Dora Kelley Nature Park — Attraction in Alexandria

Dora Kelley Park is one of the largest parks in Alexandria. The Buddie Ford Nature Center is in the park, and it exhibits live animals, hosts nature classes, and leads guided park walks. This trail guide traverses Dora Kelley Nature Park and was designed to assist visitors in exploring the park's varied habitats. The park is an excellent example of conscientious urban planning and conservation efforts. Though surrounded by urban sprawl, this 50-acre nature preserve is a woodland gem nestled in the Holmes Run Stream Valley Gorge. This park is a prime birding spot any time of the year. Some species frequently seen in the park include tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch, belted kingfisher, and several woodpecker species including a nesting pair of pileated woodpeckers. Raptors such as bald eagles, Cooper’s hawks, and barred owls are also seen in the park. Occasionally, there have also been wild turkey sightings.

A one-mile long meandering nature trail leads to a spectacular upland oak-hickory forest with mountain laurel scattered throughout the sub-canopy. The understory is open and there is great plant diversity. The accessible park entrance at Sanger Avenue connects to the Holmes Run Stream Valley Trail, a biking/hiking trail that traverses the park, skirting several seeps, a freshwater marsh and Holmes Run before leading northwest to Columbia Pike or southeast to Eisenhower Avenue. The marsh provides habitat and breeding grounds for several species of frogs, toads, salamanders, and turtles. On an early spring evening, the cacophony of mating calls from the spring peepers and wood frogs can be heard a mile away. Along the stream, riparian species such as river birch and American sycamore dominate the landscape. A small patch of green in an otherwise developed landscape can be a gold mine for hungry, insect-eating passerines during spring. With regular invasive plant management, a great diversity of spring, summer, and fall native wildflowers flourish in their respective habitats, including native orchids, trillium, and Dutchman’s breeches,...

I have been going to this park since I have been in middle school. I am now in my late 20s. As a kid, I would just care about riding my bike through the trails. As I got older I use this park as my way to heal myself from a rough day, or just find my balance again. This park is really refreshing. I walk, jog, or ride my bike along the Holmes Run Stream. There are a few trails that go off from the main trail. I love the trail that goes into the woodlands. I recommend going to that trail if you like hiking. There are many native plants and animals that I have seen here throughout the years. There are a few classes that I participated in at the Jerome Buddie Ford Nature Center. I love the annual spring ephemeral walk they host. I love this park, and will continue going!

If you ever want to participate in a community clean-up, we usually clean the Dora Kelley Nature...

If you're a parent of small kids and plan to stay in the D.C. during a hot summer, meet your new best friend. Dora Kelley Nature Park is a wooded nature preserve with running trails, ponds with frogs/turtles and the best part, a creek for swimming.

If you can find an open spot, park on Spanger Avenue and go through the main entrance to the park. After a few yards, turn left down the stairs down the dirt path. When the path turns into pavement continue straight toward the creek. After a few more yards, you'll see a shallow creek with large rocks to sit on. This is where families hang out with their children. It's mostly shaded and shallow enough for kids of all ages to swim in. There are small fish in the creek that kids love seeing, My 3-year-old daughter LOVES this creek.

If you're a parent in the area, this is...