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Trails into Wonder

The meditation trail at St. Peter's In The Woods Episcopal Church in Fairfax Station Virginia. It is a magical 4 acres of woodland that is the home of many Virginia birds and migrants when they come through each year.
Widewater State Park - Virginia
Widewater State Park - Virginia copy
Widewater State Park - Virginia copy
Widewater State Park - Virginia
Widewater State Park - Virginia
My church, St. Peter's In the Woods Episcopal Church (Fairfax Station Virginia) stewards 7 acres of forest. We are an Audubon Sanctuary with a meditation trail that winds through deep woods, has a creek and a rich wildlife. This is a moment as I am winding down towards the start of the meditation trail to conduct a bird survey as we collect data about our bird life.
This extraordinary hike takes you through an open more agricultural field and into a deep forest. That forest is home to many old-growth trees and newer growth and mid-growth younger trees as well. It is exquisitely beautiful and leads you eventually to the stunning edge of the Cumberland Marsh. This was one of those magical passages on the trail that can inspire childrens' imagination.
This is one of the newer equestrian trails that I have discovered. The Manassas National Battlefield Park has probably 40 miles of trail total for hiking and horseback riding. What is wonderful about the grassland trails are that you have islands of border comprised of trees. This is one of those islands.
This is in Maryland - around Thurmont Maryland. It is a national park/forest surrounded by some of the most beautiful state park lands where the famous waterfalls are located here. This is also in the same area where Camp David is located. I had to drive past the entrance to Camp David to get to the trailhead here.
St. Peter's In The Woods Episcopal Church in Fairfax Virginia is an Audubon Sanctuary with 7 acres of woods and a meditation trail that spans about .2 miles. This is a scene as you enter into this wonderland.
The National Shrine Grotto at St. Mary's University at Emmittsburg Maryland. - This is one of those places that once you enter - you are no longer in the world. There is a powerful light and presence there that changes people after they leave. I make pilgrimages there several times a year to light candles for friends and family both living and those who have walked on.
I was on the trail finally around 6:30 or so. This is the trail near the start of it as the daylight was emerging.
August 23 2020 Passaquodomy Trail circuit hike (22).JPG
This is an overlook on the AT in the Shenandoah National Park. This rock contains a natural water collection feature. If you look to the left, there is rippling water collected from the rains the night before. As the winds danced over it quietly you could see the ripples.
July 3 2020 Bottom Creek Gorge Preserve hike (58).JPG
This is a delightful small but enchanting preserve in Clifton Virginia. It is right within the town of Clifton which is historic and surrounded by rich history and lore.
More of the meditation trail at St. Peter's In The Woods Episcopal Church in Fairfax Station Virginia. The evening sun was extraordinary as it filtered through the trees here.
This has to be one of the enchanting trail segments in the forest. It feels like you are in a true wonderland moving towards an amazing portal of natural wonders.
This is one of the back trails at the Ellinor Lawrence Park in Centreville VA. It has an interesting history. It was a farm at one time and is an example of how nature reclaims land over time. It is a magnificent urban park that once you are inside you cannot imagine there is are major roads on all sides of you. The trails are magnificent. The bird life and wildlife in general here is rich and varied.
One of my favorite hiking spots. It is an old growth forest and historic early-American site.
This is Old Boston Rd. at Sky Meadows State Park in Delaplane Virginia. It is a stunning trail and is the central branching off point for a number of mountain trails in the park.
As you enter Voorhees, this is the first stretch of trail that leads to the branching off onto either the yellow or white trail. This is within the first few feet of the parking lot. The rains had been through the night before creating a river out of the trail. I had to walk around it because some of it was deep but the reflections from the sun and the fall colors captured my fancy. It was too beautiful to ignore.
This is another treasure hidden away. It is located right outside of Shepherdstown West Virginia. It is co-managed by The Nature Conservancy and Audubon Society locally. A magical mystical tour or wildflowers, birds, wildlife, natural fragrances and an overview of the Potomac River.
This is a stretch of trail that is a stunning magical dominion of birds. Of all the places in this magnificent park, this stretch (it is part of an amazing 1.5 mile trail area) is a rich habitat for more birds than you can count. I heard prairie warblers, pine warblers, swamp sparrows, a barred owl, ovenbird - just to name a few.

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