Open fires are prohibited throughout the park from midnight to 4 p.m. through April 30 per the 4 p.m. Burning Law. This includes wood and charcoal. Gas is permissible. Campground fires are allowed during the restricted time if a camp host is on duty and signage to that effect is posted in the campground. Failure to observe the 4 p.m. Burning Law can result in a fine. Contact the Park Office for additional information.

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Featured Hike: Boyd's Hole Trail

By Shellie AnnePosted January 09, 2013

 

Have you ever hiked or biked the trails at Caledon State Park? Caledon is known for hosting the largest concentration of Bald Eagles on the East coast.

Boyd's Hole Trail at Caledon State Park

Boyd's Hole Trail at Caledon State Park

Always bring a trail guide just in case!

Always bring a trail guide to stay on course

A great hike to see some natural beauty

Natural beauty abounds at Caledon State Park

Along the trail we found this neat marsh and all we could think about were s'mores!

Along the trail we found this neat marsh and all we could think about were s'mores!

The reward from our hike was this beautiful beach and view

The reward from our hike was this beautiful beach and view

Debris and rubbish along the beach

Debris is a real problem along this beach at Caledon State Park (click here and here). I recommend bringing a couple sacks for garbage and go on a salvage/treasure hunt, and collect some of the items during your visit. It is easy to find and gather plenty of items in a short time. These things are scattered along the shore, just like the driftwood, from the Potomac River.

An Image

More rubbish along the beach (most of it plastic and more plastic!)

A designated National Natural Landmark, Caledon provides visitors the unique opportunity of viewing bald eagles in their natural habitat. Caledon and the surrounding areas are the summer home to one of the largest concentrations of bald eagles on the East Coast. While 40 to 45 eagles are typical, as many as 80 eagles have been spotted here. The park focuses on the preservation of America's national symbol and teaches guests about them. Two natural areas in the park have limited access in order to help eagles to forage, nest and roost. Visitors here enjoy hiking, biking and picnicking in a mature forest. Programs focus on Caledon’s unique natural, cultural and historic resources, and are offered year-round. A visitor center helps guests learn more about the park's rare natural resources. There are no cabins at this state park.

Eagle tours, Junior Rangers night hikes, conducted walks, astronomy, storytelling, bonfire programs, bird watching and crafts - some fees required. Click here for details on park events and interpretive offerings. Eagle tour - Caledon offers limited tours of the eagle areas from mid-June to September. An orientation to eagles is given by a park interpreter. Binoculars and sighting scopes are available. Reservations are recommended, and there is a fee for the tour. Learn more about this park here.

Trails

Five hiking trails are open year-round and take park visitors through environmentally sensitive marshlands and picturesque wooded areas of the park. The 3.5 mile Boyd's Hole Trail leading to the Potomac River is the most popular of the trails. Because human traffic disturbs the park's summer population of roosting and foraging eagles, this trail is only open from Oct. 1 through March 31.

Visit the Explore Virginia Outdoors website for enhanced maps and video tours of Caledon's trails.

Poplar Grove Trail
The Poplar Grove Trail is a .91 mile easy hiking trail that is accessible in two places from the Fern Hollow Trail and is also accessible in two places from the Laurel Glen Trail. This hike loops through the woods passing a considerable number of tall poplar trees.
 
Laurel Glen Trail
The Laurel Glen Trail is a .76 mile moderate hiking trail accessible from both the Poplar Grove Trail and from the Benchmark Trail. Like the other trails it passes through a mature hardwood forest. This trail has a few raised boardwalks to aid travel through lower areas. The Laurel Glen Trail rises and falls in elevation more than the Poplar Grove or Fern Hollow trails. From this trail one can clearly see the ridge which defines the area and creates the unique habitats that make this area a National Natural Landmark.
 
Benchmark Trail
The Benchmark Trail is a 1.1 mile moderate hiking trail that is accessible from both Laurel Glen and Cedar Ridge trails. Like the other trails it forms a loop through the mature hardwood forest. This trail includes some considerable changes in elevation and passes an old surveying mark (or bench mark) placed here during the 18th century.
 
Cedar Ridge Trail
The Cedar Ridge Trail is a 1.1 mile moderate hiking trail that passes through the mature hardwood forest. This trail has the greatest variation in elevation of all of the trails along the top of the ridge. The trail is accessible from two locations along the Benchmark Trail. Hiking the Cedar Ridge Trail creates the longest of five loop hikes made possible by linking together the network of trails along the ridge.
 
Boyd's Hole Trail
The Boyd's Hole Trail is a 2.06 mile easy hiking trail that when combined with the Flats Trail, forms a 2.76 mile loop that is accessible from just behind the Visitor Center. This wide gravel path takes users through the critical shoreline area, bringing them to Boyd's Hole, an area with a few picnic tables and a small pier overlooking the Potomac River. This relatively undisturbed shoreline makes an ideal place for bald eagles to nest. For this reason this trail is closed during the summer months with the exception of guided ranger tours. Always check that these areas are open before hiking this network of trails. In addition to eagles there are Red-tailed hawks, Osprey, several types of owls, and many other examples of birds and wildlife to be found here.
 
Flats Trail
The Flats Trail creates a loop within the Boyd's Hole Trail. This trail is just under a mile long and is a flat, wide, gravel trail that passes through mature forest. This trail, like Boyd's Hole, is closed in the warmer months for eagle nesting.
 
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Remember many of these trails are closed in the summer when the eagles are nesting, so consider an off-season hike to enjoy these forbidden trails!
PARKS
Caledon State Park
CATEGORIES
Biking  |  Hiking
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If you have read the article and have a question, please email nancy.heltman@dcr.virginia.gov.

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