McCarthy Loop Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Fishing · River/Creek · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Public restrooms may be available in the visitor's center, but there are none on the trail.

This is mostly sandy packed dirt on a doubletrack trail, so I think it would be a fast comfortable trail run. Although you might eat a few spiders along the way.

Starting at the Tulley Gate Visitor Center trailhead (in the corner of the parking lot), I used the Beaver Pond Connector and the Accotink Creek Trail to get out to the start of the McCarthy Loop Trail. I decided to take a counterclockwise route around the loop and to add in some connectors and overlook spur trails along the way. If I were to run it again, I would probably skip the Cemetery Loop trail at the farthest point out, unless it was winter and the grass and foliage weren't quite as overgrown.

Most of the way up to the Cemetery Loop was wide doubletrack trail. I don't think this is a frequently used trail, so I carried a small branch in front of me to keep the spiderwebs out of my face. On the way back I followed the McCarthy Trail connector out to Poe Road and went back to the parking lot on the Wetland Trail.

I saw plenty of birds, including a large woodpecker and a blue heron. I didn't see any deer or other wildlife on my run, but I am sure they are out there given how secluded this area is.