The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

Fraser Preserve in Fairfax County, Virginia. © Denis Breen

Open to the Public

Yes

Things To Do

Take a look around and spot some of Fraser Preserve's amazing plants and animals. View All

Plan Your Visit

Get the most of your visit to Fraser Preserve. View All

Get Directions

Why You Should Visit

Fraser Preserve boasts about 110 species of birds, including the bald eagle, and 300 varieties of wildflowers. A short hike offers glimpses of the many natural habitats found in the Piedmont region, including fast, clear streams, lush cold-spring swamp, marsh, mature hardwood forests, open meadow, ponds, river and stream floodplain forests and thickets, steep rocky bluffs, springs and seeps, and various stages of old field succession. The terrain slopes down to the Potomac River, which forms the preserve's northern boundary.

Location

Fairfax County

Hours

Daily dawn to dusk

Size

220 acres

Conditions

The preserve features approximately 2.25 miles of walking trails. Hike options include loops within the preserve, and you can extend your hike by continuing beyond the preserve's eastern and western boundaries onto connecting public trails maintained by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority.

Download a trail map of Fraser Preserve.

Why the Conservancy Selected This Site  

Fraser Preserve was acquired in 1975 as a gift from Mrs. George (Bernice) Fraser. Originally inhabited by members of the Anacostan, Piscataway and Tauxenent tribes, the bottomlands along Fraser's river border have yielded many arrowheads, pottery shards and stone weirs (dams used in taking fish from the Potomac). American University extensively studies these historic sites, and numerous artifacts are displayed in their museum.

The area now known as Fraser Preserve was once part of a tract of 5 million acres granted by King Charles I in 1649 to seven nobleman friends. In 1710, the land was passed on to the Fairfax family and eventually to Thomas Lee, the first of the famous Virginia Lees. Wheat farming prevailed in the area from about 1790 to 1840, and the tract likely was farmed until agriculture began to decline in Fairfax County following World War I.

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing

Mrs. Fraser also donated a small in-holding within the preserve to the Calvary Baptist Church. No boundaries delineate the two properties. The Conservancy and the Calvary Baptist Church share the common goal of maintaining Fraser Preserve in its natural state and for the enjoyment of visitors.

Things To Do

What to See: Animals

Among the mammals known to live here are the mole, Eastern chipmunk, gray squirrel, woodchuck, skunk, raccoon, white-tailed deer, fox, and beaver. Several turtle species that usually live farther north also inhabit Fraser.

Fraser's many amphibian species include the Southern leopard frog, spring peeper, gray tree frog, American toad, two-lined salamander and Northern red-backed salamander.

About 110 bird species, including 39 nesting species and the bald eagle, have been documented at Fraser. Among the nesting birds are the red-shouldered hawk, ruby-throated hummingbird, downy woodpecker, scarlet tanager and blue-gray gnatcatcher.

What to See: Plants

The tremendous variety of wildflowers at Fraser may be directly attributed to its diverse habitats. About 300 species of wildflowers have been identified in the preserve; of special interest are the following unusual or rare species: purple cress, marsh marigold, purple fringeless orchis, false (white) hellebore and poison hemlock.

Plan Your Visit

Download a trail map of Fraser Preserve.

Go on a treasure hunt with your family at Fraser Preserve! What will you find?

For information, contact the Virginia Chapter office: (434) 295-6106. 

Directions

From Interstate 495: 

• Take Georgetown Pike (Route 193) approximately six miles to Springvale Road (Route 674) 
• Turn right on Route 674 and continue to the intersection with Route 603 (look for a restaurant - Chez Francais - on your left.) 
• Turn left onto Route 603 for about 20 yards, then turn right on Route 755. 
• Continue for about a half-mile to the preserve entrance, which is gated. The road into the parking lot serves both the Conservancy and the Calvary Baptist Church. From the parking lot one path leads east, the other west.

Note about Parking

A gate has been re-installed at the entrance to the gravel road heading into the preserve. Visitors and volunteers should park on Springvale Road, or Allenwood Lane, making sure not to block the road or gate or private driveways to the right of the entrance. The gravel entrance road is now part of the trail and will add 0.6 miles to your hike.

Discussion

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Add Your Comments

Time for you to join the discussion. Tell us about your experience at this preserve. What plants and animals did you see? When did you go? You can help others plan their visit when you share your thoughts. And thank you for visiting one of our nature preserves!

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