The Washington Area’s "other" CCT: Fairfax Cross County Trail

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  • July 9, 2012 at 2:31 pm #911700
    Dirt
    Participant

    For me, “CCT” will always refer to the Fairfax Cross County Trail. I realize that most folks in the area think of the Capital Crescent Trail. Fairfax’s version is lovely and shouldn’t be overlooked when it comes time to ride.

    7531713252_a288e17d76_b.jpg
    One of the many creek crossings. The posts on the left of the photo can be used to walk across and keep your feet dry if you like.

    The Fairfax Cross County Trail is a mixed-surface trail that runs for a little over 40 miles from Great Falls at the north end all the way to Occoquan to the south. When I say “mixed-surface”, I really mean it. The north end has some really nice singletrack that is best navigated on a mountain bike. Though a cyclocross bike will work fine, the rocky sections are a little easier with fatter tires. There are gravel and paved sections of the trail too. On a hot day like yesterday, there are many wonderful creek crossings. At the north end there are a few that can be over 2 feet deep. To the south some are about 1″ deep at most. All of the creek crossings have step overs that let you keep your feet dry.

    Trail resources:

    Probably the biggest complaint about the CCT is that it isn’t perfectly marked. There are a few turns that are hard to pick which direction to go. There are a few turns that are virtually impossible to find unless you know they’re there. Slowly the signage is improving as more people ride the trail. A GPS really helps! Google Maps and Open Street Maps have the CCT on it and the plot is quite accurate. I had it up and followed it perfectly on our ride yesterday. The first time I rode it, I had only the maps that Fairfax has on their CCT web site (linked below). That was helpful and got me through most of it quite well. I had a few spots where I got turned around. If you can ride it with someone familiar with the trail, it is a good thing.

    County web site for the CCT: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/cct/

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  • July 9, 2012 at 2:35 pm #945179
    rcannon100
    Participant

    Whose taking the picture?

    July 9, 2012 at 2:43 pm #945180
    jabberwocky
    Participant

    The northern sections are the most technical and MTBish. From Great Falls park down to Fairfax is 65% singletrack, with the remainder being mostly doubletrack or gravel (not a whole of pavement). From Fairfax on, the CCT is almost entirely gravel or paved. I’ve ridden it on both a cyclocross bike and a mountainbike. The CX bike is definitely faster overall, but less pleasurable on the offroad parts. I prefer the MTB (since I like the offroad parts) but its definitely slow on the long stretches of pavement (especially once you hit Jermantown rd heading south).

    Overall its a fun ride. I like combining it with Lake Fairfax, Colvin Run and Great Falls/Riverbend to get 35 mile off road loops I can ride from my house.

    July 9, 2012 at 4:20 pm #945191
    Dirt
    Participant

    Jabberwocky stylin the best no-hands creek crossing EVAR
    7531709742_60154e59ec_b.jpg

    July 9, 2012 at 4:54 pm #945194
    DaveK
    Participant

    South of… okay, I have no idea where anything is, but once you get to the Jermantown Rd section the CX bike is a great idea. North of there I would have rather had the suspension fork and better brakes as I’m not the best bike handler in the world. Still only took one nice quick nap in a ditch and tested out the consistency of some gravel another time. Great place to ride all around though. Next time I tackle the Reston section will be on the MTB. My hands are still tired from grabbing the brakes on some of those descents.

    July 9, 2012 at 5:38 pm #945197
    Greenbelt
    Participant

    What’s the best way to access the trail from Metrorail?

    July 9, 2012 at 5:45 pm #945199
    rcannon100
    Participant

    Vienna is directly on the CCT. Springfield Metro is near. You can metro to one end, and bike to the other metro stop. Vienna is also W&OD of course if that helps for connections.

    July 9, 2012 at 5:51 pm #945200
    ShawnoftheDread
    Participant

    It’s also a lightly travelled trail. Even on Saturday morning, when the W&OD was packed, I only saw one other bike and 6 or so peds between Little River Turnpike and the Vienna metro.

    July 9, 2012 at 6:39 pm #945201
    RESTONTODC
    Participant

    It looks like a perfect place to ride during the hot days. Dirt, where is this picture taken?

    July 9, 2012 at 6:44 pm #945202
    Dirt
    Participant

    @Greenbelt 24618 wrote:

    What’s the best way to access the trail from Metrorail?

    I can lead a loop from East or West Falls Church that hits the fun parts and comes back by pretty mellow roads and trails. Perhaps a late summer weekend ride. Might be fun to have a group ride through and check it out. Probably can’t happen until August though. I’m pretty stacked and packed for the next month.

    Here’s what the loop would look like. http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1411961

    July 9, 2012 at 7:01 pm #945203
    rcannon100
    Participant

    I believe the pictures are from Wakefield, where the CCT nears the beltway, on the western border of the beltway. I very very good MBT park. Also has a skatepark.

    July 9, 2012 at 7:13 pm #945204
    jabberwocky
    Participant

    @RESTONTODC 24622 wrote:

    It looks like a perfect place to ride during the hot days. Dirt, where is this picture taken?

    The picture of me is on the section of the CCT just north of route 7 (near colvin run mill).

    The picture of Kat is (I believe) from the section south of where it goes under 267, before reaching the W&OD.

    July 9, 2012 at 7:25 pm #945205
    Dirt
    Participant

    @jabberwocky 24626 wrote:

    The picture of Kat is (I believe) from the section south of where it goes under 267, before reaching the W&OD.

    The picture of Kat is actually from Springfield as we were getting closer to Lorton.

    July 9, 2012 at 7:27 pm #945206
    jabberwocky
    Participant

    @Dirt 24627 wrote:

    The picture of Kat is actually from Springfield as we were getting closer to Lorton.

    Oh, right. The concrete posts are on the wrong side for it to be the one I’m thinking of.

    July 9, 2012 at 7:29 pm #945207
    Dirt
    Participant

    @RESTONTODC 24622 wrote:

    It looks like a perfect place to ride during the hot days. Dirt, where is this picture taken?

    There are 3 or 4 creek crossings north of the W&OD, a few of which are quite refreshing. One actually makes an okay swimming hole.

    There are 6 creek crossings between Lake Accotink Park and Lorton. Most of these are pretty shallow. Yesterday, when it was hot and the creek was not very full, most have less than an inch of water. They give you a nice, gentle spritzing. 2 of them are a little deeper… 6-8 inches deep for one, 4-6″ deep for another.

    The southern end of the CCT has a lot more time when you’re out in the sun. That was extremely evident yesterday when it was over 100 degrees. The part from Jermantown Road north, is mostly in the woods and quite cool.

    July 9, 2012 at 8:16 pm #945208
    KelOnWheels
    Participant

    That looks exceedingly fun. One day, when I get a more road-like bike, I want to turn my mountain bike back into a mountain bike and learn to do mountain bike type things on it.

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