Waples Mill Meadow Park

2 fish 3 hours
enough said

So this is a wonderful hidden gem for nature lovers. It features a diverse assortment of habitats (mixed forest, meadows, marshy/swampy standing water) that attracts a ton of wildlife. A few important notes:

There are no maintained trails. You either bushwhack or stick to game trails. Wear long pants and bring insect repellent if bugs bother you. Do a tick check after. Stick to the side without the cattails by the lake. It's easier to traverse and features less mud.

There's another review that says parking is available near the intersection of Oakton Rd and Maples Mill Rd. I presume it's talking about the spot near the main paved entrance. I do not recommend parking here. The neighbors will tell you to not park there and it's sorta sketchy (it's on a hill near a sharp turn).

Instead, there are 3 parking spaces where Fox Mill Rd meets Maples Mill Rd. The marshy lake will be straight ahead. It's safer.

No paved trails

My husband fished here yesterday (June9) between 8 am and 10 am, catching 4 bass and a dozen bluegill. His only problem was access. It involved walking through waist high grass and weeds to reach the pond. A mowed pathway would be nice.

Love walking our dogs here, gives me a little bit of peace in the busy hubbub of an area....

So peaceful. Highly recommend.

Pond totally covered by algae, like a carpet. Could not catch a single fish, or see any sign of fish, or turtles. No access trails of any kind, all tall grass and weeds everywhere. Needs major improvement.