Huntley Meadows Park Wetlands and Boardwalk Trail in Northern VA

Huntley Meadows Park is a hidden gem of Northern Virginia with a half-mile accessible boardwalk, woodland trails, and a unique hemi-marsh wildlife habitat. The park is one of those great Fairfax County surprises—a peaceful, unusual and beautiful wildlife habitat in the midst of our busy streets and neighborhoods.

A KidsPost article prompted our first visit, and we've returned every season. Half a mile of boardwalk, woodland trails, and a unique habitat? Count us in.

Find more great hikes in 6 Beautiful Boardwalk Hikes in Northern Virginia.

Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links. We will make a small commission from these links if you order something, at no additional cost to you.


Huntley Meadows Park boardwalk is a popular spot for children to learn about wetland habitats
School class visits the boardwalk at Huntley Meadows Park

The energetic voices of many elementary school children greeted our first visit. Happily, the students were about to leave, and they really were adorable with all the hand-holding and matching t-shirts. Older students did a great job walking quietly to observe birds from the boardwalk.

Look for this sign at the entrance to Huntley Meadows Park
Huntley Meadows is managed by the Fairfax County Park Authority

Huntley Meadows Park Visitor Center

Stop in the Visitor Center for a little history and some excellent info on the park's Hemi-marsh habitat. With over 1400 acres, Huntley Meadows is FCPA's largest park, and it was once used to test asphalt, provide anti-aircraft protection, and conduct secret radio research.

The Visitor Center has nice interactive dioramas and other touchable exhibits. Add very easy trails, a long boardwalk, and extensive wildlife and you have the perfect destination for inquisitive kids.

Huntley Meadows Park diorama in the Visitor Center introduces the wildlife you may see at the park
Visitor Center diorama, Huntley Meadows Park

Find more NoVA fun in our guide 20 Must-See Northern Virginia Hidden Gems Rich in Nature and History.

Woodland Trails at Huntley Meadows

The wooded Cedar Trail and Deer Trail are full of beautiful big trees and worth the walk. Beavers build and adjust dams throughout the park, and changing water levels make every visit unique.

Huntley Meadows Cedar Trail is a wooded level walk
Huntley Meadows Cedar Trail
Some of the Deer Trail at Huntley Meadows is surrounded by water
Huntley Meadows Deer Trail

You can head straight for the boardwalk on the Heron Trail if time is short, or you have toddlers or folks with mobility issues along. Huntley Meadows has one of the only ADA accessible wetland boardwalks in Northern Virginia.

Boardwalk Trail at Huntley Meadows Park in Northern Virginia

The Huntley Meadows boardwalk, and the 2-story observation tower, is the prize at the end of all three woodland trails. From the boardwalk you can explore the marsh, watching for birds, amphibians, beaver dams, and unique plants. In fact, this close access to nature makes Huntley one of the most family-friendly parks in Northern Virginia.

Huntley Meadows Boardwalk
Huntley Meadows Boardwalk

Water levels and plant life vary throughout the year, but the park always offers a lot to see. Bird-watchers and photographers gather year-round to look for local and rare birds. Try to visit during fall foliage season when trees surround the wetland with color.

Photographers at Huntley Meadows Park Northern VA
Photographers at Huntley Meadows Park Northern VA
Fall foliage adds to the beauty of Huntley Meadows Park
Fall foliage adds to the beauty of Huntley Meadows Park

The observation tower at one end of the boardwalk offers a broad view of the wetlands. We observed a fawn right next to the tower thanks to a sharp-eyed youth picnicking with his Mom.

View of the wetlands from the observation tower
Huntley Meadows from the Observation Tower

If you move slowly and quietly, you may see red-wing blackbirds, herons, ducks, frogs, snapping turtles (huge!!), snakes, skinks, and other wildlife. On one visit the beavers had built their dam right on the edge of the boardwalk. What a fantastic up-close look at nature in action.

To protect wildlife, dogs are not allowed on the Huntley Meadows boardwalk. However, leashed dogs are allowed on the woodland trails in the park. Note that you need to be on the boardwalk to enjoy views of the wetlands.

A beaver dam covers part of the boardwalk at Huntley Meadows Park in Northern VA
Beaver dam covers part of the boardwalk at Huntley Meadows Park in Northern VA
Snakes, skinks, and other creatures are easy to see from the Huntley boardwalk
Snake at Huntley Meadows

Visit Neabsco Creek Boardwalk in Prince William County for more wetland wildlife views.

Huntley Meadows Location and Hours

A humorous sign at Huntley Meadows
A humorous sign at Huntley Meadows

Huntley Meadows is in Hybla Valley, a neighborhood between Route 495 and Route 1 in Northern Virginia. 495 is often the most direct route to the park, but you can also take Fairfax County Parkway to 611 to avoid heavy beltway traffic. There are Hike-Bike and Pond trails available from South Kings Highway, but they don't connect to the boardwalk area.

The park is open dawn to dusk year-round, closed Tuesdays. Hours vary seasonally, but the Visitor Center is generally open noon to 5:00 weekdays and 9:00 to 5:00 weekends. Admission is free for individuals and families.

Visit the Huntley Meadows Park website for more information and for special events. The park frequently hosts after-hours and sunset hikes, and special nature-focused events for kids.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram for more fun travel in and from Northern Virginia.

Huntley Meadows Park is a hidden gem of Northern Virginia with a half-mile accessible boardwalk, woodland trails, and a unique hemi-marsh wildlife habitat.

This article was published in 2014 and updated in 2020.

Sharing is caring!