Really close to my daughter's house, she runs here often and said she feels safe and hadn't had any…read moreissues. It was clean, well taken care of. There's even an area that's wheelchair accessible and over 7 miles of trails. Lots of signs explaining the history of the area and bridges and paths were well taken care of. We also noticed they had been planting and working on reforestation. It's a beauty natural setting only 45ish minutes from DC.

Lots of great options on this hike, a few trails to choose from (short and long), lots of great…read morescenery and historical markers along the way. We just did it this last weekend, and the whole trail is just under 5 miles. Highly recommend to families, as it is mostly flat. Meet my hiking partner....he's loving the scenery.

It's always been a pleasant lake/park. There are some okay trails here, yet what it's all about is…read morethe water. Germantown Lake is quite nice. As for the fishing, a lot of snags. You can rent paddle boats, and quite a few kayak here. Yet the fishing isn't all that. It certainly is beautiful in some areas, but I wish more fish opportunities. Crockett Park is owned and managed by the county. This is impressive. What I usually do here is go during astronomy nights, with a group called NOVAC. Light pollution is less of a problem than say the DC area. A very nice group of men and women. Parking is never a problem, and it is a family friendly place.

This is the best public lake and picnic area I have found in Virginia. It costs six dollars for…read moreeach car. It is free if you reside in Fauquier County. The park is well maintained. There are picnic areas and even one spot by the water reserved for Seniors/handicapped. There is neat play area for children, a snack bar, and boats for rent. There are canoes, flat boats and paddle boats. It is peaceful here at least in early Spring.

Northern Fauquier Community Park opened some time earlier in the year. I've been interested in this…read morepark for a while as it looks really nice when driving by on Route 55. But it was closed last time I went through Marshall as construction was not yet completed. It's located just off of Route 55 just east of beautiful, downtown Marshall, VA. It's open now, I visited yesterday as my neighbors were holding a birthday party for their 3 year old daughter at the park. They reserved a covered pavilion which had plenty of tables, a grill, and was close to lots of playground equipment for the mass of writhing kids attending the party and now running amok through the park. The park offers a lot of park amenities - from the park web site: "Open year-round, the park boasts 8 athletic fields including baseball, softball, soccer and football. The park also features two concession stands, 8 picnic shelters, an amphitheater, three playgrounds, a two mile paved multi-use trail, 3 indoor restrooms, fishing lake, meeting room and plenty of beautifully landscaped open space. Recreational programs are available for your enjoyment." I plan to come back to walk and hike, fish the lake, and maybe even grill out some time!

Impressive and beautiful regardless of the drizzly, foggy day. Out to jog someplace new, plus get…read moremy steps in. (fitbit). This park was one I had not yet been too and today I was on my own, so, NFCP it was! Pulled into the office area on the left at the enterance and read the map. 1.75 mile trail. Perfect. I wan't the only one out jogging in the rain either. - I was impressed that this park has 4 different locations with playground equipment. One with swings. 3 right next to restrooms that are actual builings. Not porta potties. I think I counted 2 consession stands next to 2 of the 4 playgrounds. Many shelters and standup grils to use. Some of these grills look huge! Very impressive; especially in the shelters by the lake. picnic tables outside the shelter areas as well. Also on site is an ampitheatre. I'm pretty sure this place gets crowded in the spring and summer just like the Warf in Warrenton. Today...it was not. - While jogging I could hear the trains whistling in the near distance. Ducks/geese wadling and quacking nearby. Even with the fog and being December you could see the beautiful ( I think ), Hawthorne trees (?) with their bright red berries. I had to google the tree. It was so pretty. -Check out my pictures but please note--It is Dec 26th and very foggy with a drizzling rain! If I hadn't already mentioned that!

We decided to join the 1st Hike of the Year and had a great time. The county led the hike on a path…read morethat is going to be built up. After the hike we took a quick peak down at the river and want to come back for some more outdoor activity.

I'm so glad I came here this morning. I am truly grateful this land has public access and rendered…read moreas a preserve. Fauquier Co is beautiful already and then to come here and walk a trail by the Rappahannock River; It was gorgeous. I loved the rock jutting out into the river. The tall trees, so silent. I felt like I was far from home but it only took me 12 min to get here. I followed the red blaze trail. 2.5 miles maybe? Creeks, ferns, and singing birds all around. Very nice. DYK, the Rappahannock River is 195 miles long? Starts in the Blue Ridge Mountains and empties into the Chesapeake Bay. That being said, please keep Virginia beautiful. Pack it in, pack it out. Give a hoot, don't pollute!

First time here. The Unfinished Railroad Trail is the best. The Second Manassas Trail just leads…read moreback to the street and across to another parking lot. Shaded, but too many bugs.

