Scott's Run Nature Preserve: McLean's Hemlock Studded Treasure

Barely a mile from the  Capital Beltway, Scott’s Run Nature Preserve provides the opportunity for a heart pumping, lung busting, sweat pouring hike.  The nature preserve is located along the Potomac River in McLean, one of Fairfax County’s most palatial suburbs.

The nature preserve is also one of the region's most diverse areas of forest in terms of the range of plant species.  Hemlock, oak, beech, and wild cherry trees all inhabit the park, and Virginia bluebells and sessile trillum appear with seasonal flourish.   The 220-acre preserve also functions as an ecological time capsule; hemlocks in the preserve are the descendants of ice age era migrants, and the unique rock formations dotting the riverbank were formed as much as 520-million years ago, caused by a fault line running through the preserve.  .        

Primary user groups in the nature preserve are trail runners and day hikers; and off-leash dogs are not uncommon.  An extensive network of trails gives dog owners the impression there are utterly alone-- and can chance letting the fur baby run wild without bumping into a ranger monitoring the trails for the Fairfax County Park Authority (county regulations stipulate even the most harmless dogs must be leashed at all times in Scott's Run). 
  

I have hiked Scott's Run with three generations of dogs (some with very selective hearing); and once I deviate from the main waterfall trail, rarely see other people.  However, over the years I have encountered the occasional colorful character-- a relic hunter with a fanny-pack full Dr. Pepper, a couple hiking with their cat, and a regular influx of swimmers who take to the Potomac like retrieving Labradors without regard for public health advisories, or ring worm.  I have also seen a number of less exotic species; red fox (Vulpes vulpes), red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus), blue heron (Ardea herodias), and the seemingly unavoidable white-tailed deer  (Odocoileus virginianus) who thrive and overpopulate the predator-free suburban haven.   

There is currently no established trail map for Scott's Run; and Fairfax County and does not mark any of the trails in the preserve.  But, there are some  map signboards scattered very unpredictably throughout the preserve.  The only marked trail  is the 830-mile  blazed and maintained Potomac Heritage Trail, which passes through Scott's Run,  hugging the Potomac from the river's mouth in the Chesapeake bay all the way to the Allegheny Highlands.  

For an decent hike (without the threat of getting lost in the McLean backcountry), park in the East parking lot (the smaller lost, closer to the intersection of Georgetown Pike and 495).  Circumvent the large metal parking  gate and follow the trail past a pool and tennis court endowed private residence on the right.  Stay on this main (wider!) trail, which eventually descends down a steep and set of wooden stairs towards the river.  Once down the stairs, veer to the right, where Scott's Run enters the Potomac as a waterfall.  For a longer hike, follow the river (take a right at the river) and follow markers for the Potomac Heritage Trail (PHT).  Follow the trail past some impressive rock formations and fern beds, until it curves right and begins a steep climb.  After the uphill, the trail will dead end at the main waterfall trail, turn left to return to the East parking lot. 

Scott's Run: 7400 Georgetown Pike, McLean VA 22102

Although there are no printable trail maps available, for a topo map of the preserve, visit

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/cct/downloads/scottsruntopo.pdf