There are always shady men sitting in their cars with dark tinted windows. Either waiting for their mistress or their next victim. Nice easy trails for jogging or biking. Just be wary of shady characters sitting in their cars. read more

I LOVE a park with history. Take the time to read the signs about the park's connection to the Civil War. They are near the parking lot. Trails go through forest along a small lake. read more

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April 2023 Park updates: Pedestrian bridge is now open! I recently took the opportunity to both ride my bike and to walk the 4 mile loop around Lake Accotink. So happy now that the pedestrian bridge is open so I can start at the marina and complete the loop without having to turn around at the mid-point. The children's playground is closed for repairs until further notice. A message on the park's website indicates there is no timetable for when repairs will be completed: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/lake-accotink Bummer since I came here this past weekend with my niece and nephew and they weren't able to enjoy the facilities. Oh well, at least we were still able to enjoy the nature trail. read more

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Really nice updated playground at Lake Accotink. There is just the one big slide and it gets quite congested, believe it or not. They have a butterfly seesaw, one baby swing and one adult/baby swing, and some nice musical features. Also a spiders web to climb. The downside is that the playground is not big and can get quite crowded. read more

Lake Accotink Park - Parks Near Me - Springfield, Virginia

This park is incredibly spacious and perfect for leisurely strolls and challenging hikes. Don't forget to keep an eye out for the massive snapping turtles hanging around in the water - some of them are so covered in debris that they may appear to be floating logs at first glance. read more

TRAIL PARTIALLY CLOSED FOR CONSTRUCTION. Check the Fairfax county site before going. The loop is obstructed and can't be completed. If you go far enough in the loop, the only way out is to turn back around. THERE IS NO DETOUR. There isn't great signage. Other than that, good hike with well paved trails. No elevation gain. read more

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We walk around Lake Accotink pretty frequently and really enjoy this trail. There are lots of people running, walking, and biking when we go out, but the trail is wide enough for everyone. There is an eagles nest and there have been times where we have seen the Eagle in the nest or flying around. It looks like they added a new playground near the merry go round, which is a nice addition for kids! We will be back to walk around the lake again soon. read more

They finally upgraded the kids playground and it's very nice! The park isn't that bad for the casual trail rider or if you want to reserve a section for an event. Not a great lake for fishing, but the walkable loop is decent go. read more

Lake Accotink Park - Parks Near Me - Springfield, Virginia

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During this Pandemic our family is trying to be outdoors as much as possible. We are utilizing all that the DMV has to offer, especially the Fairfax County Park System. We visited this beautiful park and we were impressed with the Trail System, especially the one around the Lake. The Trail was perfect for walking, hiking, biking and Trail running. The path is spacious, well marked and well maintained. We saw Wildlife in and around the lake. At times u felt u were truly in the Wild, and other times u crossed into Suburbs. The Restrooms were clean (no paper though) and OPEN which was nice. Fair Warning - There is plenty of Signage that states if Raining "Dam path could be Flooded" It was so take heed- LOL read more

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5/14/22 I heard on DC 101 about saving Lake Accotink on Elliott In The Morning Show. After hearing Diane talk about it on Friday, I looked the place up and decided to check the place out. The photos I saw of a large bridge by a dam, peeked my interest. I like waterfalls so I knew I would be checking the place out on Saturday. The park is about 20 minutes away from my home and I had fun driving to the park. The day looked like it is going to rain, but I was lucky and it didn't until I finished my walk. The amount of dead tree branches needs removal by the dam. The amount of debris in the water above and below the dam looks nasty. Aside from this, I did not see much trash around the park. Nevertheless, there were signs indicating the park is going to have a volunteer day for cleaning tomorrow. I saw there was a race sponsored by the Bishop Events LLC. Never heard of them until today, but it's good to know they exist. The money raised help take care of the community. You can play miniature golf here, ride the merry-go-round or kiss a girl/boy and like it. Okay, I got that song stuck in my head. I saw a section up some stairs where you can have a hell of a picnic/feast. Seeing how the sky was, I figured I might get rained one, but my fatass was still going for a walk in the woods. I don't recall how many miles this park is, but I walked it. After going half way through the walk, I started speed walking and gave my ass and legs a workout. I liked how part of the trail came out into the suburban neighborhood, but went back into the woods after a while. I ended up coming 3 feet away from a female deer that did not see me coming. I did not Jose a serious threat and it walked back into the woods to add more distance from the other humans behind me. I found this place very peaceful. Apparently you can walk, ride a bike or do this trail on horse back. I did not step into any horse shit or dog shit, so it was a very good day. (No, I do not step in this stuff on a regular basis, so put this out of your minds.) I look forwards to coming back here with my wife and friends. I think they will like this park as much as I did. read more