Had a super awesome time exploring this historic trail which follows the cuts and fills of the…read moreunfinished grade of the Manassas Gap railroad. During the second battle of Manassas the embankments were heavily defended by Stonewall Jackson's troops against the attacks of the vigorous federal troops in Late August of 1862. The trail was well maintained with descriptive and separate signs showing the points of view of the Union and Confederate combatant of the conflict at Deep Cut and vicinity. The trailhead at Featherbed lane is easy to find and there is ample parking. Best to go during the early morning when it's not so hot. I was on a Smithsonian resident associates tour with Ed bearss and Greg clemmer

Great find! It's not large, but has a Colonial feel…read more Ben Lomond Park is just a small turn off of the main road. 4 spots to park and a water well left over from the past. Some lady commented this park was unkempt. I'm grateful this Colonial house still stands! When I came in late Spring it was rainy, but there was a crew who redid the stone masonry. It was supported and cordoned off in parts. None of this made a difference to me. Colonials need re-ups! It's a quiet place (despite the road). A small patch of gardens, out-houses, wooden fences, some green trees near the parking. The houses look better from the street side. Make sure to do a 360' around the whole home. There's some metal signs to read and puddles, paths and awnings. For me, it was an unexpected find but one that I had picked out to visit. Manassas is ugly (the main highway), so it was a relief to find Ben Lomond Park (really just a House on a plot of land) all tiny and square, neatly hidden. Ben Lomond would be happy - were he still alive - to have a caretaker so close in an adjoined home.. It's at least looked at. It's livability today, proves what it once was. Ben Lomond is great for a picnic. Me, I did coffee and croissant - imagining Colonials slowly walking across the lawns, some carrying hay, or water jugs even armfuls of some growth from the gardens. Review: Pitch perfect

This park is strange. First of all to get to it you have to go through a crowded Manassas…read moreresidential area. Since it is winter, I guess the park and recreation department do. Not expect anyone to come here. The field is closed with no access. Of course, the run down looking water park located here is closed. There is a large communications tower smack in the middle of the park. There are tennis and basketball courts. There are a couple of picnic shelters. Then there is a big ugly area in the back with a couple of shipping containers and other crap and then some kind of water treatment facility? On the map with GPS it showed a pond here. I find out when I get here that that pond is inside that facility if it exists and is for industrial use. I bet the bathroom were locked too. I didn't try to use them but other parks in the area "winterize" their bathrooms.

I'm so glad I have this place so close by! It's just 3 miles from my house!…read more Let me tell you about my first hiking trip here today. Wow. - I looked at the map before I started. It seemed to intertwine with other trails, very similar to the Bull Run Mountain in Broad Run. I was excited to get started. I chose the blue trail. - All was good and fine until about the first mile. (Kelly K. You are correct!) After that the greenery kinda invades your path and you feel like you are on more of a deer trail. That's o.k with me at times. I am a very alert and very aware hiker. I listen and follow my instincts. Doesn't mean I don't take dumb chances, just means I am aware I'm doing something dumb. lol. Like today! - I followed some baby deer for quite a while. They had no clue I was there. I hike like a Ninja! I do. lol... I am sooo quiet. That's how I see all the deer and bear but I know that can work against me sometimes too... Like today! (check my pics for the baby deer. They were 10 feet from me). - I got to a point in the trail where I had to mark my route... What Was well marked, was then... not marked at all for a couple of turns. I started to become a bit jumpy and with the wind blowing today, it masked the usual sounds of a quiet forest. I was unable to use my ninja skills to tell if there was wildlife close by...so I had my head on a swivel. At this point, I was at the abandoned little barn, Just up from the "thinning pine tree forest". Check pics. I took a path that came out in a sort of clearing that screamed wildlife! Deer everywhere. One jumped out in front of me with his white fluffy tail bouncing across the field and I STG I thought I was going to have a heart attack! OMG. No kidding. I had to stop and make sure I was breathing! That darn wind. I never heard him coming! Now, I'm in a spot that is very sketchy and that wind is not letting me pick up a sign of what's around me..... I was stopping every 15 steps to look and listen before I moved on. No. Kidding. It was just like that. I know. I guess I watch a lot of movies... .But as much as that hinders me it also makes me a better hiker! My ninja skills were at MAX! My heart was pumping dude. - After a while, I got back to where the path looked more traveled and I continued to see deer until I reached the car again. *I was not happy to hear a shotgun go off as I neared the end of the hike but I was, infact happy that I wore my bright orange top! Holy cow people! Stop shooting into the woods! Dang! - Well, that was my first time hiking here. Will I come back? You can bet your booties on it! That was pretty freaking awesome. :-)

be careful. someone has been intentionally littering the trails either glass. it's all different…read morecolors and sizes so check your pets, horses and self. I hope they can find who is doing this as it has completely ruined my times going there now

Great place to take a hike on a nature trail with friends and family!! It was a crisp Autumn day…read morefor an exhilarating hike. The trail was moderately difficult but enjoyed the company and used walking sticks from broken branches! We had a big group with three teens, ranging in age from 14, 16, and 18! We all enjoyed the colorful leaves bright red, orange and yellow, just bursts of colors against a blue sky as the sunlight winnowed through the some of the bare trees! Absolutely breathtaking solace with the crunching of leaves as we traversed the trail. There were some steep grades, but fortunately we managed with the aid of the makeshift walking sticks!! Definitely, the Best prescription for the winter doldrums as they approach!!

Bull Run- Occoquan Trail has it all- water, nature, wildlife, history. NoVa's longest natural…read moresurface trail, Bull Run-Occoquan Trail spans for 5,000 acres. My family and housemate went on Memorial Day and found easy parking at 7152 Centreville Rd #7126, Centreville, VA 20121. Here's why you should go: 1) Trail: It's an easy trail. Our four-year-old daughter had no issues hiking the entire time herself. It follows Bull Run with areas to dip into the water. 2) Wildlife: You'll see it all, including snakes. Just be mindful where you step. Most of the snakes are harmless. 3) Nature: Even though close to civilization, you feel like you've escaped the city. 4) History: The trail has ties to the Revolutionary Wat and Civil War. Markers along the trail explain.