I ran here various times during my stay in VA. Its a nice park to walk around, jog or run. The loop is mainly unpaved and its about 1.8 miles. Definitely beats running around the neighborhood as you see fellow runners and animals. read more

Good if you can find parking. Bad if you need to pee. There is one port-o-potty that is very frequently out of commission or sometimes removed entirely. Parking in the Pommeroy lot is problematic and tiny. Side street parking is almost non-existent due to code enforcement. The meter maid will get you for parking too close to stop signs, mailboxes, driveways and fire-hydrants. It's like they circle this park. The bigger parking lot is off of Gainsborough and is also were they host music in the park during the summer. read more

Amazing place to hike along the water. Lots of parking and would be great for a picnic or get together.

This park is literally a hidden gem and you'd never find it unless someone tells you or you check out Yelp. It's right between two houses in the middle of a suburban neighborhood street. It has a lake (of course) with decent (if mostly smaller fish) fishing, a boat launch ramp, tennis courts, a soccer field, and an approx 1.75 mile unpaved nature trail with wildlife views surrounding the lake. The lake is J shaped and there are parking lots on both sides of the J. I parked on Gainesborough Dr. but there's parking on the other side as well. I enjoyed coming here and checking out the nature trail and doing a little fishing and will come back here. read more

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Nice lake park to walk around. Think it is just under 2 miles around. There is a playground for kids & families. Some elevation, and sections where the trail is narrow. Popular on weekends. Parking is limited; may have to park on street if lot is full. An upper lot has tennis courts- believe that is off of Gainsborough Dr. read more

Love it here. Whether fishing or hiking, this is a spot that is enjoyable. If you are lucky, you'll see heron and the bald eagle. Seeing the latter one especially, is a thrill words cannot aptly describe. This isn't as popular as nearby Burke Lake, but that's another reason to like it. This is a good place to see turtles. All types and an occasional snake. Yet what I like about this is it's peaceful. Serene really, despite being smacked dab in the middle of multiple neighborhoods. It's such a relaxing place, I've liked to bring a hammock and a book to this park. That's how laid back it is, and the trails are well maintained. Best guess is it is close to a two mile hike around the lake. It's not too difficult, and accessible to most. An area gem and one of Fairfax's most laid back. read more

Royal Lake Park - Parks Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Beautiful place to take family photos in the fall. There are a couple bridges and lots of wild life.

I had never heard of Royal Lake prior to moving into a neighborhood within walking distance of this serene, peaceful gem. I am not sure where the parking access is from the street-but I know there is a parking lot near the access point for kayaking. Lots of people kayak here. I've noticed lots of fishing (I believe the lake is stocked) too. On the one side of the lake there is a large playground and soccer field. There is a smaller playground off the beaten path along the nature trail. There is also an exercise circuit on the trail. The trail is about 1 3/4 miles and is a mix of flat and hilly terrain. I do not believe there are bathrooms here. It's a great place to clear your mind on a walk or run. Also, it's very dog-friendly so plan on bringing the pooch if you have one! read more

Royal Lake Park - Parks Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Hidden gem! Drive through a neighborhood and then you'll see a random Fairfax County park sign between two homes. It's the perfect walk for a family with preschoolers - 1.75 miles. Our 2.5 year old finished the walk (with complaining at the end). It's relatively level (with some steps in the trail) but unpaved so not stroller friendly. The view is great - for most of the walk, you'll have trees on one side and lake on the other side. About 75% of the walk is shaded too. The lake has amenities spread throughout the walk - boat launch, wildlife (turtles, geese), soccer field, baseball field, playground, tennis courts. I can't say enough good things about this lake! read more

It's such a treat to live so close to Royal Lake Park. It seems like the Park Authority takes very good care of it and the trails tend to be clear of obstructions. My pup loves walking here so it motivates me to take her and get my exercise as well. I love that it is such a great habitat for many different animals and we see so many including the blue herons, deer, fish, fox, countless other birds, and turtles to name a few. I think it could benefit from more trash cans along the trail especially for dog owners to dispose of their dog's waste. Finally, and I know this isn't the Park Authority's fault, but some dog owners really should be more courteous to others enjoying this beautiful space and pick up after their pets. It's disgusting, discourteous, and lazy to leave your dog's turds and not pick them up. read more

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This place is so cute has a lake areas to eat a basketball court a tennis court i love it! You can bring your pets and it's fantastic to jog! read more

