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Ride Summary:
A mix of singletrack and dirt bike paths that winds it's way 12 miles to the Potomac River bank. Not technically challenging but a good long ride.
Trail Description:
Start at Twin Branches trail stay left following it downhilll. Turn left at a T onto the W&OD trail. At 2.9 miles go right on Michael Faraday CT, at the end of the court find a small trail. Stay left which is Colvin Run trail. Cross over a creek and turn left at the T following Lake Fairfax trail. Take a right up the gravel road heading towards the dam. Cross over the dam. Follow the marked trail (white) along Colvin Run. At 6.7 miles go left at Leesburg Pike then a quick right on the dirt road. At the end of the road follow the white trail again. This goes along Difficult Run. You'll cross Difficult Run several times so be prepared to get wet. At 7.5 miles cross Difficult Run. At 8.5 cross over Leigh Road. 10.2 cross back over Difficult Run to stay on the left side and again at 11 miles. At 12 miles you'll reach the Potomac River. Take a break and head back the same way.
How to get there:
From the Beltway head West, exit on Hunter Mill Road going South. To Sunrise Valley Road, turn right then a left on South Lakes Drive. Look for Twin Branches, go left following the road to Glade Drive. Twin Branches trail starts right here.
| Posted by: PatMcF79 on 7/28/2010 |
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I also found they blocked the down hill at Lake FF. I feel they mainly did it as to protect the people that rent the pavillion at the bottom of the hill from getting hit. Stinks... I know. Also the section under the Dulles Toll Road is blocked off due to construction making it impossible to do a loop on Colvin Run/W&OD/Difficult Run
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| Posted by: Missy on 7/12/2010 |
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Did anyone else find that they blocked the down hill at Fairfax Lake at the edge of the upper field? I can't believe they did that. It was the best downhill of the whole difficult run trail. I would like to petition to get it opened up again.
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| Posted by: Mikey T on 7/5/2008 |
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One of my friends, my Dad and I, took this trail
from Twin Branches. It was a fun ride. In my
opinion, the best path to take there is to park at the
pool by the lake, go up the street and cross at the
intersection. From there, follow the trail until the
fork. From here, the most challenging way is to go
straight, up the hill, take it to the right at all forks,
then keep going around to what would have been
the trail on the left at the start. Then, I'm pretty
sure that once you get to the asphalt part, you can
keep going to the river, or turn around and take the
fork on the left, then you should go down the very
first hill you went on. Overall, fun trail. Some parts
need some work, and others are plain challenging.
So a 4/5, and an intermediate difficulty rating.
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| Posted by: JD on 10/6/2007 |
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Rode the trail today from Reston to the Potomac in Great Falls and back. Maybe it's the dry weather we've had, but the trail was in great shape compared to a while back.
DIRECTIONS: Parked at the skating rink off of Michael Faraday Ct. From the trail head to Lake Fairfax Park, the trail is pretty easy to follow. When you get to the 2nd set of athletic fields (the ones with a blacktop parking lot after a moderately steep climb), follow the blacktop road down to the park restrooms. Take a right at the restrooms and continue along a gravel road until you pick up the trail again. From here until you get to Colvin Mill Run road (your second blacktop crossing) it's easy to follow. At Colvin Mill road, take a left and cross Rt. 7 and then take a right, following the blacktop until you get to a gravel double-track. Eventually, this turns back into single track, and the rest of the trail is relatively easy to follow (just follow the CCT signs).
I've heard there ar
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| Posted by: sam on 9/10/2007 |
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I park in a small lot after michael faraday court. going west on sunset it is your next left. I like the trail though.
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| Posted by: Tom on 5/6/2007 |
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Always park at the ice rink, in the back to the left. The trail head is in that corner, down what looks like a little dead end driveway. This is excellent single track,when it's dry, and is even better since the cross-county trail opened. When it's been raining, don't bother. You can now do a loop instead of out and back. when you reach Rt. 7, don't cross Rt. seven. Just cross the little road in the south side of the intersection, and pick up the CCT. Take it all the way to the W&OD. Then take a right (heading west) for a two mile spin on the W&D. A very nice option for people like me with serious issues with out and back biking (or hiking).
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| Posted by: mat on 9/10/2005 |
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Should be called Difficult To Follow trail. There are a lot of branches along the trail which lead into residential neighborhoods. The second crossing of Difficult Run at (i think it's at georgetown parkway)is messed up because of construction work at the moment - you have to work your way around to the right - don't cross the road.
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| Posted by: Steve on 4/20/2005 |
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I start at the ice center. A better route is to take a right at the T as you near the campgrounds. This route is the correct one, not going across the dam. Skirt the soccer fields and get ready for a couple monster hills.
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| Posted by: Steel on 10/7/2003 |
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Great trail for intermediate. Starting at Michael Faraday to Colvin Run is a great ride combining many small hills with speed. Continue thru Lk. Fairfax is the same. However, after Colvin Run (rt 7) trail is not as dynamic and year after year is poorly maintained for bikers ...ie. a lot of huge mud holes. I thought that got annoying--my full susp. bike became a ridgid. Many stream crossings to rinse off. Great trail overall esp. south end.
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| Posted by: Sweet on 12/21/2002 |
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I have been riding this trail for years. It has everything riding offers, hills, mud, techincal stuff etc. Great place to learn! I start at the ice arena off of Faraday Ct. and go all the way to the river on weekends. Great jumps too!
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