Came here with a group for kayaking. Only they ran out of kayaks before noon. So some of us had to rent 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. read more

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

For fishing I can't recommend it. I'm sure the folks who stock it do their best, but the amount of pressure here leads to diminishing returns. You won't find a relaxing oasis. Instead suburbanites fishing it so much, that it is what it is. The waterway is beautiful though. It's a better place to kayak at. The employees here are super nice. There are hiking and bike trails. The hiking ones need improved markings. Thank goodness for some training, as one day recently the markings were off, and led to an unexpected adventure. I do like the biking ones, as they are challenging. It is quite a large park. Tis a shame it's overfished, but it's not the only waterway in the area this is an issue. read more

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My wife, two sons (14 yrs, 12 yrs), and I came here in August and November 2020 to get outside for some fresh air. This park has a nice marina and fishing pier for anglers. However, it can be very crowded on weekend afternoons. A parking lot for the marina area is available just past the building, but you may need to go further up the hill to find a spot during peak hours. Fountainhead Regional Park is less crowded than Burke Lake Park on most days. One plus of Fountainhead Regional Park is that you can buy minnows, bait, and snacks in a convenient location (marina office building) before setting up your fishing line. One minus of the fishing pier is that it can be challenging to catch fish at this location. My son caught a catfish in August during the late morning hours, but did not get any tugs in November. That said, the scenery by the water is lovely and warrants a visit by itself. I have not yet tried the hiking trails, but look forward to exploring them in the future. read more

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Nice wooded area where you can go hiking, mountain biking, archery, and launch various types of watercraft on the river. The Bull Run Occoquan trail is popular with trail runners and hikers but remember to bring lots of water. The trail is heavily wooded so you mainly see trees with a couple side trails that allow you to walk down to the Occoquan reservoir. There is a large parking area with a sheltered picnic area next to the woods and a few single picnic tables scattered around. There is restroom but not adjacent to the parking area which seems really strange as it is a few minute walk away. Great mountain biking trails to the south east from the parking lot (across the street) which includes beginner, intermediate, and advanced trails. They close the mountain biking trails after any recent rains but I don't know for how long. read more

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Beautiful new discovery minutes away from me. Heard about this park from my neighbor and decided to check it out. We spent about an hour there checking to see all that was out there. Found a hiking trail, biking trail, and an area where you can launch your boat, kayak etc...Didn't get too far on the trail seeing that we were just checking it out. Will give the trail a try next weekend. Looks like they have a pretty sick mountain bike trail, which has various levels to it. We learned that the bike trail is strictly for bikes. Went over to the water area and saw that they rented out kayaks and such which is good to know for our next visit. Hope to have more to report back after my next visit. First time out we enjoyed and look forward to returning. Plenty of parking that was easy to access. No fees. read more

Fountainhead Regional Park - The main trail. - Parks Near Me - Fairfax Station, Virginia

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Despite living here for six years, I had never made it out to Fountainhead Park. I think this is my favorite for hiking and only wish I'd visited sooner! You can hike the bike trail which gives a well defined trail to follow, as well as plenty of hills, making it ideal for trail running as well. It wasn't overly crowded and the parking lot near empty on a weekend afternoon. I definitely want to explore some other trails in the near future. read more

Fountainhead Regional Park - Parks Near Me - Fairfax Station, Virginia

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This is my fav local hiking spot in Fairfax. You can log some serious miles without having to drive hours to Shenandoah. From the trail head west of the parking lot, our usual hike is about 6 miles out and back. Turning point is the private access road about 2.7 miles out. You can continue and head down to the water but not today for us. It was pretty toasty and we didn't bring a single Nalgene bottle. Trails are a pretty well maintained. In the Spring or Fall, it does get muddy and slick so wear shoes with good traction. There's also decent fat burning, butt busting inclines which are pretty absent on a lot of trails around Nova. So if you want to melt some calories, this is the place to be. You do share the trail with mountain bikers so step to the side and let them through. read more

