Sanctuary Trail provides a wonderful area to bird in eastern Loudoun County. It contains several ponds, a significant marsh, and is bordered by Sugarland Run creek and the Potomac River. Similar to Algonkian Regional Park, this park is a great place to spot mixed flocks during migration. During the winter, the ponds and river can be home to waterfowl and herons. The trail and marsh can also yield a nice selection of sparrows – Fox, American Tree, Lincoln's, Swamp, Field, Song, White-throated, etc. The marsh has also provided a handful of Virginia Rail and Sora sightings. Most years, Red-headed Woodpeckers spend their time along the creek, giving a full complement of local woodpecker species. Barred Owl and Red-shouldered Hawks breed in these woods.
Accessibility: There is no dedicated parking and the most appropriate place to park to get access to the property is at the Potomack Lakes Sportsplex. The Potomac Heritage Trail runs along the north side of the sportsplex. Follow the trail east (across the dam) until you see a paved path to the left near a playground. This paved path leads to the entrance of the preserve. The walk from the sportsplex to the preserve is roughly a mile. There is a path that leads to the park through a private neighborhood – that path is owned by the neighborhood and marked with No Trespassing signs, so please don't use that. No restrooms or port-a-potties.
Owner/Manager: Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority
eBird Hotspot: Algonkian Regional Park--Sanctuary Trail
—Bryan Henson, March 2021