To start, it merits mention that terminology is a bit confusing here. The greater area, including several adjoining county parks, is one of the two largest contiguous park parcels in Fairfax County (the other being Huntley Meadows). In county and park authority circles, this overall area is known as Sully Woodlands. Within this area, a specific habitat preserve is called Elklick Woodlands Natural Area Preserve, which is defined by its unique ecosystem type. According to the Elklick Preserve website, “[it] is one of the best remaining examples of a natural community known as a northern hardpan basic oak-hickory forest. It’s a globally rare community. This type of forest is characterized by white oak, pignut hickory, white ash, and redbud.”
The eBird hotspot “Elklick Woodlands Natural Area Preserve” is located at this preserve. On the other hand, eBird’s “Sully Woodlands” hotspot refers to a meadow area (surrounded by forest, and Elklick Run), located on the north end of this preserve. All of this, plus several adjoining parks, make up the larger parcel known to the county as Sully Woodlands.
The area surrounding the Elklick Woodlands hotspot is dominated by open forest with tall canopy, with a few edges (power line right-of-ways) providing good field habitats. One power line runs southwest from Pleasant Valley Road to connect with the larger power line (with a wider right-of-way) which runs northwest-southeast. At their junction there is a natural gas pumping station. The right-of-ways are operated by Dominion Power and are easy to walk, with gravel utility roads. The woods are also mostly free of undergrowth, and easy to walk. There are a few modest rivulets but no year-round water except for Elklick Run, which borders the Sully Woodlands hotspot area to the north. You can also reach Elklick Run further downstream, by following the northwest-southeast power line northwest from Pleasant Valley Road.
This is an excellent location for Great Horned and Barred Owls. The woods have most of our woodpeckers, with only Red-headed missing. The right-of-way along the northeast-southwest power line is a good place for migrating birds – warblers, tanagers, etc. – in both spring and fall. Peregrine Falcon and American Kestrel have flown and perched along these power lines during the winter and migration seasons. The wider fields under the larger northwest-southeast power line are fine sparrow habitat in the winter, with several records each of American Tree, Fox, Lincoln’s, and White-crowned, as well as more common species.
Historically known as the “Hunter-Hacor tract,” in the past this area has also recorded Bobolink, Northern Bobwhite, Eastern Whip-poor-will, and American Woodcock. Turkeys thrive in these woods, and in summer, the woods are packed with Eastern Wood-pewees.
At the power line junction (with the gas pumping station), to the west there is a stand of pines and cedars. This is a reliable place for Red-breasted Nuthatch in the winter.
The fields southwest of the junction have had Yellow-breasted Chats and Blue Grosbeaks every summer.
Accessibility: The easiest access is to park on either shoulder of the road at 6002 Pleasant Valley Road, Centreville. There are wide gravel areas where the utility access road (under the power line) meets Pleasant Valley Road. Be careful not to block access to the gates on either side. You can walk either northeast or southwest along the right-of-way, and both can be productive. The southwest direction appears fenced, but the fence is only there to block vehicles. Just walk around the end of the fence, on either side, and rejoin the gravel road after a few steps through the woods. It’s a 0.5-mile walk to the aforementioned pumping station at (38.8544, -77.5020). In the northeast direction, it’s 0.6 miles from Pleasant Valley Road to reach Elklick Run. Trails from there continue southeast to connect with the large complex of trails in the Cub Run Stream Valley woods (which is also county parkland).
It is also possible to park on the cul-de-sac at 15575 Pebblebrook Dr, Centreville (38.8503, -77.4910), and walk southwest through the woods there, about 1/5 mile to reach the larger northwest-southeast power line right-of-way. From there, follow the right-of-way northwest about 2/3 mile to the pumping station.
There is also a gated county park entrance at the southeast end of Hollyspring Lane (off Bull Run Post Office Road, 38.8748, -77.5140). There is limited street parking here, enough for one or maybe two vehicles; don’t block the gate. This provides access via the western boundary of Elklick Woodlands Preserve. There are only marginal informal trails here – bring a compass or GPS to navigate the overgrown fields and woods.
Check the county deer control website for the most up-to-date information on hunting in the park. There is never any hunting on Sunday. Beware of ticks at this location.
Owner/Manager: Fairfax County Park Authority
eBird Hotspot: Elklick Woodlands Natural Area Preserve
—Steve Johnson, March 2021