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Fountainhead Park is run by Northern Virginia Parks and is a regional park. It is much smaller than the nearby Burke Lake Park and quieter. They have some picnic tables and shelters for a barbeque and gatherings. They also have mini golf (only $3 per person for unlimited play--you can get the equipment from the marina) and boats/canoes for rent. You can also choose to rent a motor or paddle. Other activities include fishing, hiking, biking, archery, etc. They have a nice reservoir and a solid fishing dock. It's a nice place to hang with friends and family and to get some fresh air. You can also bring your dogs but the park does abide by Fairfax County Leash laws. read more

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It's ok..... we biked from the new and improved Occoquan Park to Fountainhead. First it's about 6 miles most of it in a spiraling, hilly, country road type. Bike friendly but be warned. Also there was a couple of "country dogs" on the way so just peddle faster! The park is small and I would say it's best for water sports; however if you like mountain biking they have a trail with lots of action just for you! Lots of rocks and stuff yippie! We are blessed with so many parks in this area. It at least I can say I've been there. Check out Occoquan...... new and improved! read more

I love Fountainhead! There's tons to do here - the hiking trails are great and not too crowded. My dogs love to go out on them. They have a really nice marina as well with dock space to fish from, plenty of kayak & boat rentals, clean restrooms, & a little snack stand too! The staff is always really helpful and friendly. They have a nice lot for you to unload/load your kayaks from if you bring your own. It's such a pretty place to be out on the water with tons of areas to go explore. They do charge a launch fee! One of my favorite parks in the area. read more

Fountainhead Regional Park - Parks Near Me - Fairfax Station, Virginia

You cannot have 15 years old run a regional park. We rented a boat and were left stranded on the river. When I picked up the boat ($66) I asked them to double check battery levels and motor because two children under 10 were with us and they confirmed everything was perfect. 30 minutes later it was dead while we were really far. Rows holders are damaged and I couldn't row back. I called the office to be told to deal with it "because the ranger can't come get anyone that get stranded every time". It took over a hour to get back and when I went to get my refund the park employees were eating chips and drinking energy drinks giggling. They told us it happens all the time and it's impossible to rescue everyone and to call a non emergency rescue number if it happens. The park NEEDS to have an adult in charge and monitor these kids. A formal complaint will be filed with the State. read more

Fishing , biking and hiking all enjoyable. Staff at office were very kind and helpful . We rented fishing boat for 4 hours

Gorgeous park with ample boat rentals, trails, etc. Beautiful sunset views on the dock and fishing is permitted (with license I believe). The boat house has guides, maps, etc., and they're free for the taking. Parking seems a bit limited so I can imagine it gets tricky during busy times. read more

This place is a hidden gem about 40 minutes south of DC. They have bike/hiking trails, minigolf, and a lake where you can fish or rent a kayak/jon boat/canoe. Renting a boat is a lot of fun (bring your ID) and a perfect way to spend a couple hours, you can also launch your own small boat if you have one. Be warned they get CROWDED and the parking lot is really small so you might have to stalk to the lot or park along the road (not sure if you'll get a ticket) so you might want to get there early. Mini golf is a separate large parking lot and is kind of a unique course because it's all concrete and astroturf as far as I can tell. The mini golf wasn't crowded when I was there and is worth checking out. Not sure how it took me so long to find this place but I'll be back here to rent a boat and maybe fish. read more

I come here often to rent a boat, battery, and motor for all day fishing. I usually arrive by 6:30am (they open at 6am everyday). I come with at least 1 buddy to split the costs of the aforementioned rentals (total around $40.00 for Fairfax County Residents). There are plenty of Bass if you know where to fish. I have yet to be disappointed. I have also fished off the dock and caught some catfish but it's not as fun as getting in a boat and doing your own thing. The park is very attractive and almost hard to believe you're in Northern VA. It's a great escape from all the usual high traffic areas. There are also many trails and picnic areas for families. Bring water and suntan!!! read more

Fountainhead Regional Park - Fishing the banks!! - Parks Near Me - Fairfax Station, Virginia

