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This refuge has nine miles of hiking trails that wind through 1,200-acres of deciduous forests, meadows, and expansive freshwater tidal marshes. The refuge is surrounded by Fort Belvoir Army Base. The Accotink Creek Trail follows the last mile of Accotink Creek before it empties into an arm of the Potomac River called Accotink Bay. An impressive wooden suspension bridge for pedestrians crosses Accotink Creek along the Accotink Creek Trail, linking trail systems on either side of the creek. At the lower end of the refuge Accotink Bay joins another inlet — Pohick Bay (opposite Pohick Bay Regional Park), and together they open up into the Potomac River's Gunston Cove.
Accotink Bay is among the best locations in Northern Virginia to view shorebirds and waterfowl. It offers a hunting ground for nesting ospreys. The site’s forest attracts many spring and fall migrating birds.
You can access the refuge by turning south off US 1 (Richmond Hwy) into Fort Belvoir on Pohick Road. After you pass through a brick entryway for Fort Belvoir marked "Tulley Gate" you will eventually reach four trailheads:
1) You can take the first right onto Poe Road and park immediately on the left, then walk along Poe Road past a gate that blocks vehicle traffic.
On the trail map, Poe Road is called the "McCarty Connector." The Wetlands Trail is immediately on your left as you pass through the gate blocking Poe Road, one-tenth of a mile beyond the parking area. Cross the bridge over Accotink Creek and in about another one-tenth mile, at the end of a curve, Accotink Creek Trail is on your left. Keep going another two-tenths of a mile on the paved road to a gravel pile where signs require you to turn left off the road to avoid entering Fort Belvoir. The trail immediately forks left and right. Take the right fork to stay on the McCarty Loop Trail (you may also see signs for McCarty Farm).
The farthest portion of the McCarty Loop Trail (at the end) is a small loop (not marked on the map) called Cemetery Loop. For a slightly longer walk, keep going on this loop instead of staying with the McCarthy Loop path that bypasses the Cemetery Loop and stops short of it. The farthest arm of the green trail shown on the map, extending south to the shore of Accotink Bay, does not exist. However, the dotted trail marked "McCarty Loop Overlook" is actually a side trail at the far end of the Cemetery Loop that gives you access to an "Open Water Overlook."
2) You can drive a bit farther on Pohick Road and park in a small parking lot that provides access to the trail network through a well-designed nature trail. When you leave, if cones have been placed in the middle of the road, you may have to turn right and show a picture ID to pass through the visitor entrance for Fort Belvoir before you can turn around.
3) As you enter the visitor lane to the Fort gate, you can take the first opportunity to make a sharp right turn into a parking lot in front of the Fort entrance. There is a trailhead at the back corner of this parking lot.
4) After passing through the entrance to the Fort, you can take the first right on Theote Road, go 0.7 miles and turn right on Warren Road. Warren Road will take you down to the bay where there are parking areas and a dock. Turn right and you will pass the Environmental Education Center on the right (it is open seasonally). Continue north past the Outdoor Archery Range to the end of the road to another trailhead.
The Refuge is open daily from dawn to dusk.
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