64: Downstream

Bull Run Trail, Clifton, Virginia

C L I F T O N,  V A

The spongy moss bed at the base of a large White Oak tree has been a nicely-cushioned seat but I’ve been sitting here so long my ass-cheeks have fallen asleep.  Time to stand up and re-direct the blood flow.  This spot deep in the woods in complete solitude has been the perfect place to take in an amazing cacophony full of rich natural sounds.

Squirrel-rustled leaves. 

Cawing of distant crows. 

Plunking of falling acorns. 

Varying syncopations of woodpecker drummings. 

And a dominate screech from a Red-tailed hawk. 

When not in the woods, I spend a lot of time weeding through the din trying to focus on singular sounds like those involving conversations, listening to music, or deciphering an odd noise from my furnace.   But on a mossy seat in the middle of this forest, it’s a multitude that makes up the symphony I’m enjoying right now. 

The moss, solitude, and cacophony have brought a much-needed peaceful and deep reset – one of the main reasons I head into the woods.  And it’s such resets certainly that were the intentions of the builders of the Bull Run Trail, located a mere 20 miles from The Pentagon, which led me to this spot. 

The Blue Ridge Mountains flatten out heading east toward Washington D.C.  The last elevation of any consequence is Bull Run Mountain.  And that consequence is that there is no higher peak moving eastward until you reach across the Atlantic to Portugal.  To geographic nerds, Bull Run Mountain is most definitely a unique peak. 

From within that unique mountain springs the headwaters of its namesake stream.  Bull Run, which ultimately flows into the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay, winds through the ever-growing, far-reaching sprawl of the nation’s capital.  The economic stability brought by a domiciled federal government has fostered centuries-long expansion of growth and wealth right through the heart of where Bull Run flows. 

In the 50’s, as environmental awareness was becoming mainstream, the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NOVA Parks) was formed to provide recreational and educational opportunities and foster understanding of the relationships between people and their environment.  Emphasis was put upon acquisition of shoreline properties along Bull Run.  The Nature Conservancy (TNC) worked with NOVA Parks through the years to make additions to this regional park network.  As a result of those joint efforts, a 20-mile trail following the shoreline of Bull Run has been created. Those efforts have been a big pushback against sprawl, and frankly they’ve created a surprisingly cool trail – one that has led to that mossy seat in the woods and the beautiful cacophony accompanying it.

Not only did the Bull Run trail lead me to this mossy seat, but my trust in TNC did as well.  In a pursuit to visit one hundred TNC-dedicated properties by the time I’m 60, I’ve never once been disappointed in any of the places they involve themselves in - even when such involvement includes properties in urban areas like the Bull Run watershed. 

When I arrived at the Hemlock Overlook parking lot, I opted to follow Bull Run downstream.  On a map, the widest berth of greenspace is in that direction meaning the further I go the wilder it gets.  It’s hard to believe that this wilderness island exists in Fairfax County – one of the wealthiest and fastest growing counties in the country.  It’s proof though that NOVA Parks and TNC bring immeasurable worth to us all.   

Colloquially, out-and-back hikes may seem to lack the full engagement that circuits produce, but I beg to differ.  I like the completeness that out-and-backs produce; the return trip brings a second look and dimension to the sights seen walking in. 

Trekking downstream, the trail closely follows the curves of Bull Run but then veers up a ravine shortcutting a sharp bend in the stream.   And it’s at this higher elevation that I spot the mossy seat.  It’s off trail just enough to be out of sight, and sits abundantly high to afford sweeping views of the bend - the perfect place to disappear both physically and mentally.  I’m off grid; completely disconnected from the usual pressure points.  I know this time will be short-lived, but nonetheless, I fully engage in it.  For the next hour, the cacophony and the disconnect bring a deep peace – a cleansing like few other experiences can produce.

The return trip is as expected, creating second looks at the sights seen walking in.  And those second sights are now more brightly lit and amid the glow of warmer temperatures.  The trail is just as engaging while returning as it was at first pass.   

Upon returning to the parking lot, my legs are achy and buzzing from the distance walked.  And it’s time for some food.  More importantly though, it’s also time to take the memories and peacefulness found here in this surprisingly natural place and allow them to linger as long as possible. 

LEARN MORE ABOUT TNC’S WORK AT BULL RUN HERE.