It traverses many surfaces, from mud trails and gravel roads to sidewalks and pavement. The Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail has been divided into ten sections (plus an additional section for the Laurel Hill Greenway - LHG) for purposes of mapping.The individual section maps show neighborhood connections, parking, and amenities such as restrooms and water fountains. Stream Valley Trails deliver a nice dose of nature, even in busy Virginia suburbs close to Washington DC. Disclaimer. •You can access the Washington and Old Dominion Trail from the CCT. Some sections are wheelchair/mobility scooter accessible but not all sections. In some places there is a lot of mud. Fairfax, VA 22035, Gerald E. Connolly, Then Chairman, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Mastenbrook Volunteer Matching Fund Grant Program, Recreation Services for Customers with Disabilities ♿, Bluebells and Bluebirds in a Utopia of Green, Stewards and Stream Valleys - The Trail Takes Shape, Top Reasons to Use the Cross County Trail. For a more detailed view, you can explore segments with the interactive Fairfax Trail Buddy map. The Cross County Trail is a multi-use trail that generally follows the various stream valleys in Fairfax County, Virginia. The signs are durable and are buried deep to deter vandals, one of the scourges of the park system. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. The trout lily, which blooms for only about two weeks in mid-April, takes seven seasons before it is able to put forth a flower. Some sections are suitable for horseback riding, and the entire length of … Hundreds of volunteers give irreplaceable time and talent to county non profits, fire stations, schoolrooms and the Park Authority (the agency's eight nature centers and historic sites boast 700+ volunteers, making it … Some of it is stone dust. That's why it's great.". A trail allowing you to experience the entire Fairfax County. But the noblest of all must be the sycamore, whose smooth, light bark stands out in sharp contrast to the darkness of the surrounding forest. Kerr said that one interesting aspect of watching the Cross County Trail take shape was the role volunteers played. Well, we don't plow the trail. Cross County Trail (VA) Details. Communities. It covers a lot of territory, from Great Falls to the Occoquan, stitching together a number of parks. In swampy areas, volunteers and staff brought in stone to stabilize the wet ground. The trail is primarily used for walking, nature trips, and road biking. This article was published in 2014 and updated in 2019 and 2020. The trail has portions that are paved asphalt, packed gravel, and natural surfaces. Segment 8 covers 4 miles of paved and dirt surfaces from the Dulles Toll Road to Lawyer’s Road in Reston. His leadership was instrumental in creating the network during his years as the Providence District Supervisor and then Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Cross County Trail (VA) Send to App National Map. The trail is narrow and rocky in some sections and could cause problems to those with handicaps. The stretch between the W&OD and the Dulles Toll Road is especially popular for off-road biking. Aug 26, 2019 @ 9:25am. Be advised that some parts of the … •You can run with your child or your leashed pet, ride a bike or a horse, skate, skip or take a leisurely stroll. Fairfax Cross County Trail is one of the most popular trails in Virginia, especially for dog owners — you’ll see why when you come and visit! Cub Run Stream Valley Trail. It's a natural, outdoor environment. Some sections are wheelchair/mobility scooter accessible but not all... VA: 40 mi : Asphalt, Ballast, Concrete, Crushed Stone, Dirt, Gravel 19 reviews. The Cross County Trail runs through some of the county's most scenic areas, beginning at Great Falls National Park on the mighty Potomac River and extending south to the Occoquan River and Laurel Hill, formerly known as Lorton Prison. Birds (including rare raptors), deer, muskrat, fox and other critters abound. Some of it is stone dust. The Fairfax Cross County Trail, or CCT, is an amazing achievement for a well-populated area like Fairfax County, Virginia. Segment 8, Woods and the W&OD: This section of the trail follows portions of the Difficult Run Stream Valley and the Washington & Old Dominion bike trail. These 5 general tips apply to all of your Fairfax CCT hikes: Follow the links below for a more detailed look at several of the northern Fairfax Cross County Trail segments. The Fairfax Cross County Trail; The Mount Vernon Trail; The Custis Trail; Buy . The Fairfax Cross County Trail, or CCT, is an amazing achievement for a well-populated area like Fairfax County, Virginia. status date description; Oct 15, 2020 @ 3:45pm. Springtime finds the woodland floor adorned with carpets of wildflowers including bluebells, cut-leaved toothwort, trout lilies and harbinger-of-spring. Interspersed with colonial and Civil War landmarks are famous attractions such as The National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center featuring scores of aircraft (including the space shuttle Enterprise), Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts; George Washington's Mount Vernon estate; and popular shopping centers such as Tysons Corner Gallerias. Explore the trails maps of our other Fairfax County trails: Cub Run Stream Valley, Lake Fairfax Park, Long Branch Stream Valley, Riverbend Park, Rocky Run Stream Valley, Scotts Run Nature Preserve, South Run Trail and, Sugarland Run Stream Valley. Fairfax Trail Buddy is an interactive web-based mapping application for navigating the extensive network of county trails. Things to do near (IAD) Dulles Intl Airport; Things to do near (DCA) Ronald Reagan National Airport; Things to do near (BWI) Balt.