Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Burke Lake Park

    4.4 (206 reviews)

    Burke Lake Park Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Burke Lake Park

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Miniature golf
    Bonnie T.

    Such a beautiful place! There's so much to do here whether it's walking dogs, hiking, nature walk, golf, freebies, rent a boat, you name it! There's parking admission is free for those who live in Fairfax County! Highly recommend if you're in the area!

    Grace H.

    I've visited twice for Fit4Mom events and it's been my favorite Southwest NoVA Fit4Mom venue. If you get to the park early enough you can get a parking spot with shade. There are restrooms close to parking, even two family restrooms by Shelter A. There's plenty of picnic tables and nice views of the water not too far from the parking lot. There's also a pretty nice sized playground by the lot for the kiddos. Can't wait to explore other areas of the park during the summer.

    Annie S.

    Amazing park! Easy parking. Clean bathrooms. Picnic tables. We did the 5 mile hike which was lovely and saw tons of butterflies. $12 fee for non-county. - Hike/stroll: There is a 5 mile loop around the lake which is an easy path, mostly non paved and out of the sun. There are many places to pull off and sit at a bench along the water. Fairly busy on the weekends. - Frisbee golf - Water fun: This includes renting a canoe, fishing, etc. You can see the big fish swimming in the water from the path.

    A very calming and soul-soothing walk in the trail. Beautiful lake views and perfect for a quiet stroll in nature.

    There are excellent fishing options in the lake
    Navin K.

    Lovely park in northern Virginia. Popular destination for folks who enjoy nature hikes, picnics and fishing. I visited with family while visiting the national capital region this Memorial Day weekend. Parking near the lake was free and easy. We found a picnic table and settled down for drinks, snacks and relaxed conversation. The weather was perfect - early 70s with a gentle breeze. Other than an over-inquisitive goose, we had no trouble whatsoever. Will be back!

    Ahmad K.

    Burke Lake Park is one of our favorite spots for a walk. We love wandering through the trails, taking in the beautiful scenery, and spotting wildlife. It's such a peaceful escape from the everyday hustle. Whether you're into bird watching, having a picnic, or just want to enjoy a nice walk by the lake, this place is perfect. If you haven't checked it out yet, you definitely should! It's a little slice of nature that's perfect for unwinding.

    Elyse E.

    Some of my earliest memories are of riding the train and carousel at Burke Lake Park. Now, as an adult, I still love coming here. Beautiful (but man-made) lake teeming with wildlife. A 4.5-mile looped trail for hiking and biking. Docks and benches by the shore. Fitness stations from the 1980s that are somehow still standing. What more could one want? This park can get popular on the weekends - and pretty much any day when it's nice out. Still, it's not hard to find a spot to carve out some solitude. There's also a frisbee golf course, an ice cream shop, several playgrounds, and a marina where you can rent boats for the afternoon. There's a mini golf course, and an actual driving range next door. You can even camp here, which I hope to try soon. Fun fact: the plot of land where this park now stands was originally set aside to build Dulles Airport. I'm really glad we get to enjoy this beautiful slice of nature instead of a brutalist mid-century-style airport with poor signage.

    Northern Cardinal
    James M.

    In our quest to visit all local Parks we visited Burke Lake, what an amazing place to be enjoyed if living in the DMV. The Park itself has all type of facilities from Frisbee Golf to a Train(not open right now). The Restrooms were plentiful, clean and Open !!! We did the trail around the Lake which was well maintained & marked, plenty of space for Social Distancing. The Wildlife was abundant, saw a Hawk, some different duck species to include the Bufflehead. The Trail is around 4 miles (plus) and covers different terrain (nothing too difficult). We definitely look forward to visiting again.

    Burke Lake Park
    Jodie C.

    First time visiting Burke Lake Park today. First impression driving in is "its a miracle people aren't struck by cars here." Maybe they are and I just don't know about it. Bikes, dog, kids, runners jetting across the entryway as I was coming in. I was shocked and I was also driving slowly. The actual park and (lake) is beautiful. They have a playground for the kids, boat rentals. Hiking trails and restrooms with flushing toilets. We hiked around the lake on the trail provided. It was approx 5.5 miles. Had small hills but mostly flat. Several places to stop and sit at a bench to admire the view of the lake and wildlife. Couple times we were caught up behind a group of people who take up the whole path. And a couple times when people are hiking opposite way and are coming toward you they don't even step aside to offer more room for others. I didnt mind the bikes with bells. I can hear you and be mindful. Otherwise some people fly past you and you barely knew they were approaching. Great bird watching, good fishing spot. Very crowded.

    local traffic..
    Christian L.

