Red Rock Wilderness Overlook Regional Park
On a slow Sunday afternoon I grabbed the camera and headed west on Route 7. I had no destination in mind, just out to see what I could find. Sometimes you can find some very interesting places on a trip like this, sometimes not. Luckily this outing I found a hidden jewel in Loudon County off of Edwards Ferry Road (even though I almost passed it…twice).
The Red Rock Wilderness Overlook sits alongside the Potomac River on 67 acres and is maintained by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority. Originally farmland, the park now hosts 67 acres of forests through which threads a well maintained trail. I walked about 2 miles of the trail, enough to appreciate the forest and make it to a river overlook. While the park boasts sightings of many wildlife varieties such as woodpeckers, barred owls, and even bald eagles the only animals I saw were squirrels and gnats. Then again late afternoon in the fall is not the best time to find our forest buddies.
At the entrance of the park are many historical buildings from the original farm that date back to the 1800’s. The farmhouse is now residence to the parks overseers but there is also an ice house, granary, carriage house and well house.
From the NVRPA information signs at the park:
“Red Rock Wilderness Overlook Regional Park is a 67-acre mostly wooded area situated along the Potomac River on the outskirts of Leesburg. Frances Speek donated a portion of the property to the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority in 1978. The park was also supported by the Land and Water Conservation Fund – helping states and communities provide outdoor recreation and open space for all Americans. However, the history of the ruins on this property dates back much further. In 1869, a wealthy industrialist turned gentleman farmer named Charles Paxton purchased over 2000 acres of property in Loudon County. Although best known for his Carlheim estate in Leesburg, Paxton was responsible for the construction of the buildings that have become the ruins at Red Rock Wilderness Overlook Regional Park.”
The ice house was fascinating to me. Not only does it make for a good digital photography subject, the technology employed to keep ice available throughout the year is interesting. During the winter blocks of ice were cut from the Potomac River and stored in the house. The thick stone walls and many layers of straw provided sufficient insulation to keep the family in ice all summer. This house was built in the late 1800s and remained in use until the mid-1930s. If I lived back then this is the place you could find me hiding out during the hot muggy days of summer.
If you’re looking for a nice quiet walk in the woods with some nice views then I recommend this park. Its far enough and out of the way enough to be a nice little secret that not many know about.
Red Rock Wilderness Overlook Links:
Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority
Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
The Historical Marker Database
Driving directions (from virginia.org)
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