Trail beta needed - DC/MD/NoVA area

[DerJaeger]

So... I'm trading the North Shore, Squamish and Whistler for Washington DC area.

I know there's a few Washington DC area people on TGR - so does anyone have some suggestions for rides in the area I should check out?

[CantDog]

Fountain Head Regional Park off of Hampton Rd in Fairfax Station, Va. I think they are up to around 8-10 miles of nice singletrack, typical mid atlantic style--lots of roots, constantly up and down. Great fun, and the trail is marked one way(so you never have to worry about on coming traffic) and is well maintained by the folks at MORE(mid atlantic off road enthusiasts).

Wakefield Park right off I495 on braddock road has some dirt jumps, an old dual slalom course under the powerlines, and some singletrack/fireroad stuff.

In MD there is Gambrill State Park, Watershed, and some other areas whose names I'm forgetting.

Fountain Head has always been a favorite of mine beause I grew up literally across the street and through the woods. I learned to bike on those trails(before there was a dedicated mtn bike loop) and helped build the current trial. Its a lot of fun, and you can play minigolf afterwards. Plus, you can fish there too, and the state record catfish was caught right off the boat ramp down by the snack bar.

Dont say I told ya, but the hiking trails in the area make great bike trails in the winter when the park is closed and no one is around. But the park authority seriously frowns upon people riding on them.

[CommanderBaker]

Yah - I hit a couple of state parks while I lived out there - Fairfax sounds familiar. As i recall there was some nice single track.

I would also do long rides out on the C&O. Not to challenging, but beautiful.