-Wash. Intl Airport; Near Landmarks. Learn how your comment data is processed. "Bikes, hikers, neighborhood dog walkers. Along the way, it passes through many of our best Fairfax County parks. When using our trails, please stick to the path. The new name honors the Congressman who championed the creation of the trail during his tenure as Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. 1 Fairfax Square, 8075 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA 22182. Great biking trail with cool off trails. Segment 6, Sidewalk Sun: Unfortunately, this portion of the CCT follows hot, busy sidewalks from end to end. Wood frogs, spring peepers, American toads, and spotted salamanders are a few of the amphibians that take advantage of vernal pools for reproduction. It traverses many surfaces, from mud trails and gravel roads to sidewalks and pavement. Beverly Dickerson, former president of the Hunters Valley Riding Club and a member of Fairfax for Horses, remembers when she first heard of the trail, "The county has been farsighted in setting aside places like this, very proactive in trying to obtain the property and establishing recreational uses. And sometimes, citizens blaze trails. Tags. This is a region article; detailed listings go in the city articles, district articles, rural area articles or (national) park articles. It connects some of the major trails in the county. Come and join us for […] In the shadow of the Beltway in the Accotink Stream Valley, staff from Park Planning and Development designed and managed the largest construction project in the Park Authority's history, building over a mile of asphalt and concrete trail, and installing three concrete stream crossings. River birch, sweetgum, pawpaw and species of willow and alder all thrive in the rich, moist soils found in the trail's floodplain. One exception is the stream crossing between Lawyers and Vale Roads, which is often partially underwater. A trail allowing you to experience the entire Fairfax County. The seventh annual race is set for Sunday November 8, 2020. The Cub Run Stream Valley Trail offers a paved route meandering through Cub Run Stream Valley Park … Nearly every section of the Fairfax CCT is worth a hike. It passes Colvin Run Mill, which makes a nice stop if you want to break your hike into shorter walks. I generally take short solo hikes, so I like to pick a parking spot, hike the trail 2 to 3 miles, then double back the same way. Fairfax Trail Buddy is a web-based mapping tool that allows you to discover the extensive network of Fairfax County Park trails. No . Happy hiking! We only link to products/services we recommend. Fairfax County Cross County Trail: Tickets & Tours‎ Near Airports. By the fall of 2000, the planning team developed a blueprint to connect the stream valley trails. In some places there is a lot of mud. In some places there is a lot of mud. Trail that is a collection of various trails that run across Fairfax County from the Potomac River near Great Falls in McLean, VA, to Occoquan Regional Park in Occoquan, VA. If the gamble fails and the puddles disappear early due to a dry spring for instance, a whole generation of amphibians may be lost. The next day he introduced a resolution to create the Cross County Trail. Fairfax County Cross Country Trail. Wag! Just as the trail itself connects hill and vale, stream, meadow and urbanized landscapes, its very creation united government agencies with trail enthusiasts, environmentalists, citizen activists and the private sector, no small undertaking for bustling Fairfax County. Along the way, it passes through many of Fairfax County’s best parks and stream valleys. We try to locate our trails away from sensitive areas like vernal pools. The trail begins at the Potomac River in the north and ends at the Occoquan River in the south. Fairfax Cross County Trail (CCT): A great trail for beginners and easy-does-it bike riders with a mix of paved and packed dirt sections that connect many Fairfax County and Northern Virginia Park Authority parks. It offers a rough Appalachian Trail-like experience. Length 13.1 mi Elevation gain 190 ft Route type Out & back. The Fairfax Cross County Trail, aka the CCT, connects over 40 miles of county parks and trails in Northern Virginia. There are a few paved portions of the trail and dirt