This is such an amazing big, lush, tranquil park connecting multiple neighbourhoods and at least…read moretwo smaller parks, such as Valley Crest Park. The trails are shaded and part paved, part unpaved, and mostly flat. The round stepping stones (pictured) across certain sections of the creek, believe it or not, were one of the biggest initial draws for me, and they were actually even more fun to hop through in person, not to mention that the surrounding views and sounds were gorgeous! I appreciate this green space being maintained and available to the community.

This suburban greenway connects some neighborhoods and athletic facilities. It gets to the point…read morewhere you can hear birdsong and not cars while being a pretty small stretch of land. The creek has a couple of easy crossings. It's not a destination and I just stopped in on the way to something else, but green spaces like this (even when they are brown for the winter) are important.

Everyone seems a little surprised this place exists, and as a born and raised Alexandrian, I'm…read moreespecially blown. Like what? This was here the whole time?? I'm like that frustrated married couple in that real estate guide commercial from the 90s: "I didn't even know those homes were there!" I followed the Google Maps directions and found there was nowhere to park. I followed signs to see there was a trail detour on Beauregard due to heavy water. The closest place I found to park was about a block away on Morgan Street, up the hill. I went on a little run in the park. In retrospect, I actually think it's better for a walk than a run. It's well paved, but there's so much to look at, plus you have to slow down your run and wait to cross the stepping stones. Since it's a popular spot, you might have to wait for someone coming from the other side to cross first. I'm not sure how many sets of stepping stones there are total. I went over 4 or 5 in about 1.5 miles (sets of about 21 each) but then I had to turn around because one set was fully underwater and I wasn't trying to take my shoes off. There are some woodsy walking paths up and down the hills, too. One thing that made this place stand out was that there were rocky, beachy areas where families were swimming in Holmes Run. I'd recommend bringing water shoes for the fam. There was also a marsh area full of turtles and bullfrogs. Sadly, you could only hear the bullfrogs, not see them, but they sounded great.

New little adventure for Desmond and I. I was on Yelp looking for a new dog park or trail for my…read moredog and I to explore not too far from home. Dora Kelley nature park was such a great find! There are several entrances. We entered off the Sanger Ave entrance next to the Nature Center. There's lots of informational signs along the trail, explaining all of the different things to be on the lookout for, including plants, flowers, birds, and other species you may encounter. There's a paved and unpaved trail that runs along a creek. I usually keep an AirPod in and listen to music or audiobook, but there were so many earthly sounds that made me want to walk in silence and take in everything nature was offering.

Great place to visit hidden away at end of street heading into apartment building. There are…read moreseveral trails you can follow and a fair sized pond with a man made waterfall. Check the hours before you go -it closes early.

Repeat visitor here. I can say Winkler is now offers a much better experience now that they are…read moreowned by the city of Alexandria. The park is the same - a small oasis in the middle of the city. They have a few walking paths through the woods and have an artificial waterfall (which wasn't on when I was there). The paths aren't enough to offer a strenuous hike, but good enough to stretch your legs and be with your thoughts. Come for peace and quiet, not exercise. It offers basically the same experience it's offered for a long time, but the expanded hours (compared to what they were in the past) is a huge upgrade. Don't be surprised if you see deer!

9/20/20 Today we went for a walk/run/speed walk along the…read moreW&OD Trail. While walking and seeing new sights so close to home is a wonderful feeling. I am seriously considering coming back here tomorrow to jog. I need to work up another sweat. The sounds of water running and hearing the sounds of waterfalls off in the distance is music to my ears. I see people from all walks of life and wonder what is going through their minds as they move along the trail path. A lot more people were on the path than the last time we were here. I heard a lot of bikers say "On Your Left" I think of Captain America saying that to his soon to be friend The Falcon. The weather is perfect here and I am glad my wife and I came here today.

A great spot for casual rides, with plenty of excellent restaurants along the way--perfect for…read moregrabbing a bite when you need a break. However, it tends to get crowded on weekends, so be prepared for heavier foot and bike traffic.

Best hidden gem in Annandale...and one of the best residential trails ever. Lucky to live close…read moreenough to walk this trail every weekend. The trail is a mix of paved, rocky and hard mud surface, great for mountain biking, walking and running. Not ideal for road bikes but the terrain deters this trail from becoming a cycle highway like the W&OD trail which the CCC trail connects to. Special thanks to Gerry Connolly for making this 40 miles of beautiful outdoor space possible for everyone to enjoy. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/cct/

I never knew this was about a 15 minute drive from my house but I'm glad I finally checked it out…read more I did the section from Eakin Park on Prosperity Avenue down to Lake Accotink and back. Most of it is paved which is convenient and it wasn't too crowded on a weekday. Luckily there was only one street crossing, but it's near a curve so pay attention and move fast. It's mostly woods between rows of suburban houses, and a short portion near a highway interspersed with more wooded sections through parks and leading to a gravel section at Lake Accotink. One part was almost like walking through a tall grass prairie with only a small clearing for the trail itself, I hadn't seen that anywhere else around here. I saw some deer near Lake Accotink and they watched me for a minute then decided to run off after they were kind enough to stop for a picture. Also, unlike some trails it's VERY difficult to get lost here so that's a major plus. I'll definitely check this out again and will check out some other segments as well.

A nice neighborhood park. It may lack amenities or fancy extras. Yet this is a pleasant place to…read morespend time. Hiking and biking are great for your health. Is this park and trail going to create a cardiovascular challenge? No. Yet it's good for people of all ages and abilities. Have met kind walkers and other folks here. This is an area to relax in. One has to smile when you think how close the Beltway is. Here your far away from that, as lots of Oak and Maple trees. There aren't any mind blowing views, but this park serves a purpose. It's a safe place to unwind and get out of the fast life the areas known for.

