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A tour of the Lake Fairfax Park using the W&OD Trail, the Cross County Trail, and the Rails to River Trail.


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Map Key

9.6

Miles

15.4

KM

Loop

392' 120 m

High

190' 58 m

Low

308' 94 m

Up

307' 94 m

Down

1%

Avg Grade (1°)

14%

Max Grade (8°)

Dogs Unknown

Features Fall Colors · Lake · River/Creek

Lake Fairfax has seasonal closures. For more information, visit the park's < ahref="http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/lakefairfax/">website.

Overview

A great hike with rolling MTB trails at Lake Fairfax Park, natural/horse trail that runs beside W&OD, and mostly flat singletracks on CCT with a short segment on paved trail. There are opportunities to add on miles in Lake Fairfax Park. There is a stream crossing with stone steps on CCT.

Description

This is a trail loop utilizing a few different trails in Fairfax. There are multiple ways to get onto the loop. Lake Fairfax has plenty of parking and bathroom facilities.

The W&OD Trail is obviously marked and very easy to follow, but watch when to turn off to get on the Cross Country Trail (CCT). You'll take the CCT until it meets up with the Rails to River Trail near the Leesburg Pike.

The Cross County Trail (CCT) and Colvin Run Trail are both marked, but it helps a lot to familiarize yourself with the map.

Once in Lake Fairfax Park, there are signs with trail maps at different places.

Trail can be a bit hard to follow if run CCW. From the W&OD trail, follow a faint singletrack on the west side of the Difficult Run.

This is a good route to begin/end at the Reston Metro station.

Contacts

Shared By:

Chris Kroehler with improvements by Charles Danforth

Trail Ratings

  3.6 from 17 votes

#3396

Overall
  3.6 from 17 votes
5 Star
12%
4 Star
47%
3 Star
35%
2 Star
6%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

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Photos

Lake Fairfax Trail.
Mar 30, 2016 near Reston, VA
Tight turns on the trails at Lake Fairfax Park.
Mar 30, 2016 near Reston, VA
Crossing the Difficult Run near Wolf Trap.
Jan 17, 2020 near Wolf Trap, VA
Looking Up Rails to River Trail Past the Soccer Fields
Dec 4, 2018 near Reston, VA
Tight turns on the trails at Lake Fairfax Park.
Dec 4, 2018 near Reston, VA
The Cross County Trail section of the loop has markers with "CCT" on them.
Dec 8, 2018 near Wolf Trap, VA

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Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Nov 4, 2023
Eric Mitchell
Nov 9, 2021
Chao Huang
Dec 30, 2020
Kenny Johnson
Starts white post blck horse shoe, then Cross Trail (CT circle) then W&O paved. Swampy and intersections poorly marked. construction in some spots. 9.7mi
Sep 26, 2020
Jessica Darago
10.6mi — 4h 30m
Jan 12, 2020
Terri Mc
Muddy, pretty, lots a varied types of trails. Not so great for puppies as a whole. Some parts ARE puppy friendly
Dec 29, 2018
Marisa Warner
Jul 8, 2018
Chris C
9.8mi
Mar 29, 2018
Tristan s
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