Who said you can't go single-track mountain biking near DC? Fountainhead Regional Park is about 40-45 minutes away from DC, but it's such an easy and pleasant drive, you'll get here in no time. With three different trails, beginner, intermediate, and advanced, you'll find your sweet spot after a day or two. The trails are incredibly well maintained and certainly provide you with a challenge... let me say it right now: lots of uphill and with some technicals here and there. If you're out of shape, stick to the beginner (slightly over 2 miles) before you hit the rest. Some other stuff: LOTS of parking, a water fountain near the bike trail entrance, and even a little shop for snacks, food, and bike equipment just in case you need something like a tube. OH, here's something that most people don't know about... you can rent boats, kayaks, or canoes by the hour or for the whole day. There's a river that crosses through the park, so you've got something to swim or boat in when you're at Fountainhead. Check out their website here: http://www.nvrpa.org/park/fountainhead/content/fees And don't forget to check out the main park website... there's TONS of great information listed! http://www.nvrpa.org/park/fountainhead/ read more

Fountainhead Regional Park - MTB trail -- green course, right by the river - Parks Near Me - Fairfax Station, Virginia

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I came here to try out the mini golf and it was okay. The course is a bit run down and the branches and leaves were all over the place making it difficult to play mini golf but I guess that's what you pay for. It was relatively cheap! Only $3/person to play as much as you want and it comes with clubs and a golf ball. We did explore around the area and it seems like it was a nice place to go boating or fishing. There seems to be some nice bike trails but we didn't do any of those. The park was clean and had lots of places to roam around. We might come back in the future for that but I don't think we will be playing mini golf here anytime soon. read more

What a great spot. I really love Fairfax County parks, but this one has to be my favorite. It's really beautiful and situated near near the water on the Occoquan. There is so much to do there, and it's never crowded. Hiking - There is a trailhead here at one end of a 18 mile trail which runs all the way to the Bull Run park. It's not too challenging but it's nice and long if you want to spend a day in the woods. A few times I've parked a car at Fountainhead in the morning with a cooler loaded up with cook-out supplies, then drove to Bull Run and hiked the 18 miles with some friends and had a cookout when we got back to Fountainhead. Biking - This is the most challenging mountain biking trail that I know of locally. I believe it is about an 8 mile loop on the opposite side of the park as the hiking trail. It is AWESOME. It's got some a lot of cool features. Warning - not for the faint of heart. You need to have a decent bike and be a decent rider to enjoy this trail. Canoeing/Kayaking/Boating - it's easy to rent canoes and kayaks here. Just bring your ID (Fairfax County address for a discount). There are also other activities such as archery, fishing, and mini-golf. It's really an amazing spot. read more

Fountainhead Regional Park - Canoeing! - Parks Near Me - Fairfax Station, Virginia

Went here for a run/walk, plenty of are to run, the lake for fishing and relaxed. The sun set in this place is amazing. Park has bathroom for used. Park does charge fee $10.00 to enter. The park has area to ride bike and water activities for the family. read more

Beautiful regional park nestled in southern Fairfax County. It is quiet and off the beaten path and they offer many amenities include: kayak and jon boat rentals, fishing, mini golf, hiking and mountain bike trails, and archery. Remember to bring your ID with you if you want to rent a boat. I believe there is even a boat launch here, at least I think there is because i saw many boat trailers in the parking lot. This is a great place for long quiet walks and cycling. It is quite rustic and beautiful. read more

Fountainhead is a great park, excellent for fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and generally enjoying the Riverside. Rental prices are very reasonable, or you can launch your own boats off the marina. I was not super super impressed with their hiking trails, however. It is a shared equestrian Trail, and bikers frequent the trails too. With that being said though, it is actually quite peaceful, since it is not as the frequented of a park as others nearby in the DMV area. Overall, beautiful scenery and a well-maintained park. read more

