA.
We parked on the streets of the Town of Vienna where signs indicated there are no parking restrictions on Saturday. There is also a great farmers’ market on Church Street from 8-12 on Saturdays but the big “NO DOGS” sign kept us focused as we headed west on the trail.
At 8a on a cloudy day the trail wasn’t too busy and I only saw one other dog. There are some serious runners and bikers using the path so I kept Karma on a relatively short leash and responsibly heeded all the polite “on your left” call-outs from cyclists. You cannot let your dog wander all over the place when on the main path and you want to have confident control.
What’s cool about this and many sections of the W&OD Trail is there is often a parallel path that is mowed but not paved so Karma and I switched to that path the first chance we got (it sort of stops and starts). There I was able to let him have the full length of the Flexi Lead and wander and sniff to his heart’s delight. We actually came across several water areas where he could drink, stand and play (Karma doesn’t swim per se but that’s another story). I always look for water opportunities to help keep him cool not to mention he loves water so it ups the fun factor.
We walked about an hour and a half at a pretty good pace since I was wearing my heart monitor and wanted to count it as my workout too – ha!
One thing to remember on walks like this is “what walks out, must walk back.” It sounds obvious, but all too often people don’t turn around to come back until their dog starts to look tired and then it can be too late. Wear a watch and learn the limits of your dog even as you work to improve your dog’s fitness level.
When Karma was younger I took him on the same trail, starting out in the morning on a weekend day in September. I had grand visions of walking out/west at least an hour then coming back. Ha! The morning heated up faster than I expected and at the 20 minute mark Karma pulled over and flopped down in the grass panting. Of course I was dressed like Marathon Marge and all these hard-core fitness folks were laughing at the dog in the shade as they ran/rode by. It was funny but I was worried about Karma. It took us forever to get back as Karma kept pulling over and flopping in the shade. Obviously I ran out of water too. Times like this have made me hyper-aware of what it’s like to have this breed of dog in any heat whatsoever! So please, know your dog! And if you have multiple dogs – even if they are the same breed – treat them as individuals.
