This brief loop, which can be extended by taking many of the various trail offshoots and byways, follows the series of trails that spiderweb through the marshlike Ivy Creek Natural Area Preserve outside of Charlottesville, VA. Skirting the edges of the Rivanna River, be on the lookout for local wildlife like foxes, minks, and raccoons. In the Fall and Spring, this area is littered with wildflowers as the trail wends its way around the upper peninsula and back towards the parking area. For a quick hike or trail run loop among the dogwoods, Ivy Creek is a perfect choice in the Charlottesville area.