Nearby Escape: Hidden Pond Nature Center

A green heron stands on a twisted branch in the middle of the pond, balancing calmly on its seemingly precarious perch.

Painted turtles sun themselves on broad logs, while the bellow of bullfrogs is heard above an echoing chorus of crickets. 

The pond is colored lime green with duckweed, so thick it almost covers the water's surface.

Under the water are a myriad of creatures, including mosquito fish, tadpoles, water snakes, and crayfish.

Dragonflies skim the water’s edge, the summer sun sparkling through their translucent wings.

Children play on wooden docks, catching fish and frogs in bright green nets, and then tossing them back into the pond.

Hikers take a break on benches in the shade provided by trees that surround a trail by the water’s edge, and dogs pant by their owners’ sides.

Tucked within a neighborhood and in close proximity to several shopping centers, Hidden Pond Park and Nature Center is an oasis of natural beauty and quiet.

Hidden Ponds trails connect via a recently added bridge to Pohick Stream Valley Park, for a combined total of 725 acres for hiking.

Trails pass a wide stream, home to many species of native fish, crayfish, and various macro-invertebrates, and a swamp, home to a variety of frogs and surrounded by skunk cabbages and ferns.

Inside the air-consitioned Nature Center, well-kept exhibits display creatures native to Fairfax County, including newts, catfish, spiders, tadpoles, a corn snake, and a giant snapping turtle.

A coloring station,  a panoramic window overlooking bird feeders, and a small concession stand offering cold drinks,  snacks, and educational toys and guide books, are also inside.

Hidden Pond boasts a full schedule of events and camps, making the center a valuable location for scout troops, families, and indiviudals with an interest in nature.

The pond, tucked behind the nature center, is hidden from the road and from the neighborhood that surrounds it. Fishing and netting are allowed, but everything must be put back unharmed. Feeding of ducks and geese is prohibited. A sign reminds visitors to “Keep the wild in wildlife.”  

Located only minutes from Burke, Hidden Pond is a slice of wilderness providing refuge from the chaos of the workweek. For those venturing into Hidden Pond’s expansive trails, I suggest bringing bug-spray, sunscreen, plenty of water, and keen senses, ready to take in the sights and sounds of local natural beauty.

Hidden Pond Nature Center is located on 8511 Greeley Boulevard in Springfield. In addition to all of Hidden Pond’s expansive trails and scenery, the park also has a colorful playground and a lighted tennis court. During the summer, Hidden Pond nature center is open from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. on weekdays (with the exception of Tuesdays, in which the center is closed all day) and 12 P.M. to 5 P.M on weekends.