With more people enjoying outdoor trails, Fairfax County is out with its annual reminder that you can’t grab a six pack of beer and head to Scott’s Run Nature Preserve in Great Falls, nor can you swim there.
The Fairfax County Park Authority was blunt in its announcement: “If you are seeking a place to drink alcohol, swim or wade in the water, or climb rocks, this is not the place.”
The county park authority said it is working with Fairfax County police on enforcement, which will start Memorial Day weekend.
The park rules include the following:
- No coolers, no alcohol, and no glass bottles. Bags will be checked at parking lot trailheads. Enforcement will be ratcheted up near the waterfall area.
- No swimming, wading, or boating.
- No parking in adjacent neighborhoods or along the roadway leading to the park. Parking is limited to 50 cars.
- Dogs must be leashed.
There have been problems in the past with violations in the 336-acre nature preserve, according to Patch.
“The beauty of the falls masks its peril. This area is subject to dangerous currents, and submerged rocks can combine with those currents to make entering the water a deadly decision. Rain upstream can raise water levels very quickly,” the park authority said.
As for the ban on swimming: “Crowds in the water threaten the many invertebrates and the remarkable and rare plant species that call the preserve home.”
If you’re caught breaking the rules, you may be booted from the park and banned.
Scott’s Run at 7400 Georgetown Pk. has trails trails between the Potomac River and Georgetown Pike. Its rules are posted online.
Feature image courtesy Fairfax County Park Authority
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