Seneca Road Park, Great Falls, VA

Location

Seneca Road is the first left turn you can make off of Georgetown Pike (Rte. 193) coming from Route 7. There is a new shopping center on that corner. There aren't any signs for the park. Just follow the road until it ends. This road is a delight in itself with many established estate-type homes mingled between new developments. The entrance road to the park is blocked, so you need to park on the side of the road. The entrance road actually becomes the service road for Lowe's Island's golf course. It is an unnamed Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority park, which is an easement to the Potomac River. Some of the land belongs to the D.C. Water Authority and all of it is a land conservation study site, so bicycles are prohibited. I discovered this park thanks to my neighbor who walks her dog there. I was a bit skeptical at first since she is a non-runner and may not have a true sense of "lots of trails" from a runner's perspective. But I was in need of what I consider to be my greatest form of rehabilitation: running on trails. There I cannot compare myself to my former level of fitness, but can enjoy the illusion of being as free and quick as my mind can imagine. As some of my regular readers are aware, there was a break in the series. It was incorrectly reported that I was recovering from an injury. It was more of a medical crisis. Which brings me to my advice tip for this article: Be pro-active in your medical decisions. One way is to know your family history. I experienced a serious side-effect from a medication I was on. I learned, belatedly, that my family history would have been a caution, if not a red flag, for using that particular drug. Also know both the short-term effects as well as the long-term effects of any treatment proposed. Lance Armstrong is a perfect example of someone who made decisions in treatment options with an eye toward what he expected to do when he got well. He is my inspiration for recovery! Lastly, don't let words of doom and gloom keep you from the things you enjoy. I was almost too afraid to run and bike again because of the possibility of more side effects from my current course of treatment. However, when the dust settled, I realized that if I take precautions, I can resume my active lifestyle. I keep the image of Lance Armstrong on a wind-trainer during the course of chemotherapy in my mind to overcome my doubts and fears. My local hero is Susanne Nearman, who has recently battled breast cancer and still finished in the top ten at the Pittsburgh Marathon this year. Okay, back to the park: this is a no-frills park. There is one crushed gravel path that is approximately 2.5 miles long which is used for the Park and utility vehicles, but is in very good shape (appears to have limited use). This path ends in a nice secluded neighborhood with a large pond. Most people walking their dogs use this path. I've been there three times now, running 45 to 55 minutes each time, and have not repeated myself much, nor have I explored all the trails. The caution here, though, is that there are no trail markings. You have to keep track of where you are and where you want to be. The width of the trails ranges from less than a foot to three feet or so for large sections. Although it is a watershed for the Potomac River, I have only seen creeks. Apparently I haven't discovered the trails that lead to the water's edge. Due to the lack of amenities and markings on the trails, this park is for the more adventurous soul, unless you stay on the gravel road. As a result, this park rates only two Muddy Shoes. Don't let the rating discourage you from discovering this park yourself, and making the most of it's varied trails: grass, gravel, and woodland paths.