Winter Walk, December 5
Join the Parade!
Well, sort of. Not the one in Alexandria, though. This one is at Great Falls Regional Park in McLean, Virginia.
When: Saturday, Dec. 5 (rain date: Sunday, Dec. 6)
Time: 1:30 PM (Lynne, Glenna, & Oboe will arrive early to eat a sandwich — or dog biscuits — at the picnic tables, so join us if you like)
Where: Great Falls Regional Park, 9200 Old Dominion Dr, McLean, VA 22102.
Visitor Center closed; bathrooms were open last time I was there. DOGS MUST BE ON LEASH AT ALL TIMES.
RSVP to Lynne Corn (brynacap@verizon.net. Important — you will get a postponement or cancellation notice only if you reply via email.
Entrance Fee
$20 per CAR (not per person). However, it’s FREE IF (a) you have the Senior Pass (for info see Changes to the Senior Pass (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) which is good forever, includes everyone in your car, and gets you into any U.S. NPS site or wildlife refuge that charges an entrance fee); or (b) the park doesn’t feel they can get enough money to pay them to collect the fee — typically at this time of year because it is cold or rainy.
Details
Bring a mask!
From I-495 Beltway, take exit for VA-193 (Georgetown Pike) heading WEST toward Great Falls. Continue about ½ mile to Old Dominion Dr (traffic light). Turn right; toll booth is several hundred yards straight ahead.
How to find us: only 10 feet after the toll booth make a HARD right down into the first parking lot. Follow signs to the Falls scenic overlook & picnic area. We’ll meet in the picnic area. The lot is rarely full, but if it is, there are more lots past the toll booth. NO CELL PHONE SERVICE IN THE PARK.
The trail we’ll take is a nice wide carriage trail so it allows a socially distant but still group hike, on pretty level ground. There are side loops if you want a longer or more strenuous experience.
Cancellation
I’ll cancel if COVID restrictions close the park. Check Great Falls Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) for GFP updates. Or if it is raining. I WON’T cancel for cold. I’ll let you know via email around 10 AM if the event is postponed to Sunday or cancelled altogether.