I mean this park does provide a lot of stuff to do like It's scenic, its nature-y, picnic, walking/jogging trails, fishing, etc. It's really close to where I live right now. I personally like to look at the turtles, different types of birds, and my daughter spotted this cool looking butterfly. We saw people fishing right off the shore and catching some bass and crappie. They were not huge but still its cool to see sport fish in the lake. There is a playground for the kids and a couple tennis sports. I will definitely be back to fish and take my kids to play at this park. Maybe I'll even go here for a jog. read more

Royal Lake Park - Beautiful butterfly - Parks Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Great local park. It's about 1.75 to walk around the lake. It's relatively quiet, but very safe as it's surrounded by neighborhoods. You can spot lots of nature and animals - birds, turtles, frogs, ducklings, and geese. read more

Royal Lake Park - Parks Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

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This is one of the best little parks in the area. It's not as big as Burke Lake (it's a little under 2 miles around the lake instead of 4.7) but it has just as much heart. It has everything you might want: picnic tables with a view of the water, plenty of views of wildlife, a nice trail, and a playground. There used to be a port-a potty by the playground, but I think they took it away. I would recommend walking a dog there--my pup loves it and it's just the right distance for her! It is great for running. I used to be lucky enough to live close enough to run there, run around it, and run home. Man, I miss those days! It's better for walking and running--I would not recommend biking as there are some steep parts and also parts with straight up wooden stairs laid into the terrain. Even if you're not into walking around the trail, it's a great place to just sit in the sun, read a book, and enjoy the lake in the background. read more

Nice walking/running trail on a nice day when you want to avoid the crowds at Burke Lake. The steep hills week out the bikers and the baby strollers. Challenging running trails with a nice view of the lake. People are very friendly and park is clean. Nice parking lot by the trail. read more

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There's something about this place that makes you feel warm inside. It's just a good place to escape from everything. During this pandemic this is the spot to be, even when there are people around you have space to stay apart. Sometimes I fish here, I sit by the water. Usually I bring my dog along this area is big enough for him to roam around. This place really is beautiful. read more

We were looking for a quiet place to walk and check out the local landscape during a recent trip to the area and this little park was recommended by friends. It has a nice walking trail that wraps around the water and we spied the usual (squirrels, a few turtles, pretty birds). I was hoping for a few Fall blooms (we went in late Oct) but there weren't many. Lots of great trees though and friendly people out exercising and/or walking their dogs. Very peaceful. read more

I really LOVE this little neighborhood park! It's hidden behind the Kings Park West neighborhood. The lake is gorgeous! The path around the lake is about 1.5 miles and there are no bikes or strollers walking the path because it has some elevation! There are plenty of dog owners walking their pups, and the path is wide enough to accommodate both flows of traffic. There is a large path above the dam that allows you to view the lake and the surrounding trees. The park has tennis and basketball courts. Parking is tricky, you will drive around the neighborhood to see several entrances with park parking. read more

I like this place, but I have to admit it might mostly be due to it's proximity to my home. There are lots of trails and this seems like a fantastic place for runners and joggers. It's typically clean, but I think it's due to local residents picking up garbage on a regular basis. read more

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Great for running. The lake is just shy of two miles around with mini hills. Good parks along the trail, decent basketball court, and a geese inhabited soccer field. read more

Royal Lake Park - Love it. Great for running with some tiny hills. Just shy of two miles around the lake. - Parks Near Me - Fairfax, Virginia

Decent 1.8 mile loop. The section that runs through the woods is fantastic. With some drops and climbs. Unfortunately the lake has been drained out and the stink is pretty bad for a good chunk of the run. The pic shows the dry waterbed. Doesn't stop me from running it though! read more

Enjoyable neighborhood park, and from what i understand it is the park neighbors in surrounding community who do most of the upkeep and trail maintenance. Attended some programs done there in the past along with the concerts, was sad to learn the nature programs that used to be done there are no more-they were nice campfire, ranger led programs. I give it 5 stars for the fact it is park neighbors and users who work hard to keep trails up and park clean-along with the natural beauty. read more

This is a beautiful park. We conducted a group yoga session on Jun 22. See these beautiful pictures from our event - https://www.facebook.com/mukthiyog read more

I run on this lake trail several times a week. I have met lots of nice people and dogs as well. Nicely shaded during warm days. The dredging is apparently done so the water is back into the lake. read more

Great park! Nice walking or running trail. Clean and peaceful. Love walking my dogs around the lake. New exercise equipment, tennis court and basketball court. Love seeing the kids play soccer on the weekend. read more