Algonkian Regional Park

Description

Algonkian Regional Park hosts everything from a golf course to a water park and everything in between. With over 800 acres there is plenty of room for wildlife especially where the park runs along the south bank of the Potomac River. One of the first species you are likely to encounter in the park is white-tailed deer, which can be seen by the dozens as they graze along the roadsides and venture out onto the golf course. Other mammals include eastern chipmunk, gray squirrel and woodchuck, while red fox may show themselves at dawn or dusk.

Birds to look for in the park include eastern bluebirds around the open fields and a variety of woodpeckers in the woods. The riverside brush hosts numerous eastern phoebes, and in winter, can attract white-throated, song and other sparrows. The river is well worth a look for waterfowl in the winter and during migration. It can be especially good for merganser, with hooded, common and red-breasted all being found. The river has also been known to host a common loon from time to time.

Scan the park for butterflies such as hackberry and tawny emperors, variegated fritillaries and red-spotted purples. Dragonflies and damselflies can also be abundant, with common green darners and black saddlebags patrolling the fields and American rubyspots and powdered dancers fluttering along the riverbanks.

Directions

Physical Address: 47001 Fairway Dr, Sterling, VA 20165

From Ashburn, head north on SR-641/Ashburn Rd., turn right onto Louisa Dr., turn left onto Ashburn Village Blvd., use the right lane to take the ramp onto VA-7 E/Leesburg Pike, take the exit toward SR-1582 N/Algonkian Parkway and merge onto SR-1582 N/Algonkian Parkway, turn left onto Cascades Pkwy., continue onto Fairway Dr., and follow it to either the boat ramp or the golf course parking lots.