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Lake Accotink is one of my favorite parks in Northern Virginia. It has a paved 4 mile walking/biking trail. Definitely one of my favorite trails for jogging. It is moderately busy and super safe. My favorite part is jogging the portion of the trail in front of the dam. The park includes many amenities such as canoe and pedal boat rentals, bike rental, playgrounds. miniature golf course, carousel, pavilions. Although, I think the activities depend on the season. Fishing is allowed. 5 stars. read more

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Tranquil nature paths that twist and turn around Lake Accotink. In the post-Covid time, the trails are too narrow for people to pass adequately. But the serene and blissful park is still peaceful and relaxing! Some canoes and boats are for rent, even some paddlers who bring their own kayaks and canoes. Lake Accotink gets very busy. There are picnic shelters and gazebos to sit under in the shade and, I believe there were a few metal grills.. folks wade out into the shallow water and cool off. Accotink is a very enjoyable Lake. The Lake is man-made, as there is a large waterfall at the entrance. The water is blocked behind the falls. High above is the Orange Rail line, which during the Civil War of 1861-1865 was used to transport goods and personnel, but which was heavily guarded by New York - Union Army - militia! Great relaxed, idyllic atmosphere. Rebel review: 5 read more

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Lake Accotink Park exists alongside a reservoir in Fairfax County. It features many nature and biking trails, and is great for a quick workout or relaxing stroll. I would highly recommend! Pros: Dog friendly (on leashes): The trails in this park are dog friendly. Most folks have their dogs leashed at all times, because the trails are sometimes pretty busy, especially when it is nice out. You will see many dogs and their owners enjoying a walk on the trails. Paved and spacious trails: The main trails are largely paved with cement, which makes it easier to walk or run especially in wetter conditions. The trails are spacious enough to allow for passing other slower riders or runners, and large enough to accommodate two way pedestrian traffic and dogs, so you do not feel too cramped ever. Good for running: The trails have gentle slopes but no major hills that I have seen, which makes these great for a nice easy run. There is a good amount of shade coverage provided by the trees, as well. Field on trail: A mile or so into the trail (after turning in from the main entrance) you come upon a baseball field and tennis court, as well as some open grass. This is a nice place to have a picnic or take a quick rest, if you'f like! The fields and facilities appear to be well maintained. Chickens and horses: Alongside the trail is a chicken pen, as well as a pasture with a horse (sometimes more than one) in it. It is fun to run by and see the animals grazing, and this always seems to excite children on the trail, as well. Good cell service: There seems to be good service along the trail. I have Verizon coverage, and my friend who came along had TMobile coverage-- we both had no gaps in service at any point. No cons to speak of here! This is really a great spot to spend a day outside. I came in spring, so I cannot speak to winter conditions when there is snow on the ground. Other: Keep an eye on your pups and little kids-- some bikers do tend to go pretty quickly here and though it is relaxing, their speed is something to keep an eye on! read more

Lake Accotink Park - The water along the trail is soothing :) - Parks Near Me - Springfield, Virginia

Lots of black rat snakes, and an occasional garter to play with. That alone says "yessss!" Am biased as a Boy Scout reptile merit badge counselor, but oh do I love these creatures, the hike around the lake, and this park. For a few years things were looking grim here. Now bald eagles are a common sight. Every other visit I see them. There's a merry go round, paddle boats to rent, and a nice lake to look at. Fishing isn't that great though, but there are some bluegill, bass, and catfish. It's a good place to relax too. Picnic pavilions are available, and the beach area has some sand to sit in. There's a neat trestle, that I believe was originally in the civil war but modernized. Here you'll see mostly VRE and Amtrak trains, but occasionally you'll get lucky and see a Norfolk Southern freight. Always impressive. There's plenty of parking, and it links up to the Cross County Trail. A family friendly place. read more