    I like it, I love it, I want some more of it! This lake and adjoined parking/grilling area is just the spot for a windy stroll, or for a breezy picnic or - like 2 guys were doing - hitting each other with 16th century plastic replica swords and shields.. The forest is thick and there's a boardwalk that goes all the way into the lake on pontoons. Up to the East are a cluster of tourism huts, signs, seats and more trails that bend around Burke Lake. It's a gravel area and is very windy. 5

    train ride
    Judy N.

    As Fairfax County residents, this is our first time at Burke Lake Park. This park is huge and impressive. It's great for hiking, jogging, canoeing, and many great outdoor activities. We explored the family area with the carousel, train, playground, and ice cream parlor. The playground was a bit small and crowded. I do think they need a bigger playground. The train was really nice and our daughter loved it. It took us on a tour around the lake. The speed of the train was faster than I had expected. The seats were kind of low which is perfect for kids; just not ideal for some taller in stature. I do highly recommend the train ride if you're there with your kids. It's worth it. Besides the carousel, train, and food prices, the park is free for Fairfax County residents. You just need to show your drivers license upon entry. It's a great place for families and those that want to keep active outdoors.

    See all

    10 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of ham s.
    0
    4
    11

    18 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of David H.
    473
    1913
    3400

    8 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Juan F.
    1141
    3960
    13899

    5 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Annie S.
    1079
    657
    3258

    3 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 1
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jodie C.
    7
    931
    4371

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jo L.
    13
    502
    1528

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 0
    Love this 9
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Judy N.
    294
    731
    4327

    5 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mike R.
    77
    1867
    13466

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kimi S.
    5000
    2244
    21781

    6 years ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nomin D.
    148
    1001
    1658

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Paisley T.
    933
    1169
    14999

    7 years ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 0
    Love this 12
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Fox E.
    4533
    16894
    49978

    9 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 0
    Love this 9
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of John F.
    223
    2160
    14479

    5 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of CT P.
    2
    123
    20

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tara G.
    161
    529
    17418

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - Burke Lake Park

    Is this a dog friendly park? Thank you fellow Yelpers!

    no. I have seen kids beating dogs with sticks

    Is the boat rental office opened during this time? Can't wait to go fishing & Big Thanks fellow Yelpers!

    Yes. I was there last weekend and people were renting boats.

    Is there a beach type area for swimming? I want to bring my little girl out for a swim. Also are there any current restrictions due to covid?

    No there is no swimming at this park nor is there a beach type area. No covid restrictions as of now.

    Can dogs swim in the lake?

    No, pets aren't allowed in the lake..go to Fountainhead in Clifton if you want to do that!

    Is there a spot where dogs can go swimming?

    Are dogs allowed off lease in this preserve if well trained?Trying to find somewhere I can take my pups and they can explore without annoying other hikers.?

    Dogs must be leashed at this park. Honestly, it is far too busy with cyclists, dog walkers, joggers, etc. to allow for you to try.

    Does the camp ground become full on weekends or major holidays? We're worried about the "first come first served" risk if we head there

    It can get busy on weekends and holidays so I would try to plan ahead . It's so much fun there ; you won't want to miss it!

    View All 11 Questions

    Review Highlights - Burke Lake Park

    Through 20+ years of living in Fairfax County, we visited this park at least twice a year -- and often more.

    Mentioned in 28 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Parks 5,110 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Hidden Oaks Nature Center

    Hidden Oaks Nature Center

    4.4(33 reviews)
    7.5 mi

    This place is such a gem!! We absolutely love it. The staff is soooo friendly, helpful and…read moreknowledgeable. We are so lucky to have this near our house. My kids love visiting all the animals, the turtles, snakes and bearded dragon are the favorites! W elige that they have a pretty big variety of toys available to play with and the dress up options are always a hit! It's a great place to visit during the winter and rainy days! But also so fun when the weather is great and you can walk around the trails. The only downside is the limited parking, but if weather is good the parking by the playground makes it a fun all morning adventure!

    This such an incredible gem for families and nature lovers a like!…read more 1) Trails are easy to navigate and you will almost always see some type of wildlife whether it is butterflies, bugs, or deer. 2) The recently renovated playground is large and accessible for both small and big kids. There is a covered shelter nearby which makes it the perfect spot for a birthday party. 3) The nature center is a great place to explore on cold or rainy days. You can see turtles, a bearded dragon, play with toys in a little nature nook that looks like it came straight out of the Berenstein Bears, or climb up and down their little play structure. The people who work here are extremely friendly and the price for all of this is Free 99. 4) They host field trips and birthday parties that are fun and informative for kids and adults alike. My three year old STILL talks about the frog who peed on the floor last year at her class presentation. We are so lucky to have a gem like this in our area.

