Burke Lake Hike

Burke Lake - Burke, VA


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Length	Difficulty	Streams	Views	Solitude	Camping
5.6 mls		N/A			N/A
Hiking Time: Elev. Gain: Links: Resources:	2.5 hours plus a half hour for lunch 30 ft Burke Lake Park Topo Hike Trails Map (PDF) Burke VA Weather Forecast Garmin (GDB), Gaia/Trails App (GPX) (What's this?)
From:	Park at the marina parking area next to Burke Lake. $10 car entrance fee for non Fairfax County residents on weekends between April and October. 38.76039, -77.30267

The land that Burke Lake Park now occupies was originally slated for an international airport in the 1950's, before the site was changed to what is now Dulles Airport. The park is 888 acres, with the lake at 218 acres. This hike primarily uses the main lake perimeter trail, plus several sections following unofficial hiking trails closer to the banks of the lake. The park is very popular with local residents, with the main trail used by runners, hikers, as well as mountain bikers.

The map trails are marked in 2 colors. Light blue designating unofficial trails near the lake, and light grey for the main lake perimeter trail. The wide lake perimeter trail is paved in several places close to the marina.

Mile 0.0 – Start the hike from the marina parking area and head towards the snack bar and boat rental shed. Follow the narrow paved road around the back of the shed for 75 yards, then look for a faint unmarked trail that leads off the road towards the lake. This trail continues around the lake perimeter passing picnic benches as well as side trails back to the parking area and main park road.
Mile 0.67 - Arrive at a side trail that goes out to a view point and bench. Continue along the trail around the lake and enter a small inlet with fishing piers visible on the opposite bank. Pass a parking area on the right, and stay left on the narrow trail until it arrives at the paved main lake perimeter trail at the inlet headwater.
Mile 1.06 - Turn left on the main paved trail passing a boat ramp and parking area. The paved perimeter trail will pass 4 handicap accessible fishing piers then becomes dirt as it winds around to the lake dam.
Mile 1.37 - Cross the dam, then 40 yards arrive at a 4 way intersection with another unofficial side trail.
Mile 1.65 - Turn left on the narrow unofficial trail as it follows the banks of Burke Lake. The trail splits at a small rise. Turn right following the trail around a point, then turn right at the lake through a swampy area, then shortly the trail will end where it meets the wide perimeter trail.
Mile 2.21 - Turn left on the perimeter trail. For the remainder of the hike remain on the official perimeter trail.
Mile 2.96 - Arrive at the intersection of a side trail on the left that leads out to the main view on the lake. There is a bench with views of the the dam and marina. Return to the main perimeter trail and continue left. From this point the perimeter trail passes multiple side access trails on the right as it continues around the lake. The 1.5 miles before reaching Burke Lake Rd. has been made into a fitness course.
Mile 4.59 - Stay left on the trail parallel to the access road, then at the far side stay left on the trail. For the remaining 0.6 miles back to the marina the trail passes the park train, an amphitheater, and frisbee golf.
Mile 5.6 - Arrive back at the marina parking area.

Late December

Burke Lake Hike Comments

Archived Comments

By: Suzanne	Rating:	Date of Hike: Sunday, April 30, 2017
As native Northern Virginian I've walked around Burke Lake probably 500 times in my 50+ years, and hope to do it several hundred more times. It's a very pleasant hike. The lake is beautiful and serene. Plenty of blue heron, seagulls and other birds. There is a protected wildlife refuge island in the middle of the lake. Burke Lake is a family adventure. Train ride and carousel for the kids, fishing for those who like to fish. Picnic areas for picnicers. Miniature golf. And in the summer months lots of sunbathers. There is even frisbee golf course.

By: Sean	Rating:	Date of Hike: Wednesday, June 1, 2016
A fine hike (or as others say, walk). I usually do hikes of greater difficulty but this kept showing up in Hiking Upward database as one near my home I hadn't done so I finally checked it out. A fairly flat trail in generally good condition. Since it was a weekday I didn't expect to see the 50 or so other people on the trail that I did. But it's a longer, wide trail so they were spread out and it didn't feel crowded or uncomfortable. Great views along the lake shore, benches placed at intervals for relaxing. At mile 1.65 I didn't read the description carefully and missed the unofficial trail along the water and continued along the main perimeter trail for that segment. Next time.

By: aldikuma	Rating:	Date of Hike: Friday, May 20, 2016
Done this trail at least 30 times and it's a perfect length for a good workout. Very flat, very easy. I wouldn't consider this a true hike. Solitude is 1 - you will be sharing the trail with bikes, families, strollers, runners, dogs, etc. If you want less of a crowd, go early morning, especially on the weekdays. This is a perfect trail if you're a beginner trail runner or really new to hiking.

By: blacklabhiker	Rating:	Date of Hike: Saturday, January 9, 2016
This is a flat and easy trail. It is very popular on nice days so it does get very crowded. Many people ride bikes on it and push strollers. This is one of my go to trails since it is so close, but don't expect it to be a real "hike".