Fountainhead Regional Park - Parks Near Me - Fairfax Station, Virginia

I LOVE trail running here! So far I have found people to be very friendly, sharing smiles and nods, making a wide berth for passing in a safe manner with COVID still in the air. I go during the week, though, and I imagine it might be more difficult on the weekends. I also think I'd prefer if bikers didn't use the same trails as hikers/runners, as I've been startled a few times by bikers plowing through. The waterfront is great and is a favorite spot for our family. The park rangers are very friendly. read more

Shelter 1 was an excellent location for our Farewell Celebration. The number of picnic tables and grills was very accommodating, and it was helpful for privacy to have it a distance from the parking lot. I appreciate the help of the staff to provide electrical outlets and with my questions. On a disappointing note, the cleanliness was much to be desired and frankly for $170 rental I expected more. One of my friends and I arrived early to set up and spent about a good 40 minutes cleaning. Pollen, dust, animal excrement, dirt, and rocks covered the picnic tables and area under the covered shelter. Thank goodness I brought a powerful leaf blower to help remove the debris. Also, I needed to use cleaning supplies to remove what the leaf blower did not. With the facility being outside, I did not expect it to be spotless, but I did not expect to be as dirty and filthy as it was. read more

This park is hidden behind the big estate house. You have to go straight for a while or smthng when you see the sign for the park which is mostly used by residents or people who love fishing. It has a lake and you can canoe, boat, and fish. The mini golf area requires own golf equipment. Quite little hide-out :) read more

After living in the area for many years, we finally decided to check out this park and its hiking trails. We had an enjoyable walk along part of the trail to Bull Run Regional Park. The trail is pretty rough with lots of tree roots and has pretty steep ups and downs. The park has many activities particularly water activities such boating, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. There's a miniature golf course. There are also trails for mountain bikes but those trails were closed the day we visited; apparently because of the recent rain. Now that we found it, I'm sure we'll be back. read more

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A blast. Just make sure the trails are open before you go. Otherwise it will be a sad day as they close the trails. I love it. read more

Fountainhead Regional Park - From the green bike trail - Parks Near Me - Fairfax Station, Virginia

My friend and i travel to different parks all the time and this one was a nice one. We like walking off path and getting close to the water. When we went it was just barely summer and the trees having come back to like yet but the trail was still very nice. We enjoyed the little bridge and had a mini photo shoot there! Only thing we had a problem with was that the map didn't seem to correspond with the trail we were walking but that could've just been us getting confused lol. There were also a lot of wasps, which kept freaking me out but overall nice park & would probably come again. read more

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Ahhhhh the joys of an amazing park venue right in our own Fairfax county ! Hiking trails, biking trails but the best feature is the lake and the amenities ! Rent a canoe for $9!!! Family fun ! We recently rented kayaks and had a fantastic time . Come off the water and grab a drink or snack ; this is a place not to be missed ! read more

Fountainhead Regional Park - Quality time with my girl ! - Parks Near Me - Fairfax Station, Virginia

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**Review of the MTB Trails ONLY** "THIS IS HORSE SH*T!!!" yells my brother who is leading the way on his mountain bike as he turns a corner. - "What?! It's pretty awesome, actually." I say back. - "No! Horse sh*t!" and he points to a giant pile of horse manure that I am closing in on with entirely too much speed. I swerve to avoid the giant piles intersecting the trail like dung-coins in a real-life Super Mario Bros game while still not slamming into the many trees that are coming at me with blinding randomness. This is Fountainhead Park. This is one of the best mountain-biking tracks in the area and it shares its single-track with horses and, at times, trail runners. But for mountain biking, this trail is hard to beat. The trail is challenging at multiple levels; its intermediate track is perfectly challenging, with nice downhills, jumps, bridges, streams, logs and a few [small] berms, while the uphill will make sure that every molecule of oxygen that your body can consume is used to fuel the lightning in your legs to help you climb. Man, those climbs are killers, some even mixing in brutal switchbacks AS you climb. Then, there is the Advanced Area, which is not for the weak of heart... or insecure of their skills. The Advanced Area is technical and full of surprises. The less told about it, the better. This incredible MTB area ranks high on the list of most mountain bikers, because it rarely gets old. Whether you are a n00b or a seasoned MTBer, you are sure to enjoy this park's single-track, beautiful scenery and well-designed trail. Be warned, however, the trails are not for the weak and you will need a decent bike that can switch gears quickly... and super-strong legs. Some noteworthy details: * The bike trails are checked daily by staff. If the conditions are wet, they don't open the trail. Before you go, call 703-250-9124 for their automated trail conditions message or check on the park's Facebook page. * The trail is multi-use, so watch out for horses and hikers. * The track is (bewilderingly) two-way! What? Why?! Who knows, but it is, so be careful of bikers, runners and hoses coming the opposite way. * Hydrate and don't underestimate this trail. It can get muggy and you will need water to refuel. * Bring a spare. Seriously, if you get a flat, it's a hell of a haul back carrying your bike. read more

