The Perfect Way to Enjoy the Winter: The Bull Run-Occoquan Trail

Fairfax County provides an impressive assortment of recreational parks and trails, from the hiking trails at Great Falls to those at Mason Neck, and in the Fairfax Station area we are particularly fortunate to have a half-dozen or so excellent public parks nearby. 

In the summer, the trails can be crowded with people, bugs and poison ivy.  Hiking, which I've always regarded as a solitary pursuit, can strain the neck as one is socially compelled to offer incessant ritual trail-nods to passing retirees and hippies. 

As the season goes on, the plants crowd the trails, passing along rash-inducing oils and lyme-carrying deer ticks. Mosquitoes breed in every puddle; bees hide in every flower. It all looks really pretty until you have a chronic disease and/or a puss-filled rash creeping over your face.  

In winter, though, it's just you and the cold. When you get on one of the many trails winding through a sylvan Fairfax Station glen it often feels as if nobody has ever been there. That makes it the perfect time to be out there.

The Bull Run—Occoquan trail spans approximately 18 miles from Bull Run Park in Centreville to Fountainhead Park in Fairfax Station. 

The trail is maintained by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (which maintains many of the trails in the area) and presents a moderately strenuous hike. It follows Bull Run into the Occoquan Reservoir, and along the way provides some moderate challenges and attractive views.

It is not a complete arboreal getaway, unfortunately.

You never fully escape the noises of civilization, and just when you feel you've left our suburban-scape there's inevitably an eye-catching piece of trash or sewer-pipe.

It can, however, be wonderfully isolated in places, especially in its middle sections by Hemlock Overlook (click  to read our article on Hemlock) and Bull Run Marina.  Some of the views of the reservoir are quite nice as well.

Lately I've taken to trail-running and have an occasionally-pursued goal of running its length.

Preliminary efforts have not been kind. 

On the flat streets where I live I'll sometimes run upwards of 12 miles but on the trail I've managed, at best, eight. The hills get the better of me. 

Care should be exercised on the trail — erosion and mud can create some hazards.  A couple of footbridges on the path over small tributaries are less-than-ideal.

The entry and exit points are several miles apart with no real resources, especially in winter, for food or water. Plan accordingly.

Just because it's chilly doesn't mean that you can't enjoy some fresh air and exercise. The best part about the winter is that everybody else is indoors. 

For those wishing to test the trail out, there are multiple entry points in addition to the two end-points: one on Centreville Rd., one by Hemlock Overlook Park in Clifton and one at Bull Run Marina, also in Clifton. Fairfax Station's Park is closed for the season but trail access from there is still allowed — you'll have to walk from the entrance gate (about a half mile).