A surprise find. A rather big lake right in Virginia, not far from Springfield. It's an artificial lake, but there's a little beach. No one swims there but it's great for kids (some kind of wading area). It's an area where kayaks are launched. Next to it is a peddling boat rental dock. Behind that there is a carousal and a booth selling tickets. There is a small parking lot (often full), and right behind it is a hill. On top of the hill there are toilets and picnic tables. Overall nice facilities for a free park! There is a 4 mile trail around the lake, and it's quite a pleasant walk. Love the tall trees. Why 3 stars instead of 4 stars? Because of aggressive bikers! So many of them! None stop. And so entitled. There are signs stating clearly to the bikers to share the road and respect hikers. read more

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After doing some searching online and coming across some good reviews for Lake Accotink Park, my husband and I decided that we wanted to visit for the day one afternoon. We were looking for a park that had trails to hike, a body of water and a concession stand and Lake Accotink offered all of the above. It's a beautiful park and I would have given it 5 stars had I not found the hiking trails signs to be so confusing. To start, we rented a paddle boat to go on the lake. We stayed out for quite sometime, but became alarmed when we absentmindedly came very close to going over the dam. There is nothing there that we could see to prevent you from going over, and I'm going to gander that it's happened at least a time or two. When we got closer, the water started pulling us even further towards it and we had to start paddling quickly to avoid being pushed over. If you have teens or small children who will be on the paddle boats, please keep that in mind. After spending some time out on the lake doing some paddle-boating, we stopped at the concession and got a snow cone. The snow cones were a little expensive for a snow cone, and not done up right. Basically we got one squirt of flavoring and the rest was ice. There were some families grilling out and the park smelled fantastic. While sitting there eating our snow cones, we saw children on the carousal and some playing mini golf. The upkeep of the park could be a little better, but overall I would say it isn't bad. We asked the attendant if the hiking trails were very long and she said they were only about a mile or two. It supposedly went around the lake and circled back to the parking lot. Since it was getting close to dusk, we didn't want to get caught on a hiking trail at dark. We weren't full prepared with flashlights or water bottles, but we knew we could get in a mile or two. Starting on the trails, we crossed a little bridge that went across the lake. We saw a lot of wildlife and the trail was easily accessible. After some time, we figured that the trail should be coming to an end by now, but it just kept going. We knew we were at least a couple of miles in and eventually did come across a trail map. There was no turn around, so we just continued. What we should have just done was turned back around, but instead we kept at it. Eventually it started getting darker in the woods. We could hear traffic and figured we were getting closer. We came out at a road that we had to cross in order to connect to the other side of the trail. We walked past some school and partially through a neighborhood to get to the other part of the trail. By now it was getting much darker, and the next entry for the trail looked to be all uphill terrain. I knew we were lost and no where near the end. Finally we called an Uber to get us back to the parking lot to retrieve our car. The lot closes at a certain hour and if we weren't there to get our car, it would be locked in for the night or towed. So in the middle of no where, Uber finds us and we actually had to drive over the interstate to get back to our car!!! I have no idea how far we walked or how we got across the interstate area, but we somehow did. It was a 15 minute drive back to the car and we got there just in time before the park closed. Aside from getting lost on the trails, it was a great day! But the trails definitely need to be updated and there needs to be more maps throughout. read more

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Great area for solo people and families. Has a marina, carousel, covered picnic areas, trails, etc. You can make your way around the lake or use the main trail to connect to other trails via the CCT. Somewhat annoying is parking. If you score one of the spots close to the hubbub of stuff you're good to go, if not then be prepared to walk from the larger parking lot. read more

Nice scenery, good places to sit down and eat or just chill. Large lake pretty alright for fishing depending on what part of the lake you're at. read more

Lake Accotink Park - Water - Parks Near Me - Springfield, Virginia

I came here to run the trail around the lake. Good trail run. Mostly shaded, wide, clear of most brush. Wide enough to share with bikers and runners going both directions. I was focused on running and missed a few turns so pay attention. Looked like there were some recent mud spots that dried up, so if it's raining or recently rained this trail will obviously be muddy. Lots of other options for things to do here. A bunch of picnic tables, grills, mini-golf, pavilions, the lake itself, paddle board rentals. A few bathrooms, water fountains and vending machines all in good working order. Enough parking, all free. Dog friendly trail read more

