Go Clipless

Trail Review: Fox Mill District Park

Summary: Fox Mill District Park has a network of trails that has something for everyone. With several technical ascents/descents and a few switchbacks even the heartiest of mountain bikers will find some challenges at this small park. Despite the small footprint of this park, by the time you have traversed all of the loops and connecting trails you will have ridden approximately four miles. The park is located in Reston, VA between Fox Mill Road and Lawyers Road.

Maintained by the Reston Association, this small park connects with Folkstone Park to the southwest and The Glade to the northeast.

Save the W&OD Trail!

As mountain bikers in Northern Virginia most of us have used the Washington and Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail to move between dirt trails or to cross-train. Well, Dominion Power plans to locate new power lines along the W&OD Trail in Loudon County. According to savethetrail.com this move threatens 26,000 trees and the equestrian path alongside the paved trail. Not to mention the fact that the metal electrical towers carrying the power lines will look absolutely hideous. Needless to say, many people and organizations are up in arms over this issue.

An article in the Loudon Times-Mirror provides a good synopsis of the issue.

If you want to learn more about the W&OD visit the following sites:

- Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority
- The Friends of the Washington and Old Dominion Trail
- Unofficial Page of Washington and Old Dominion Trail

If you want to know what you can do to save the W&OD from this destruction visit savethetrail.com.

Trail Review: Colts Neck Trail aka Colvin Run/Difficult Run

Summary: In the heart of Reston, this trail has something for everyone. Made up of mostly wide singletrack, it can be ridden as a four mile (one way) out-and-back trail or you can link up with the Difficult Run Trail and stretch it all the way to the Potomac River in Great Falls Park. The trail can also be done as a ten mile loop with a few miles along Difficult Run and the W&OD trail.

From the end of Michael Faraday Court, the trail starts off fast with several small (optional) jumps. Once you cross a small tributary of Colvin Run there is a fork in the road. The left hand fork will take you deep into Lake Fairfax Park past campgrounds and soccer fields to Lake Fairfax. If pure mountain biking is your speed I suggest taking the right fork. Climb the hill and continue along the end of the soccer field - do not turn left as the arrow directs you - this will take you to the campgrounds described above.