First off, Burke Lake was great for camping with the kids. a 5 mile loop around the lake with easy access to the trails from the campsites. Carousel, mini golf, train ride, ice cream shop, fishing, disc golf and quite a few playgrounds. The kids loved riding their bikes or being towed in the double seat trailer while we rode through the trees alongside the lake. nice rolling paths and just enough loose gravel and leaves that I could occasionally lock up the rear wheel, skidding around the corner while the kids squealed with glee and yelled “Faster!”
We took the Burke Lake Trail from the campsites around the Lake to the dam, where we picked up the Lake Mercer Trail (Northern route not shown on FFX county bike map)
We crossed Hooes and took the South Run Stream Valley trail through to Pohick. Some sections were bumpy, but others were freshly paved and very nice.
Mike E wasn’t joking about the downhill to get from Pohick to the Gery Connolly Cross County Trail. That was pretty steep, and I’m glad I wasn’t going up it with a trailer full of kids and gear.
We met up with Hooes rd again as an access rd for a block along the FFX County Parkway, crossed with the light and beg button on Gambrill and took the north sidewalk along the FFX County Parkway for another block before the trail turned in to a neighborhood and up towards Rolling Rd.
We overcooked our speed coming down the hill towards the CCT crossing at Hunter Village Dr. and missed the left turn to stay on the west side of Accotink Creek, but we did find a cutback to get down towards the water, but taking the east side of the river got up lost for about 30 min in the neighborhoods between the Franconia-Springfield Parkway and Old Keene Mill Rd. (not so keen for cycling).
Once we finally got back on the CCT headed north, it was smooth sailing around Accotink Lake, although the climb at the dam is no joke either.
We opted for the shaded sandy trails through Wakefield instead of the fire road under the power lines and eventually exited at Eakin Park, up to Mosaic and then along the golf course path to Shreve Rd.
tl/dr; new trails, stream crossings, got lost, got muddy and had fun. might be tougher towing a trailer. go do it.
planned: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4935763
actual: http://www.strava.com/activities/151398868
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