    Photos
    Hidden Oaks Nature Center
    Hidden Oaks Nature Center
    Hidden Oaks Nature Center

    See all

    Fountainhead Regional Park

    Fountainhead Regional Park

    4.1(73 reviews)
    2.3 mi

    Came here with a group for kayaking. Only they ran out of kayaks before noon. So some of us had to…read morerent standup paddle boards instead. There is a slightly more expensive pricing for folks not residing in Fairfax, Loudon, Alexandria, or Arlington counties. But they don't really verify...so as long as you put down an address within those counties on your waiver, then you are good to go. See my pics for the pricing as of Aug 2023. The Sat I came, they seemed very short staffed with only two people managing the rental payments and forms and then another 2 manning all the boats/boards. So we pretty much ended up having to launch and bring back our vessels ourselves. They have very limited 2 person kayaks and they require kids under 12 to be in a boat with another adult so be prepared. In addition to kayaks they have jon boats and stand up paddle boards. You can bring your own vessel but there are launch prices. The lake is quite large so 1 hour is still not enough to explore its entirety even if you were powering through. The boat rental process is this: 1) Each person needs to fill out a waiver (just one page), you need to keep the yellow paper on you and return it when you come back. 2) Payments can be done per person or by group and they accept Apple Pay 3) Go down to the dock, hand them your form 4) They will tell you which vessel you can pick and hand you life vests and paddle(s) 5) Go have fun 6) Return the vessel 7) Bring back the yellow form to the rental house Not sure why we need to keep a piece of paper on us while out on the water. I've rented boats in many other places and all they needed was the vessel back. I guess to prevent theft...but they log the number assigned to the vessel on the form prior to you renting so...But at least there isn't an entrance fee to this park and there isn't really much else to do besides activities around the water front. There is a trail that leads to Bull Run, but there isn't say a playground, picnic area, or sports fields. Parking is pretty limited but you can park along the side of the road.

    One of my dogs favorite hiking spots. The bike trails are good too, although this park is nestled…read moreway out of suburban NOVA areas like FFX.

    Photos
    Fountainhead Regional Park
    Fountainhead Regional Park
    Fountainhead Regional Park

    See all

    Hidden Pond Nature Center - Cardinal

    Hidden Pond Nature Center

    4.3(40 reviews)
    3.6 mi

    April 15, 2026 - A hidden gem and fascinating park we discovered recently since we moved here in…read more2023. It has been an incredibly fun adventure for us - finding parks and places to enjoy, hike, and immerse ourselves in the nature, beauty of the outdoors, and wildlife in Virginia & Maryland. We walked all the trails in the Hidden Pond Park and liked spending time in the Hidden Pond Nature Center in the park. There are many activities for children and adults in the parks. The staff there were friendly and helpful. The park is well maintained and there are so many picturesque areas and hiking trails to experience there. We spent about three hours in the park. The park was peaceful and quiet. We experienced no traffic and saw very few people during our hike on the trails. Austin, one of the staff in the Nature Center, said it had to do with the geography & location of the park. Along the trails are many sitting areas to take a break. We saw many kinds of birds, deer, flowers, and foxes during our time in the park. Strongly recommend wearing bug repellent & sunscreen and checking out a map of the trails in the nature center. Beautiful park to visit during each season and very ideal for wildlife photographers and for peaceful & quiet walks in the park.

    What did we see on our first day walking the trails? -Red fox, 3 deer, red shouldered hawk,…read morecardinal, woodpecker, sleeping squirrel, sparrows, chickadee, carnivorous plant, and a turtle back at the pond. Pretty eventful day, April 15, 2026. Staff were helpful and nice! Nature Center provides wildlife education and animals, a place to refill water or use the utilities. I wouldn't expect to see all that we seen, as think we were pretty lucky to come across all of that in one day. For instance as soon as we sat down on the bench near the river, the hawk flew over and landed nearby, first to get a drink of water then perched nearby. The fox happened to be coming to the river before we locked eyes and ran off while I fumbled with my dang lens cap, as always. Good luck!

    Photos
    Hidden Pond Nature Center - Cardinal

    Cardinal

    Hidden Pond Nature Center - Red Shouldered Hawk

    Red Shouldered Hawk

    Hidden Pond Nature Center - Woodpecker

    See all

    Woodpecker

    Burke Lake Park - parks - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...