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Richard C. already covered it, so there is not too much to add to it. This is a pretty park. It is man-made. Nestled inside of Springfield it really takes you away from the hustle and bustle of Northern Virginia... that is until the aircraft from DCA start flying over your head regularly, and the 6-12 trains a day that go over the trestle pass you by - loudly I might add. If you've got family or just want to spend a day away, this is perfect. A Merry Go-Round, mini golf course, paddle boats, a beautiful lake, nice grilling places, several nice pavilions, what more can you ask for? read more

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I live off on the trail to the loop around lake accotink. I use to run around here all the time when I lived up in Northern VA and went to high school there. The main trail is about 4 miles and it's cut through the Kings Park elementary school and through some neighborhoods and a local pool area. it's a pretty easy trail and just a great place to run and get some exercise miles in. The lake accotink park is alright, it's not much of a scenery and it smells bad only when the geese have been around there. There was a time when the water looked disgusting and there were dead fish floating around BUT...that was like 2-3 years ago during the summer. Since then, it has gotten a lot better and cleaner! Anyways, I try to come and run around this place whenever I visit my folks up in Northern Virginia when it's not snowing or raining of course. haha. I highly recommend this trail to anyone up in Northern VA who wants to get away from the whole car scenes and get some good trails and fresh air. read more

I love this park. There is a 4-5 mile trail that winds around the lake and in/out of the adjoining neighborhoods that is good for walking and biking. There are a few picnic areas that get really crowded in the warmer months and an area geared towards kids with a putt putt course and merry go round. They also have Friday nights in the park in the summer where you can hang out and see local bands. There are also lots of spots for fishing and there is a boat rental area. If you want to enjoy some peace and tranquility on the trails I would recommend coming early as it does tend to get very busy at peak times, especially on the weekends. read more

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I absolutely loved my time at this park - We came here a few weekends ago between all the rain showers and had a lovely afternoon! We did the whole loop around the lake - around 4.75 miles and it was a very relaxing hike. It did involve about half a mile of walking along a neighborhood, but otherwise, it was in the nice quiet woods. There was varying vegetation and wildlife. Do be careful if it has rained too much. We got to the end of the hike and there is an area that was flooded with running water. There is a sign saying not to cross when water is running, but we were able to safely cross. I wouldn't want to chance it if the water was higher or with a child or stroller. In addition to the hiking, there is a carousel, canoeing, boating, bike rentals, and other activities. Overall, this is a wonderful park with very pretty views and great amenities read more

Right in my back yard, lots to do, lots of space, picnic tables and grills and a dog park. Hiking trail goes right through the park and connects to all other major and minor trails in the area. Has a playground, mini golf, fishing and small boats to rent. read more

This lake is a lovely getaway in the heart of suburbia. Lake Accotink's circuit is well-traversed by cyclists, walkers and joggers. Much of the trail goes behind people's backyards, but in places the trail is adjacent to preserved woodlands and the marshy Accotink creek where it feels wild. In the springtime, tiny frogs called spring peepers create a raucous in the marshy bogs in places. Salamanders may be observed in the small wet ponds off the trail. Pileated woodpeckers and bald eagles nest here. The first white snowdrop clusters peek out from the cold soil after winter, along the trail. Since the fall of 2015 the mud trail has been transformed into a concrete path, the better to officially connect to the Fairfax County connector trail. While this is a convenience for bikers it does change the 'natural' character of this trail. The best part of the trail is on the south western flank of the park, at the southern end of Danbury Forest Drive, south of King's Glen Elementary School. There, you should most definitely walk off the trail into the woods following little single track paths. They are 'informal trails'. Some have officially been cleared by boyscouts, while others are padded down by animals and mountain bikers. You can wander around in circles but you'll always find your way through little rises and stream beds, back to the main circuit path. On the way you might encounter the lone marijuana smoker in the woods, or the odd pet walker from the neighborhood. Yet, it's your best chance of losing the regular recreational users around the lake and finding solitude in nature. When you are done with the ~3-mile circuit, find a great Korean, Latino, or Vietnamese restaurant off Backlick Road to celebrate...there are dozens of fantastic ethnic dining enclaves here. Off Heming Avenue is absolutely the entrance you want to enter the park. It's directly above the historic carousel, the boat launch, canoe rental, and picnic areas. There is a decently-sized parking lot. From the picnic areas, walk down the hill towards the lake. This Heming Avenue entrance is much preferred to the other entrance off Backlick Road, which involves a long access road. read more

