Alexandria, VA: Mason Neck Foliage Ride

Alexandria, VA: Mason Neck Foliage Ride

This 53-mile route from Fort Hunt National Park rolls through quiet roads in northern Virginia and is a fantastic leaf-watching route in foliage season.

Author:	Jackonabike
Date:	22 Oct 2007 12:33:20 PM
Activity:	Bicycling ActivitySearchBicycling
State:	Virginia (VA)
Distance:	52.2 mi (Change units)
Calories:	2227
Average Speed:	15.8 mph 0:03:48/mi
Duration:	Total: 3:25:46 Active: 3:18:51 Resting: 0:06:55
Elevation:	Total Gain: 2261 ft Total Loss: 2269 ft Net Change: -8 ft
Difficulty:	7 / 10
Tags:	Washington, DC, Alexandria, VA, Lorton, Virginia
Rating:	Unrated Rate it

When Virginia maple trees are at their peak foliage, it's a sure sign that prime leaf-watching season is just starting. This ride rolls south to Mason Neck State Park and Pohick Bay Regional Park, showcasing great fall scenery along mostly flat roads. The ride also goes by Mount Vernon, George Washington's home, and Gunston Hall, George Mason's colonial estate. Mason Neck Park takes you to the shores of the Occoquan and Belmont Bay. Keep an eye out for eagles, ospreys, deer, beavers, and a variety of other birds. Pohick Bay has similar wildlife, but the park is smaller and more developed.

Important: A driver's license or other photo ID is necessary to enter Fort Belvoir (which this route rolls through in both directions). Rest rooms are available at all points of interest, and there is a snack bar at Pohick Bay (open through late October).

-Mapped by Jack Boertlein

Position Format:	Datum:

Tracks

Alexandria, VA: Mason Neck Foliage Ride

Dist: 52.20 mi	Points: 777	Calories: 2227
Time: 3:25:46	Speed: 15.8 mph	Pace: 3:48 / mi

Distance	Instruction		Distance to next
0.00 mi	Straight	Head east out of the park.	Then go 0.13 mi
0.13 mi	Turn Right	For Hunt Rd.	Then go 0.16 mi
0.29 mi	Turn Right	GW Memorial Pkwy	Then go 2.83 mi
3.12 mi	Bear Right	Mt. Vernon Memorial Hwy./Rt. 235	Then go 0.65 mi
3.77 mi	Turn Left	Old Mt. Vernon Road S	Then go 1.12 mi
4.89 mi	Turn Right	Ferry Landing Rd.	Then go 0.99 mi
5.88 mi	Turn Left	GW Pkwy/Mt. Veronon Hwy/Rt. 235	Then go 0.70 mi
6.57 mi	Turn Left	Mt. Vernon Rd.	Then go 1.65 mi
8.23 mi	Straight	Continue on 21st St.	Then go 0.66 mi
8.89 mi	Straight	Continue on Clapp Rd.	Then go 0.16 mi
9.05 mi	Bear Right	Thoete Rd.	Then go 0.61 mi
9.67 mi	Turn Right	Pohick Rd.	Then go 0.02 mi
9.68 mi	Turn Left	Gunston Rd.	Then go 2.06 mi
11.74 mi	Turn Left	John J Kingman Rd.	Then go 0.81 mi
12.55 mi	Turn Right	Fairfax County Pkwy/Rt. 7100	Then go 0.65 mi
13.19 mi	Bear Right	Exit Pkwy at Telegraph Rd.	Then go 0.24 mi
13.43 mi	Turn Left	Telegraph Rd.	Then go 1.38 mi
14.81 mi	Straight	Old Colchester Rd.	Then go 1.89 mi
16.70 mi	Turn Left	Gunston Rd.	Then go 3.62 mi
20.32 mi	Turn Right	Highpoint Rd.	Then go 2.36 mi
22.68 mi	Turn Right	Mason Neck Park	Then go 0.52 mi
23.20 mi	U-Turn	Turn to exit park	Then go 0.54 mi
23.74 mi	Turn Left	High Point Rd.	Then go 2.40 mi
26.14 mi	Turn Right	Gunston Rd.	Then go 1.48 mi
27.63 mi	Turn Right	Enter Great Marsh Trail	Then go 0.68 mi
28.31 mi	U-Turn	Turn to return to main road	Then go 0.68 mi
28.98 mi	Turn Left	Gunston Rd.	Then go 2.70 mi
31.68 mi	Turn Right	Pohick Bay Dr.	Then go 0.66 mi
32.34 mi	U-Turn	Turn to exit park.	Then go 0.68 mi
33.02 mi	Turn Right	Gunston Rd. -- Return to start using the same route.