Scott’s Run Nature Preserve in Great Falls, Virginia is a beautiful natural resource to be enjoyed by those looking for a quiet place to enjoy a hike; to gaze at the waterfall and streams and the shoreline of the Potomac River, and to take in the rich abundance of local fauna, woodland creatures and natural resources.

If you are seeking a place to drink alcohol, swim or wade in the water, or climb on rocks, this is not the place. The Fairfax County Park Authority has announced that it will be working collaboratively with the Fairfax County Police Department to ensure that only permitted activities take place in this natural area, that people can recreate safely, and that the rules as they apply to alcohol and use of the preserve are observed.

Law enforcement and FCPA staff will be enforcing the rules as follows:

• No coolers are allowed. No alcohol or glass bottles are permitted in Scott’s Run. Bags will be checked at parking lot trailheads. Enforcement will be stepped up at the waterfall area. The beauty of the falls masks its peril. This area is subject to dangerous currents, and submerged rocks can combine with those currents to make entering the water a deadly decision. Rain upstream can raise water levels astonishingly quickly.
• No swimming, wading or boating allowed at Scott’s Run. Crowds in the water threaten the many invertebrates and the remarkable and rare plant species that call the preserve home. Parking is limited to 50 cars in the designated parking areas. No parking is permitted in adjacent neighborhoods or along the roadway leading to the park. Dogs must be on a leash while in the park.

The rules are posted on the Scott’s Run Nature Preserve Park Rules webpage. The Fairfax County Park Authority has 420 parks available for recreational use. Swimming is limited to pools and Rec Centers. Police will enforce all applicable laws. Park Authority employees and authorized volunteer staff have been trained and are obligated to enforce these rules and regulations. Violators may be ejected from the park immediately and prohibited from future use of park facilities and services.

The Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail runs through Scott’s Run Nature Preserve and is blazed. For more information on the park, visit Scott’s Run Nature Preserve.