Lake Accotink, Springfield, Virginia
- Location: Springfield, Virgina
- Open: 7am-sunset, year-round
- Facilities: Bathrooms near picnic & boat rental areas
- Fee: Using the trails is free, the other activities vary in price
- Trail Length/Elevation Gain: 4 miles/250′ eg (there are ways to make the hike longer)
- Other: Bike rentals, canoe and paddleboat rentals, a boat launch, fishing, mini-golf, an antique carousel, volleyball and basketball
Hike 34 in 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles Washington DC: Lake Accotink is a reservoir formed in 1943 by the US Army’s damming of Accotink Creek in Fairfax County, Virginia. The lake is surrounded by Lake Accotink Park, which offers a wide range of activities, including bike rentals; canoe and paddleboat rentals; a boat launch; tour boat rides; fishing; a nine-green, double-holed minigolf course, an antique carousel; a snack bar; pavilion shelters and picnic areas with grills; a playground; sand volleyball courts; and basketball courts.
There are two parking lots – one is right at the boat launch, which has only a few spots. The other parking lot is right before that, and is huge.
The boat launch area is where the trailhead is located, as well as all of the other listed activities. Even though there were a lot of cars in the parking lot (like everywhere here in the DMV), the park is well-planned and so not crowded.
Pass the carousel on the right and the trail begins at the bridge. The trail is maintained really well and the main trail is obvious. There are many off-shoots from the trail, but they look more like mountain biking paths than hiking paths.
To complete the main loop, basically just keep making left turns on the most obvious path. There are signs for Wakefield Park, and when you see this, you still make left turns. The “trail” continues through a neighborhood for a bit – up a big hill and with the most sun-exposure you will get on this hike.
The trail reconnects to the forest after you conquer the big hill. You will pass an elementary school and a playground that is connected to the community townhouse. The entrance to the forest is marked at the intersection near the playground.
The last 1.4 miles brings you toward the dam, near the parking. There is a cement pathway across the dam that brings you to where you began. This 4-mile trail goes fast. this easily makes it to the mental list of places to get in some fast, mindless miles.
