This Prince William gem is a great outdoor adventure for couples and friends
MAY 2022
TRAVEL TIDBIT: Neabsco Creek once was deep enough for vessel traffic to the Potomac River, but runoff and silt transformed it into a small channel.
Get away from it all, right in the middle of things. The Neabsco Creek Boardwalk is a brilliant place to pack a lunch, wander to the middle of a three-quarters of a mile walkway and watch all manner of wildlife and waterfowl in its habitat amid the sprawl of Prince William County.
Blue herons, mallards, wood ducks, red-winged blackbirds, falcons, hawks … the variety of winged creatures is endless. The 10-foot-wide walkway is dog-friendly and offers access to other hikes in the area; definitely bring a camera to take photos from a two-level observation deck and three overlooks.
The boardwalk is part of a network that links Prince William showcases such as Leesylvania Park and Rippon Lodge. Former Virginia Del. David Brickley was a main proponent of the $4 million project. “I am an avid hiker and was hiking in New Jersey when I came across the Pochuck Creek boardwalk, which is over a mile long. And the idea came to me that it would make a wonderful boardwalk across Neabsco Creek,” he said when the boardwalk opened in 2019 after a decade of planning and development.
After you drive past the boardwalk on your right, continue for a spell on Blackburn Road to a large parking lot for Neabsco Regional Park, part of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. It’s about a 10-minute hike to the boardwalk from that point; there’s educational signage, as well.
15125 Blackburn Road | Woodbridge, VA 22191 PWCVA.GOV, search for Neabsco Creek Boardwalk