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

[acc]

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.

One of the big differences between being on the CCT and the W&OD or any of the other more urban trails is the need to carry water — a lot of it — a Camelbak is your friend. http://www.camelbak.com/Sports-Recreation/AntidoteLanding/Main.aspx

I admit, the first time I saw someone sucking on the end of the little rubber tube I howled with laughter. They look ridiculous. But five miles down a trail in the summer heat and suddenly it became the most beautiful little contraption I’d ever seen.

[Dirt]

@acc 24642 wrote:

One of the big differences between being on the CCT and the W&OD or any of the other more urban trails is the need to carry water — a lot of it — a Camelbak is your friend. http://www.camelbak.com/Sports-Recreation/AntidoteLanding/Main.aspx

Yup. We had 9 of us at the resupply in Fairfax city. It took 5.5 gallons to top off all of the water we’d drunk the first 1/3 of the ride. A lot of gatorade was purchased too.

[bluerider]

How rough is the section south of W&OD? More mountain bike or is it cross bike territory?

[jabberwocky]

@bluerider 25075 wrote:

How rough is the section south of W&OD? More mountain bike or is it cross bike territory?

It varies. I’ve ridden it on both; The cross bike is doable, albeit slow on some sections. I think of it as more MTB territory, but I’ve never really enjoyed riding my cross bike offroad.

Its similar terrain-wise to Lake Fairfax or Wakefield, if you know those.

[Dirt]

@bluerider 25075 wrote:

How rough is the section south of W&OD? More mountain bike or is it cross bike territory?

I enjoy it on a cross bike. You need to take care of your tires and take it easy on the speed. It is fun though. Once you get to Jermantown Rd. the cross bike is where its at for sure. You’re able to ride quite a bit faster for the bottom 2/3 of the CCT on a cross bike.

[DaveK]

@bluerider 25075 wrote:

How rough is the section south of W&OD? More mountain bike or is it cross bike territory?

It was a challenge for me on a CX bike but I’m relatively new at trail riding on the CX and not a great bike handler. If I had it to do again I think I’d be much cleaner having had the experience once already. I’d also take a larger cassette in back than 11-25 even with standard CX rings (48-36). One big challenge for me was the steep climbs coming from a slow technical section, I just didn’t have a great gear for it. I’m looking forward to taking another crack at it with better brakes and gearing. Like Pete said, the bottom 2/3 is a breeze on a CX bike. Lots of fun packed gravel trails and stream crossings.

[bluerider]

@DaveK 25229 wrote:

It was a challenge for me on a CX bike but I’m relatively new at trail riding on the CX and not a great bike handler. If I had it to do again I think I’d be much cleaner having had the experience once already. I’d also take a larger cassette in back than 11-25 even with standard CX rings (48-36). One big challenge for me was the steep climbs coming from a slow technical section, I just didn’t have a great gear for it. I’m looking forward to taking another crack at it with better brakes and gearing. Like Pete said, the bottom 2/3 is a breeze on a CX bike. Lots of fun packed gravel trails and stream crossings.

Thanks, I would love to ride it sometime with someone who knows the trail. Maybe I will venture out there alone.

[Dirt]

@bluerider 25235 wrote:

Thanks, I would love to ride it sometime with someone who knows the trail. Maybe I will venture out there alone.

We’ll do something similar to what we did last weekend again when it cools down a little. Riding in less than 100 degree temps would be nice. I’ll post up before we do.

[bluerider]

@Dirt 25236 wrote:

We’ll do something similar to what we did last weekend again when it cools down a little. Riding in less than 100 degree temps would be nice. I’ll post up before we do.

Maybe I should wait to remove my CX tires until I meet up with you guys for these ride.

[TwoWheelsDC]

My ride today included some short, paved sections of the trail out in the Ft. Belvoir area. After reading this thread I knew I didn’t want to spend too much time on it with the road bike. I gotta say I didn’t care much for it…it was really slick in a lot of places and the entrances/exits are really steep. I fell over climbing up to the street as the 15ish percent grade turned into a mossy skating rink and I was spinning out. I was able to lay it down relatively softly, but I ground up my knee and elbow pretty good.

[jnva]

I rode the section between Vienna and lake accotink again today. Took note of how often the path changes – there are long stretches of gravel with a 10 foot paved section, and then there are long paved sections with 10 feet of gravel in the middle. It’s crazy, but fun.

[mstone]

@jnva 25588 wrote:

I rode the section between Vienna and lake accotink again today. Took note of how often the path changes – there are long stretches of gravel with a 10 foot paved section, and then there are long paved sections with 10 feet of gravel in the middle. It’s crazy, but fun.

It’s important to remember that the CCT isn’t a designed trail, it’s the result of “what bits and pieces can we connect”.

[johnnywhisky01]

If I ride up the Cross County Trail to Great Falls, will I be able to connect to the C&O Canal?

[jabberwocky]

@johnnywhisky01 26367 wrote:

If I ride up the Cross County Trail to Great Falls, will I be able to connect to the C&O Canal?

No. The two nearest places to cross the river and get to the C&O are Chain Bridge all the way down in McLean and Whites Ferry in Leesburg. Theres no way to cross the river in Great Falls.

[jnva]

@jabberwocky 26370 wrote:

Theres no way to cross the river in Great Falls.

Evel Knievel could do it.

[Author]

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