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I was in need of escaping DC, so I did an aerial search on google maps and stumbled upon Lake Accotink Park. There is plenty of parking for starters, which is nice since the dearth of availability tends to deter people from going to parks. The trail itself is about four miles and does a loop of the lake. There is even a beach area where you'll find people dipping their toes in the water. Lastly, it's important to note how many picnic tables and benches are located here at the park; so much room! Come here immediately. read more

Check this place out for a walk (about 4.5 miles) around the lake or maybe some fishing. During summer it looks like they have mini-golf and canoes/jonboats available for rent as well. They have a decent sized parking lot but still get there early to make sure you grab a spot. The dam and railroad tresle add something unique to this park and are interesting to see. One weird quirk to the trail is part of it goes through a townhouse development and in front of a school, no you didn't get lost. I'm not sure if they ever charge here but it was free when I came. read more

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Beautiful place for a walk or bike ride! Lots of benches to enjoy the view. Easy access. read more

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Awesome hike! Saw a baby frog and rescued a baby turtle off of the path :) great workout, long trails. Will be back! read more

Lake Accotink Park - Awesome hike! Saw a baby frog and a baby turtle :) - Parks Near Me - Springfield, Virginia

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Tucked away in an old Springfield suburb behind a block of warehouses is Lake Accotink Park. It's loaded with your typical county park stuff: boat rentals, picnic area, carousel, big lake (go figure), and paved path around lake. Here's what sets it apart: 1. Mountain bikers: Get off the gravel path of the lake and go straight up the very steep hill on your left when facing the dam. You'll see some cool single track trails. Go for it. They last forever up there. If you take your dog, beware of the snakes in the heavy brush. 2. If you've got dogs that like to swim, forgo going up to the lake and follow the trail by the creek. It takes you back into some deep woods and makes for a great hike. Be careful if the water is high and you let your dog swim. The creek is actually a lot stronger than it seems when it's like that. 3. Twice a year they stock the creek with rainbow trout (Fall and Spring). You can buy a pass and I believe there's a 5 fish limit. No, it's not "A River Runs Through It" but it is fun. Get there early on opening day (4:30-ish) and bring some waders for a better advantage. 4. If you do fish, get away from the big crowd at the mouth of the creek. They've been known to stock along different back entrances through the neighborhood to the creek. Less crowded and more peaceful. 5. Do you remember the guy who won (posthumously) the Darwin Award for trying to bungee jump off a train trestle but made his bungee the complete length of the drop? Yep, it happened right there on that big train trestle in the parking lot. read more

Lake Accotink Park - Parks Near Me - Springfield, Virginia

I'm a little surprised that this park isn't more popular. Some of the other parks in the area are always full and I have trouble finding parking at them, but Lake Accotink seems to be overlooked. Fortunately, for those of us who know about it. The park has a large lake with a marina and there is also a forest trail around the lake. There is a lot of parking here, but there are quite a few potholes, so just be careful. There also seems to be a lot of puddles, so if you go there after just washing your car, I'd drive slowly so the water doesn't splash up. The forest trail is great. It's kind of cool because to get to the forest trail you walk in front of the dam at the lake. It's an interesting view. There are a couple of different paths to take, so it offers a little variety. It has the usual tall Virginia trees and the paths are wide, so you don't have to share the space much with others. Plus, you can see the lake near you while you're walking. It's pretty much exactly what I look for in a park. I hope this place stays overlooked, but it definitely should be a more popular park. read more

