Sign Up  /  Login

Mid-Summer Solstice LbNA #32237 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:paper trail
Plant date:Jun 24, 2007
Location:
City:Annandale
County:Fairfax
State:Virginia
Boxes:1
Found by: WhyNot41
Last found:May 5, 2018
Status:FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFr
Last edited:Nov 10, 2015
Had to put this one out as we realized that the summer solstice means ever shorter days as the summer progresses...we'll make our own sunshine!

Wakefield Park is on the North Side of Braddock Road, just outside the Beltway.

Drive on to the parking lot for the Audrey Moore RecCenter: start at the SouthEast corner of the parking lot and start out over the bridge. Following the trail, cross the service road - and then a second bridge (or you could take the scenic loop to the left).

After the second bridge, take the right fork following the trail along the dry stream bed. The trail changes to an asphalt surface as you pass the baseball diamonds on your left and the pool deck on your right. As you come to the astro-turf field, turn left. At the next corner of the field, take the dirt footpath off into the grass (this one stretch would not work for a stroller). Cross the dry (hopefully!) streambed and turn right onto the Cross County Trail (CCT).

Just before the power plant, take a sharp right away from the continuing CCT. There are three choices ahead of you:
the left gravel path? NO. The right Project Habitat right of way path? NO. The center trail into the dark woods? YES!

17 paces from the treeline you will come to a large patch of ferns. Nestled within is a hollow ring of bark that was once a stump. Look under the large piece of bark inside to find some sunshine.

To return:
Continue on the trail up through the woods. You'll pass the tennis courts below you on the right - the beltway is audible on your left. Turn right at the monkey bars and then cut over to the parking lot by the recycling station.

*The last bit of trail between the monkey bars and the recycling station is occasionally closed for mountain bike races: the upcoming close dates posted are: 6/27/07, 7/11/07, and 7/18/07*