What a hidden gem among the concrete jungle within the beltway. There is no trail map on premises but the loop on trails app indicated 1 mile with steps required. Theres also a path that wider that goes to the lodge that may be ADA.

This is a hidden gem in Alexandria, Virginia. I have lived here for years, and did not know this existed. It is a nice and beautiful walk. You are surrounded by nature. I went on a fall day where the leaves were colorful and the pond was giving off a gorgeous reflection of the trees and sky. I saw 3 bucks and plenty of female deer. I watched two bucks fight over a female. It was such a nice day. I totally recommend this beautiful place!Update: spring pictures from late April!

This place is a hidden gem. Wish we had more time to explore it. Very cool, the family loved it.

Update your status so people dont waste their time.

Great break from the city right inside. Our own little escape.

Please note : the preserve is closed due to COVID-19. Not sure when it will reopen

Don’t waste your time..It’s closed now due to covid.

This place is beautiful and i am totally a mans man. the wife and me took the kids here for a fun activity when when moved in the area to cheer them up. after so much moving around, setting down roots was the scary situation for them. this place holds so many great memories we come here every year. its our tradition and i hope some day my kids bring theirs here too.

Amazing place to explore as a naturalist I love to see this place where you can see beutiful wild flowers, butterflies flying, amphibians, birds, geese, a waterfall. nice well maintained trail and my happy toddler had a Blast day. believe it or not is behind the Beauregard apartments.

Really great area to go on a short walk. Trails are a little more off the traditional path. Only down-side is the Preserve is NOT DOG FRIENDLY. But still a great nature-walk.

God location for relax

This isnt open due to Covid. Google maps is wrong if it says its open

The website said “open” but it wasn’t. Very disappointing.

Went on a guided nature walk - was very informative, and the guides are truly passionate about their work. Area is beautiful and peaceful. The pace of the walk was not strenuous, with lots of stops.

Oasis of green and wood within commercial and residential development in Alexandrias west end. I was last here a decade ago, before the military buildings at Marc Center. From the porch of Catherines Lodge (I you tune out the generator blaring to the South, you see nothing but a wall of green and hear water splashing from the dam.(Dont worry about the interstate just beyond the retaining wall. Dont wonder where the water is coming from.)Winkler Preserve survived the commercial development. Besides the entrance off the road, you can also enter through the woods at a complex off Marc Center drive. We saw three deer.

Could not find entrance, so didnt actually get in, went around it, which was the only option I could see walking that day. Ymmv and stay off the Interstate, nobody expecting pedestrians and they cut the shoulder short on ramps, imo

Touch nature close to home.Small area, but really nice.

What a beautiful garden! My 2-year-old daughter loves it! She was able to play in the stream, throw sticks and rocks in the water and run around. There are small trails which are perfect for young hikers.

Lots of paths to follow, good size considering its in the middle of a town. You can find some birds and deers there, there are also walls for climbing and some ponds.

Wish there were more curated plants to enjoy. Paths are not stroller friendly. Has a pretty pond and waterfall. No dogs allowed also keeps usage down.

Beautiful trails and lots of wildlife!

You cant recreate there - it is about being in nature (as much as you can in a big city). When walking, it was much bigger than I thought my looking at it - lots of paths to take to make the most of the space. I have been in the winter and summer. The summer, in my opinion, was better because it was the first place in the area where I saw insects since moving to the big city because of all the wildflower - and by insects I mean, butterflies, beetles, the showy pretty insects that everyone should appreciate. The one draw back is parking is limited.

Nice place to take a stroll through nature

It is an amaizing place, really peaceful and relaxing

Great little walk right in Alexandria VA between many high rise buildings!

So beautiful! Perfect little sanctuary

Nice view. Dogs are not allowed

Love it for a brisk walk good conversation

Just visited the preserve today. Its really pretty and quiet. It looks very well maintained and the pond/lake is beautiful especially with the waterfall. Ill definitely be visiting more often.My only suggestion for improvement is to mark the trails and/or provide some sort of map.

Interesting secluded little spot. Good for a quiet walk - note that it closes at 4PM. During the day, there are often little kids here, but they stay in the area close to the Lodge, typically. The Lodge itself is private, but is a nice piece of architecture.

Really nice place to hike

Fun little hike!

Cool place to wander around in. Really cool waterfall

This park is temporarily closed. 3.17.20.

This Preserve is a wonderful nature oasis in the middle of urban sprawl.

Fun hiking with our family! Loved the little stream and walking trails...

Beautiful clean park, great to picnic at.

A nice location but a little hard to navigate through.

Place was bigger than expected. Good trails and uncrowded.

Not very welcoming. Pond is totally polluted. The waterfall is just a trickle of gross stagnant runoff from the nearby freeway. Some nice vegetation and the lodge is kind of cool, though. Dont suggest going past the lodge.

Nice and easy hiking trails. Pond and waterfall nearby. Closes at 4,lpm, so good for a morning walk.

Gorgeous, and great for a quick walk. Winter doesnt afford much botany but gives a new perspective on its design. Followed some moderately large footprints and, even now, wish I were staying longer.

Saw this on the map and figured to check it out. It really is a hidden gem of sorts, really calm and peaceful compared to everything that its surrounded by. The waterfall was a surprise to see here. They close early around 4. Overall its a great lil place to check out if youre free on a weekday or a early weekend thing.

Hidden gem

After three years trying, our daughter finally got into Winklers summer camp this year. She was tentative, but her friends had raved about it and she finally got a chance to see it for herself. The counselors must be amazing, because she surprised us with stories of navigating rope challenges high in the trees and eating creatively prepared crickets. There may be other kids programs at the preserve during the course of the year, but the summer camps are what the kids all talk about.

Nice place to visit for a small Oasis in the middle of a populated area. Watch timing because gates are not always open.

Very disappointing. The trails are not very well marked or maintained. There is trash strewn about (beer bottles near the tall federal building), and the waterfall is man-made. The only thing this park has going for it is the nice pond and bird watching.

Cute and lovely place, good for a tour to walk among beautiful trees and a small lake , But unfortunately there is no restroom.

I am here, not rating, but asking (I clicked 3 stars as generic so that I could post my question). One of the 3 one star ratings says #notdogfriendly Are dogs allowed in the park? I may still like it even if they arent...would rather my best could come too.

What a beautiful place to visit

Its a beautiful and quite place to visit.

A great urban oasis in a neighborhood that needs a lot of TLC. Winklers one of the first private nature reserves in an urban area, and the refuge for native plants it offers is unique.

Stunning views with natural wild life!

I had lived in the area for about 20 years, starting with graduate school, before I even knew it existed! It is tucked away, as another reviewer commented. You will not believe how an area so peaceful and beautiful can be right next to I-395 and yet hidden! I was afraid that when the HUGE new Government complex was built, it would disappear, but it hasnt. BTW, Mark Winkler, for whom the park was named, was in real estate. What a lovely memorial!To the reviewer who gave it one star and no explanation, why is that review still around?

If you work nearby this is a decent place for a short outing.

Attended a wedding here. Beautiful venue.

Amazing little quiet place

My favorite place i go with my wife

A quiet, beautiful oasis in the city.

I was disappointed to get here and see a sign that says no dogs, not even on a leash. That would have been good to know ahead of time.

An oasis of nature in the middle of urban life.

Good

Giant cashew tree

Escape from the city

Very Beautiful!

Secret place for hiking, birds, flowers and animals!

Bellisimo!!

Nice

Not much there but small woods and trails.

Awesome place

Its closed, permanently!

Very nice experience

#notdogfriendly