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This is one of Springfield's hidden gems. I've been coming to this park for about 10 years now and I've watched it progressively improve. Update 05/17/16: A master plan revision is in effect as of March 15 2016! May see expansion of park, clean up of lake, and re-furnished services in park! This is a great county park thats very community friendly. Plenty of picnic spots. There's a 4 mile path that goes around the lake and ends near the dam entrance, beautiful scenery wether you walk, jog, or bike it. There's food available in the same place you can rent out boats, its a little expensive so try to drive 2-3 minutes out of the park to Springfield plaza where you will find (Chipotle,Panda Express, Noodles & Co, KFC, Frozen Yogurt, & Subway) The best thing to do here would be to go boating! It opens memorial day weekend, and you can rent ANY boat for UNDER $10/hour, some cost less. I recommend choosing a hot day to have a picnic on the boat, finding some shade on the lake coast. Its great for families and also romantic. Things to do: -Rowboating -Paddale boating -Canoeing/Kayaking -Picnic -Photography -Animal watching -Biking -Jogging -Fishing -Walking -Mini golf -Carosouel -Playground -Volunteer Things to bring: -Camera -Frisbee -Water bottles read more

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Great place to go! I decided to try this place with a friend, and after a LONG time of searching via smartphone... we FINALLY were able to find the main entrance to the marina. TIP: The two physical addresses for GPS are NOT the main entrances. To get to the portion of the lake where the marina and activities/damn are... you must find the intersection of "Highland St." and "Accotink Park Rd." Basically, this is BELOW the railroad tracks on the map... coming from the SE direction. Other than the confusing directions and addresses poorly given on the website, we had a great time just sitting around and chatting with a view of the lake! We did go on a sunny day but not all the VA snow melted from the lake water... so pretty much it was ice and the pathways were a bit muddy due to the rain the day before. TIP: Wear proper shoes if planning to walk on the trails after any rain. It's quite muddy!! Lots of picnic tables and benches to sit on =D The parking near the damn was good as well and not too far of a walk. I LOVE HOW IT'S FREE AS WELL!!! read more

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Good place to run almost 4 mile loop which is great. Great place to bring your kids too; you have swings and mini golf area, paddle boats etc. I went there for a BBQ and now I go there 4 times a week for a run. Perfect. read more

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This park seems rundown . Carousel does not work . Very small playground for kids . When we went it was on a Thursday so not busy at all . Trails were nice but reserved areas seemed dirty. Paddle boats here as well just not kept up very well . I'd rather go to Burke lake park. read more

Great place to hike or bike the 4 mile loop trail. Tried to rent a bike but nobody was present (after 4pm on a Tuesday). Facilities are old and restrooms aren't easily marked (up on the hill by pavilion). Google maps took me to the wrong entrance...I presume there is more than 1? Yellow wild flowers were awesome in Late March...nice peaceful outdoor park. read more

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Overall a great experience but fairly run down. Nice quiet hike, few people when we were there and the dam is beautiful. My 3 year old was able to ride his bike okay on the trail. read more

Very nice park overall. It provides enough trails to hike, bike, jog, etc. In the summer, it offers a lot of activities for kids and families like antique carrousel, Mini golf, canoe and boat rental, tour boat around the lake. The costs are very minimal. Little kids (and many not too little) also like the snack bar in the hot summer days. It also is connected to basket ball and volleyball courts. This park has many shelters for parties and picnic gatherings at very reasonable rent. Bathroom facility is good and clean. My sons love the mini golf because it is in the open setting and the attendants seem to go easy on younger kids, so they get to play many times! One thing we discovered about the tour boat is you will get great photo op during the Autumn good days with beautiful Fall foliage. Pick a clear sunny day in Falls, and you won't regret. We had our real estate Client's Appreciation picnic during that time and our professional photographer managed to get our clients many of the most beautiful Falls photos. The only drawback for that is the people in the shelters will suffer cold wind, on the contrary of the beautiful settings of other activities and entertainment by the lake. For those who love water and lake view, this is the best. Definitely, we will have our annual picnic here again. read more

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Haven't been in years but it's still an enjoyable place. We rented a pedal boat and the pricing was very reasonable. Not that it's a big deal but it was funny that one of the employee's manning the pedal boats quickly shut me down when I said...oh look let's get this one it's pretty. He said you can't pick a color lol he was seriously pressed I guess on which color we could use. I said it's ok I like the purple one too! So beware and don't try to choose what color you want. read more

This is a great park for doing some running and escaping the city life. There is a trail that goes on for some miles, so you won't be disappointed if you're looking for something with distance. There is also Bike, mini golf and Marina rentals for a small fee. Great park to visit. read more

Lake Accotink Park - Parks Near Me - Springfield, Virginia

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