I started running along the trail from the Braddock road entrance and went just over two miles and…read moreit seems trail does not circle. I stopped and turned around once I reached a major street. Approved for biking, trail running, hiking and dogs. I also so a basketball court.

This park is part of the Fairfax County Cross County Trail and is the trail is partially paved and…read morepartially gravel. I parked at Eaken Park across the street (don't tell anyone but there were plenty of parking spots on a sunny Saturday afternoon) and crossed Prosperity Avenue to get to the park. You'll see hikers, walkers with dogs, joggers, runners, bikers and even the occasional stroller along the trail bu it's less crowded than say the W&OD trail so you're not constantly dodging bikes, strollers and roller bladers. Much of the trail is shaded and runs along a creek and you'll see houses/backyards nearby but it does a great job of feeling like you're in the woods rather than almost in someone's backyard. I didn't see too much wildlife, mostly lots of squirrels and humans but no snakes either so that's always a plus and the bugs weren't too bad for a May afternoon. Don't expect any Instagram worthy views here if you're into that (I've never used it but my wife done sometimes) but it's a solid and not overly crowded place to hit the trail and get some steps whether you're just doing the park or going further along the traill.

It's a nice area along the county trail. Just decided today is too hot. Already at 0930 it's 89 and…read morewho knows what it'll be. Am not pleased as like hiking and biking. This area works for both. There are a lot of trees for shade here. That alone is something to be grateful for. There's not a lot going on here. No big time facilities or anything like that. Sometimes simplicity can be a pleasant surprise. Also there's a lot of wildlife here. Yes you're in a safe suburban location, but still back enough to see deer, squirrels, and birds. For that reason alone I happen to like it.

Quaint little wooded parklet that stretches along a section of Wolftrap Creek. Not too much to it…read moresave for a nature trial, some bridges across the creek and its various tributaries, and a few wildlife preserves and signs about the flora/fauna of the area. The park is historically associated with the bridge that FBI double agent Robert Hanssen made a number of dead drops under for his Soviet and later-Russian handlers on multiple occasions from the late-1970s into the early-2000s. The bridge is still there, and more-or-less the park's main attraction, though it is unmarked and easy to miss. Feels like there should be at least a little informational plaque on/near the bridge, but I suppose the county/federal government doesn't want to glorify espionage. Keep in mind that the park is narrow as it hugs the creek, and passes in plain sight of suburban backyards. There are several exit paths to the trail that take you into the adjacent developments; I wouldn't recommend just walking across the brush if not near an exit path despite its proximity. This area gives strong NIMBY vibes and some of the homeowners may chide you for it. Also, there is almost no bus service in these neighborhoods and you will have to walk 30 minutes to get to the nearest metros (Spring Hill/Greensboro).

For Cold War aficionados, definitely stop by here. If you are familiar with the movie Breach, or…read morethe real FBI traitor Robert Hanssen, you'll want to go here. For years he left garbage bags full of US National security secrets here. On a plus note this is where, the disgraced agent was arrested for his crimes. He later was convicted, sent to Colorado's Supermax prior to dying this past winter. It is eery walking here for these reasons. Other than that a pleasant stroll. Connected to neighborhoods in Vienna, it certainly is safe. Well traveled during day light hours. I used to take my dog down here for walks. Admittedly I miss her but am thankful for those good memories. Was happy to meet a happy dog walking here last week. If you're in the area, this is a nice break from suburban madness.

The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) is a 100% volunteer supported organization that formed in…read more1927 for the purpose of building and maintaining the Appalachian Trail (AT). PATC was the 1st club of the now 30+ clubs who preserve the AT & its side-trails from Maine to Georgia. While they run hike groups, the primary purpose of the organization is to get people involved in trail management including keeping the footpath clear of natural overgrowth and blowdowns; building and relocating sections of the footpath, building and repairing shelters and other structures, caring for overnight sites as well as educating Trail users. PATC covers 1000 total miles of trails in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia & Virginia, including 240 miles of the AT. This is the headquarters location, but their are chapters all over the region. The HQ has a small store, but you can also order online via the website. In additional to the website you can find information on events via https://www.meetup.com/PATCVolunteerEvents/

I don't recommend anyone to book a cabin reservation through PATC. I had a terrible experience this…read morepasted Labor Day weekend. I booked a reservation for friday and saturday stay, unfortunately I wasn't able to get to the cabin. My partner and I drove a F150 4x4. We came across several issues on the road to name a few, we entered a dirt road and shortly after we encountered a fallen tree obscuring the road we barely passed through scrapping the top of the truck. Secondly, we arrived at the gate and were unable to drive up the hill due to the lack of maintenance on the road. It had so many deep potholes and the left side of the road was so uneven even if we were to pass through, we could've potentially damaged the truck. Third, a car followed us up the hill and waited at the shared parking space watching us as we attempted to drive up the hill several times. We felt uneasy and unsafe to be completely honest. It was getting dark, and we left. I emailed them over the weekend and since i didn't get a response i called today. I spoke to Ben the cabin coordinator, he was very disrespectful, rude and unprofessional. He disregarded my email and said he would get to it eventually. I tried explaining all this over the phone, he didn't care to listen and refused to help me. I requested a refund since i didn't stay in the cabin due to the poor road conditions. I've never been spoken to with so much hostility specially when i paid a fee to become a member. I tried explaining what occurred and he didn't want to hear it and said, "if i want to go back and forth and argue he can through email" and "the membership isn't for me". Ben didn't try to solve the issue in any way. If you're looking to book a cabin save yourself the headache and book through Airbnb at least they are open 7 days a week and they provide good customer service. I hope the phone calls are recorded because management should look into Ben's demeanor.