sections level enough for strollers and children on bikes, including the segment along. This is just one example of how important it is to protect our wetlands. Some of it is stone dust. Remove all graphics and images from the website so that only the text and links are visible. This parkland serves many purposes, but one of the most important is to protect our streams. Most of our Cross County Trail lies within stream valley parkland. Some of the links in articles may be affiliate links where we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. See 28 photos and 2 tips from 107 visitors to Fairfax Cross County Trail. My first thought was to bike or hike portions of the W&OD, which passes near my neighborhood. Trail Features. It was in 1995 that hiking enthusiast Bill Niedringhaus walked into the office of the Park Authority Trail Coordinator and presented his idea for connecting existing trails. ", He obtained a large map of the county and highlighted all of the public land green. Jul 17, 2020. Here, hikers, joggers, equestrians, strollers, and cyclists can discover a natural wonderland. The trail is also popular with bikers and riders so stay alert and give them right of way. You can get more information from their website. This is a region article; detailed listings go in the city articles, district articles, rural area articles or (national) park articles. The trail has portions that are paved asphalt, packed gravel, and natural surfaces. At the Tobin Road entrance, there are two baseball/softball fields, two tennis courts, and three beach sand volleyball courts. To change the language of this website, click the drop-down list and select the desired language. Trail Reports. Most of the trail is family-friendly, though fair weather stream crossings can be challenging for very young children. No Type: Greenway, Rail Trail, Urban Trail Agency: City, Town, or County Entry Fee? •It's the perfect place to meet other trail enthusiasts and discover opportunities to volunteer. Consisting of mostly dirt paths and short asphalt sections, the trail is used mostly by recreational mountain bikers, hikers, and horse riders. The Fairfax County Parkway, numbered State Route 286 (SR 286, formerly SR 7100), is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia, acting as an arterial route in Fairfax County with a mix of interchanges and signalized and unsignalized intersections. Tobin Road entrance. Fairfax Trail Buddy is an interactive web-based … Way Cross County Trail (61883596) Way Accotink Parkway (51060465) Way Accotink Parkway (532517947) Way 138743292; Way Cross … Best trails in Fairfax, Virginia 250 Reviews Explore the most popular trails near Fairfax with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. On the other end you have Occoquan with its restaurants and boutique shops. ArcGIS Online Item Details: title: Trail Buddy: description: Fairfax County contains over 900 miles of trails, bikeways and sidewalks that have been mapped and incorporated into a Geographic Information Systems database. Well, we don't plow the trail. FAIRFAX COUNTY CROSS COUNTY TRAIL Barrel Bridge is located in Fairfax County of Virginia state. The over 40-mile-long Cross County Trail (Fairfax CCT) runs through some of the county's most scenic areas, beginning at Great Falls Park on the mighty Potomac River and extending south to the Occoquan River and Laurel Hill, formerly known as Lorton Prison. Not only using the trails, but in maintaining the trails. Nature's amphibians need all the luck they can get! Jun 8, 2019. view all reports » … No matter which segment you choose to hike, the Fairfax Cross County Trail offers a fun and interesting way to explore the area. Segment 10, Hike to the Potomac: The northernmost portion of the Cross County Trail follows the Difficult Run stream valley from Leigh Mill Road to the Potomac River in Great Falls Park. The trail is planned to extend east toward Fort Washington, Pennsylvania and Willow Grove, Pennsylvania for a total distance of 17.5 … The GCCCT is a strong symbol of community … Wildlife thrives on trail lands. The benefit of laying eggs in a vernal pool is that there are no predators such as fish to gobble up the nearly defenseless tadpoles or larval salamanders. Note that one stream crossing is often underwater and several areas are muddy even when we haven’t had a lot of rain. It was then he saw a continuous green line snaking down from the north to the south across the county with maybe three or four gaps. Campbell Creek Greenbelt. 1.5 mi State: Alaska Asphalt, Dirt. No Parking Fee? The signs are made of recycled plastic and fiberglass, marking the trail from one end to the other. The coordinates that you can use in navigation applications to get to find FAIRFAX COUNTY CROSS COUNTY TRAIL Barrel Bridge quickly are 38.7048781 ,-77.247907 Off limits to developers, the county's stream valleys support biodiversity and wildlife. Increasingly rare, many of these plants grow only in protected stream valley environments. 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