Repair Work on Lake Accotink Park Trail

[DanB]

A work crew began repairs of the Lake Accotink Park Trail from the Danbury Forest Drive entrance (where Pete Beer’s memorial is) to the dam spillway. The work started yesterday at the top of the steep hill by the dam and is working its way back towards Danbury Forest Dr. Watch out for dump trucks backing up, skid steers (aka Bobcats) and soft gravel in spots. Note that the hill section next to the dam will be closed for several days when they repair that section.

I live next to the trail and have wondered when this work would happen. This will be a big improvement for the trail, making it safer while leaving it a gravel surface preferred by joggers.

More information here: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/park-news/2020/z-ir172

Topic

[secstate]

@DanB 202867 wrote:

This will be a big improvement for the trail, making it safer while leaving it a gravel surface preferred by joggers.
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/park-news/2020/z-ir172

Not only joggers

Really enjoyed my one ride in that area — I’ll definitely check it out again during Freezing Saddles

[trailrunner]

It’s good to see these improvements. I used to live in that neighborhood and remember having to walk my bike across the train tracks before they installed the bridge from Carrleigh Parkway. I’ve run and biked many miles on that trail and it used to be my commuting route.

I hope this work will reduce the grade by the dam. It’s very steep, and I often see people struggling to make it up, and going downhill isn’t too safe. They’ve improved just every other section on this path, and the section by the dam is long overdue for improvement.

[Sunyata]

“Improvement” = Paved. 😡

[trailrunner]

@Sunyata 202876 wrote:

“Improvement” = Paved. 😡

Yeah, I have mixed feelings about that also. I wasn’t happy when they paved the trail south of the lake to Old Keene Mill since a muddy single track trail was perfectly adequate for me, but it does contribute to the network of paths, and I wound up using it for commuting.

Most of the section that they are now improving is actually in great shape, except for the steep hill by the dam I mentioned, and the hump just to the west of where the trail from Carrleigh Parkway enters. A couple of years ago they paved a section on the north side which was overkill IMHO, but I figured now the goal was to pave the entire path.

[mstone]

@Sunyata 202876 wrote:

“Improvement” = Paved. 😡

correct: it leads to a much more accessible amenity for the entire community

[DanB]

@Sunyata 202876 wrote:

“Improvement” = Paved. 😡

From the description, it doesn’t look like they’re adding more paved sections. They are doing a crushed stone overlay, which will make this section much more comfortable and safe for the many families I see using it. Some have small kids on bikes or are even pushing strollers, which has to be a challenge with the current conditions.

There are still plenty of mountain bike trails off the main loop trail. You can find all of them here. https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/trails/trail-buddy

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[bentbike33]

@DanB 202879 wrote:

From the description, it doesn’t look like they’re adding more paved sections. They are doing a crushed stone overlay, which will make this section much more comfortable and safe for the many families I see using it. Some have small kids on bikes or are even pushing strollers, which has to be a challenge with the current conditions.

If it’s anything like the finely crushed bluestone on the C&O towpath in a few sections between Great Falls and White’s Ferry, it will ride like a paved surface. I couldn’t believe how smooth that was last Saturday.

[Author]

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