Activities and Volunteer Events
Parking Alert
The U.S. Park Police are ticketing vehicles parked on either side of the Marina Road. While the signage may be confusing, an officer on May 6, 2023, told us that except for the two marked handicapped parking spots near the Mount Vernon Trail, only vehicles with attached trailers can park on the sides of the Marina Road.
Bird Walks
FODM hosts bird walks every Sunday at 8 a.m., except during the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Meet in the Belle Haven Park south parking lot. We will cancel walks if weather conditions are unsafe, such as lightning, ice or heavy rain or snow.
Please note: The annual Patriot Run is happening on Sunday, September 7, from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. on the south Parkway from the Mount Vernon Circle to near River Farm. Access to Dyke Marsh will not be affected but access will only be from north of the closure area.
Help Tackle Invasive Plants
Help protect native plants by pulling and clipping invasive plants. We will train volunteers to identify the five or so target plants. We kindly ask that you not bring pets. Invasive plants can threaten and outcompete native plants.
Bring gloves, hand clippers and water. We will supply instructions, examples and trash bags. Wear long sleeves and pants and sun protection. We will have some tools to share. We will cancel if lightning or severe storms are anticipated.
Meet at the Haul Road trail entrance bench. If it is raining one hour before a scheduled session, we will cancel it.
Date(s):
August 30, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
September 13, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
September 27, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
October 11, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
October 25, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
November 8, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
November 22, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
December 6, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
December 20, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Butterfly Walk
Join FODMers August 30, 1 p.m., for a butterfly and dragonfly walk with Larry Meade. Meet at the south Belle Haven Park parking lot. Limited to 20 people. Bring water and wear sturdy shoes and sun protection.
Date(s):
Help Map Tides, October 10 to 12
Please help us map Potomac River tides on October 10 to 12 during the highest tides of the year, called “king tides.” Participants will use a mobile app that collects location-based data points along the water’s edge. Sponsors will hold a training before the mapping event. This data can help researchers develop models that simulate tidal dynamics and sea level rise. To participate, email Stacy Langsdale, at stacy@fodm.org.
Help Clean Up Trash, October 18
Help us clean up trash in Dyke Marsh and along the Potomac River shoreline, October 18, 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Check in at the Dyke Marsh Haul Road Trail entrance. Please register at https://forms.office.com/g/sPw5U5m0NJ.
Wear sturdy shoes, long pants and sleeves and bring water in a reusable bottle.
If problematic weather requires cancellation, National Park Service (NPS) staff will notify registrants.
Sponsors: Friends of Dyke Marsh and the National Park Service/George Washington Memorial Parkway
Raptor Rapture
On October 18, 1 p.m., come to Fort Hunt Park, Pavilion A, to see live raptors like owls and hawks up close. Sponsored by the Friends of Dyke Marsh, the National Park Service and Secret Gardens Birds. Free. Registration is not required.
Fall Colors Walk, October 20
Enjoy Dyke Marsh’s fall colors on our walk October 20, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., led by Margaret Chatham and Alan Ford. Fall’s colors are unpredictable, but we might see red sumac leaves and fruits, Virginia creeper vines in red and yellow hues and pokeweed’s purple berries and magenta stems.
This walk is limited to 20 people so everyone can hear. Rain date: October 24. Meet at the Haul Road Trail entrance. Our walk leaders are with the Potowmack Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society.
Date(s):
Natural History Walk
The National Park Service invites the public to a natural history walk in Dyke Marsh, led by Brent Steury, Natural Resources Manager, GWM Parkway.
October 21, 9 to 11 a.m.
Meet at the Haul Road Trail entrance of Haul Road.
Wear sturdy footwear, bug spray and sunscreen and bring water.
Limited to 15 people. To sign up, click here or go to:
Beaver Business
Join us on October 22, 7 p.m., for a Zoom presentation by Alison Zak, the Human-Beaver Coexistence Fund, on beaver ecology, behavior and human interactions. Register here.
Haul Road Trail directions and parking:
GPS coordinates: 38.777739, -77.050540 South of Alexandria off the GW Memorial Parkway at the sign for Dyke Marsh Nature Preserve and Belle Haven Marina, turn east onto the road toward the Potomac River. Take the first left and park in the Belle Haven Park lot. Walk back to the marina road and turn east, toward the river. Walk 30 yards. On your right is a Dyke Marsh sign and the entrance to the Haul Road trail.