This park has a lot to offer, its out in the middle of horse country (bordering Clifton) so its no surprise that nature still rules supreme here. I found this park because of mountain biking. My understanding is that this is the most kick-your-butt mountain biking trail you can reach in under an hour from the DC metro area. I was not disappointed. The bikes only trail is 8 miles with a series of loops so you can get off earlier if you need to. (I needed to.) Seriously intense hills and turns, this is not a trail for a novice. You can call their hot line anytime for trail conditions (703-250-9124) There is more to the park than the mountain biking. (Even though any day, any time, you are bound to see a bunch of the bikers milling about the parking lot.) They also have a 17.5 mile trail Bull Run-Occoquan Trail that follows along the river and the less intimidating 2 miles White Trail. Now one (or maybe both) of these is also an equestrian trail- but there are no bikes allowed on either. The coolest part to me is the little gated off 1920s graveyard in the middle of the woods towards the beginning. (I guess it could also be the creepiest thing) They also offer the standard fishing, boating (you can rent boats, canoes and kayaks there) and picnicking. However, they also offer ecological tours and "paddling adventures" via kayak that I am excited to try out this year when the weather gets a little warmer. Information can be found here: http://www.nvrpa.org/temp/2006paddletours.pdf Awesome park, highly recommended as a killer way to spend a warm spring afternoon. read more

I've been here twice, both times for orienteering events sponsored by the Quantico Orienteering Club. Its a great spot for orienteering. The terrain can be very challenging. Its easy to make mistakes and walk/climb up the wrong draw. This can be frustrating but it also makes me feel like I've accomplished something when I finish a difficult course, as I did this weekend. There are quite a few hiking and biking trails in the park. The 17.5 mile Bull Run Occoquan Trail (which is for hiking only) starts in Fountainhead cuts through Hemlock Regional Park and terminates in Bull Run Regional Park. The hiking trails are not all flat. There are plenty of hills and if the trails aren't hilly enough you can always wander off trail. The only downside (for me) is that it is a bit of drive for me, 35 miles, which takes me about an hour thanks to the traffic patterns in the DC area and the fact that I live on the opposite side of DC. read more

Up until my last trail run here, Fountainhead would have been a solid 5. I've been training for my races for over 2 years and it was my blissful happy place. Then they ruined it. In their acquiescence in making the trail available to mountain bikers, they made some changes which included destroying the amazing technical hill and the previous trail. (They dug up the entire thing and buried the trail under debris so now you are forced up the new way...which is already crumbling from rainfall, this happened with no warning in the span of a week). On our last visit this weekend, I ran for about 8 miles and then hiked with my family on the way in. The only person who liked the new hill was my 4 year old. Some of the cyclist were very polite and yielded to runners and hikers, a few nearly mowed down my children. My husband had to yank kids out of the way as they blasted past. I myself nearly had to jump in the woods since I was in a narrower part of the trail and the mountain bikers just pushed on past me. I'm mostly completely distraught that my favorite hill to run repeaters was just ripped to shreds with no mention of the plans to the public. Mountain bikers have their own trail and now they can access all the trails in the area so just be aware of that when bringing tiny humans and pets. The only way I'll be able to train out here now is if I'm doing a through and through and start before anyone else is up. When we left close to 10am it looked like chaos with the amount of cyclists getting ready to hit the trails. read more

