George Washington Memorial Parkway
The George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP) preserves the natural scenery along the Potomac River. It connects the historic sites from Mount Vernon, where Washington lived, past the nation's capital, which he founded, and to the Great Falls of the Potomac where the President demonstrated his skill as an engineer.
Developed as a memorial to George Washington, the Parkway may be used on any day to travel to exciting historical, natural, and recreational areas. These places are all linked by this planned and landscaped road, the first section of which was completed in 1932 to commemorate the bicentennial of George Washington's birth.
Location: George Washington Memorial Parkway runs along the Potomac River from Mount Vernon to Great Falls.
- Great Falls Park is located in Great Falls, Virginia.
- Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve is located in Alexandria, Virginia.
- Theodore Roosevelt Island is located in the District of Columbia.
- Turkey Run Park is located in McLean, Virginia.
Field Studies offered:
Study Sites:
| Mine Run, Great Falls, Virginia |
 |
- Field Studies available: Water Canaries, Watershed Watchdogs
- Habitat: Lowland forest; river/stream bank
- Terrain: Approximately a 5-7 minutes walk from the main parking lot. Flat, even terrain to the stream's edge; trail can be quite muddy in places. Sparse vegetation at the stream bank, including poison ivy. Less than a three-foot bank in most places to access stream bed. Stream shallow under normal water conditions - mid -calf or lower.
- Not suitable for the disabled
- Facilities: Restrooms at Visitors Center, 5-7- minute walk
- Additional Info: Impact on area currently being assessed by Park Resource Mgt. A 60' section of the stream is designated and marked for BTW programs. Maximum number of students using the stream at the same time is 20. There is no limit on the number of times that the designated area can be used during the year. Groups are required to turn in copies of any data collected during their program to the rangers at Great Falls. Their data will be used by Resource Management as part of the impact assessment.
|
| Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve |
 |
- Field Studies available: Alien Invaders, Watershed Watchdogs
- Habitat: Marsh
- Terrain: Located in the coastal zone, Dyke Marsh is flat. Entry into the marsh is via a wide trail with thick underbrush along both sides.
- Suitable for the disabled
- Facilities: Restrooms nearby
|
| Theodore Roosevelt Island |
 |
- Field Studies available: Alien Invaders, Watershed Watchdogs
- Habitat: Lowland forest; river/stream bank; marsh; island
- Terrain: Theodore Roosevelt Island is approximately 90 acres surrounded by water, and habitats include marsh, swamp, forest and riverbanks. It is relatively flat with a well established network of trails throughout the island. Off the trails, the undergrowth can be fairly heavy in many locations.
- suitable for the disabled
- Facilities: Restrooms nearby
|
| Turkey Run |
 |
- Field Studies available: Water Canaries
- Habitat: Lowland forest; river/stream bank
- Terrain: Turkey Run Park covers over 700 acres of forested land from the top of the ridge, down the Potomac Gorge to the river banks. The descent to the river can be steep but follows a well-established winding path which includes steps and switchbacks.
- Not suitable for the disabled
- Facilities: Restrooms nearby
- Additional Info: Can accommodate up to 25 students
|
For more information on the George Washington Memorial Parkway, including directions, visitor information and hours of operation, visit their official website: http://www.nps.gov/gwmp.shtml
| 
