The Best of Lake Fairfax

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Allowed

Features Drops/Jumps · Pump Track

Lake Fairfax has everything from jumps, rollers, and berms to tight turns, rocks, and roots, all packaged into convenient climbs and descents that maximize the elevation available.

Starting at the Reston SkateQuest lot, head into the unmarked parking area to get onto Rails to River Trail. At the first four-way intersection, take a sharp left onto Chestnut Grove Connector. At the end of Chestnut Grove Connector, take a right onto the Chestnut Grove Access Path. Cross the stream crossing and across Rails to River Trail onto the s-shaped Upland Trail Connector. Take a left onto Upland Trail to enjoy the interspersed rock work.

At the fork immediately after the rock roll on Upland Trail, take a left onto the rocky Upland Trail Connector, which ends at Rails to River Trail. Take a left onto Rails to River Trail and climb until you reach the first four way intersection you encountered, near the parking lot. From here, take a left onto South Side Trail Singletrack. This trail ends at a creek crossing, after which take a right turn onto South Side Trail Doubletrack.

Continue straight from South Side Trail Doubletrack onto Rails to River Trail past the soccer fields and take a right turn onto the sliver of dirt that heads toward the fence marking the edge of the park, which is the beginning of Sidetrack Trail. Sidetrack Trail ends at a small but abrupt creek crossing and rejoins Rails to River Trail. Keep all the way to the right to get onto Hunter Mill Bypass. Traveling a few dozen feet on Hunter Mill Bypass will lead you to a creek crossing. Immediately after crossing the creek keep right to turn onto the thin and sometimes overgrown entrance to Cliff Hanger Trail #19.

Continue on Cliff Hanger Trail #19 through its second intersection with Hunter Mill Bypass. Cliff Hanger Trail #19 ends in a triangle style intersection. Turn left towards the bridge to get back on Rails to River Trail. Turn right towards the road crossing after crossing the bridge to get onto Ampitheater Trail. Keep an eye out for a fork in the trail as Ampitheater Trail starts to parallel the road. Take a left at the aforementioned fork and cross the road to get onto the Pumptrack Connector. Pumptrack Connector ends at a clearing next to the soccer fields near where Sidetrack Trail and Rails to River Trail split.

Follow Rails to River Trail and take a right once past the soccer fields. At the next intersection, keep right and start climbing on Campground Loop. Campground Loop opens up into a gravel road at the top of the climb. Keep parallel to the athletic fields and continue heading straight on the gravel road to get back to the singletrack. As you approach a red gate near the skatepark, look towards the wooded area toward your left to find the next section of Campground Loop.

Descend on Campground Loop until you reach a four way intersection near a bridge. Take a sharp left to get onto North Boundary Trail. North Boundary Trail crosses a gas line right-of-way, so keep your eyes peeled for where the trail continues across the gas line. North Boundary Trail ends at a creek crossing.

Next, cross the creek and take a left turn onto Bentana Park Connector. Keep left at the T-intersection and cross the small bridge to get back onto Rails to River Trail. From Bentana Park Connector, take a right onto Rails to River Trail to head southwest. This part of Rails to River Trail parallels a creek and climbs till it reaches back to the start of your ride at the SkateQuest parking lot.