Fountainhead Regional Park - A total shame that instead of keeping both sections, they decided to trash and ruin the hill that was enjoyed by the non mountain bikers. - Parks Near Me - Fairfax Station, Virginia

Huge Park with ?hundreds of miles of trails, the bike trails are super muddy, and the climbs are steep. All the trails seem to be super rooty, there are advanced climbs and downhill sections. It's super easy to get lost. . read more

It is hard for me to get out of the city since I have no car, and since my friend let me use hers, I decided to venture away with my dog and have some fun! I got there and unfortunately the hiking trail was closed because of a trail race - which actually was pretty cool to know they have trail races! - so I hiked on the closed bike trails. I had spoken with a man who comes out often and suggested that I use that since it was early in the morning and the trails were technically closed. **note** If there had been any indication that bikes would be on the trail at all, I would not have walked my dog along them. There is a very strict policy that I would normally follow. Once the race was over my dog and I ventured on the hiking trails and it was AMAZING. We could have hiked for hours out there - lots of winding trail and some streams to jump across. I hate just flat walking paths called 'trails' and these are definitely not that. We hiked for about 2 hours and by the day-long nap my dog took when we got home, she definitely enjoyed herself. I look forward to getting out there in the spring to do some biking - the trails are immense and with the circles in which they are placed, there are always opportunities to go back, which is nice. If you like fishing there is a dock at the bottom of the hill with boat rentals. This is what I have been looking for to take my dog and get some good exercise outside of the city! read more

Love this place. Wanted to rent some kayaks and did a little research and saw the great reviews and somewhat close location to our house and figured to give it a shot and I am so glad we did. The staff was super helpful and friendly. The lake was great. Will definitely be back again. read more

Bf loves hiking and brought me here for another hike. This one is labeled a "moderately difficult" hike and I'd agree with that. The whole Occuquan trail is 17.5 miles long, of which we did about 3.7 miles. It's very pretty walking along the Occuquan, and the tree cover also afforded some much needed shade. The trail/park is pretty easy to get to, if 95 South isn't backed up ;) read more

Review for the Mountain Bike Circuit: Wonderful and committed 12-14 mile loop(most GPS wont pick up all the mileage). Mostly groomed trails with lots of roots, a few drops and rock gardens for fun. Come with plenty of water and break-down gear - the circuit takes on a never-ending-parabola-like vibe as you twist and turn up and down over and over and over again in what seems to be constant wilderness before you finally return to the parking lot. Closes when very wet or raining so check their Facebook page or hotline if in doubt. Enjoy! read more

The first to review hit it head on. This park is unique for its mountain biking trail and you REALLY need a mountain bike for it (probably the only trail I can think of where you need those knobby tires). There is also mini-golf here, although I remember it being in pretty bad shape (this was a few years ago). Its a great alternative to Burke Lake, which is usually packed on a nice day. You can rent Kayakes, Canoes and row boats here too, so if you want to get some exercise on the water this park is probably the best in the area. Personally, I think it sucks for fishing, there is a dam between here and Ocoquan so you wont get any fish from the Potomac river (like snake heads). Then again, all the Fairfax county parks suck for fishing......so I guess its as good as any in this respect. Fountain Head is probably the prettiest of the parks I have been to in the county so if you are an outdoors person and have never been here, I highly recommend it. Its also the most secluded of the parks and there are usually never huge crowds. read more

This park is very nice and really big. There's lots of land to hike and also bike. It's also located alongside the Potomac river so it's got a great view, you can also go boating and fishing as well there. It's really nice, I like that there's a lot of trees around too so when it's summer time you're shaded by the trees, and it stay open till pretty late too unlike a few other parks in the area. read more