Hike#72 – Wakefield Accotink Lake Loop Trail at Annandale, Virginia
Channel: Hike with Mangyan
Date: 26/02/2023

Experience this 7.7-mile loop trail near Annandale, Virginia. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 2 h 24 min to complete. This is a very popular area for birding, fishing, and hiking, so you’ll likely encounter other people while exploring. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.
PARTIAL CLOSURE: A section of trail near the dam and in front of the spillway is closed from June 6, 2022, through Spring 2023. The trail closure is due to the construction of a new bridge over Accotink Creek just below the spillway.

This is a 4-to-5.3-mile loop depending on where you start. From Wakefield Park off Braddock in Annandale, the trail follows the Cross County Trail to Lake Accotink and then around the lake to make a loop.

This 5.3-mile loop has many access points which would shorten the loop by about four miles. The path is a mix of packed dirt and gravel, so it does not get very muddy when it’s wet. Most of the route has reduced sun exposure due to the trees and there is water and a vending machine at Lake Accontink during the summer. This trail is also good for bikes, birding, trail running and strollers. It is heavily used due to the proximity to residential areas and because it’s a beautiful trail. During the winter, foxes, waterfowl and woodpeckers can be seen and possibly an osprey. You can see a few birders so the variety must be good. If you pull up the map, you’ll see there are access points around the loop and the trail can be extended up through Wakefield Park on the CCT (Cross County Trail), south from the Lake Accotink dam along the CCT or northwest across the Braddock Road overpass to the Long Branch Park Trail. (Source: All Trails app) 
Videos captured by GoPro Hero 10 https://amzn.to/3Hnq6J4

Videos edited by Wondershare Filmora 12

Music purchased from Elements Envato https://1.envato.market/P0eKZN

Trail maps and guides from AllTrail  https://www.alltrails.com/invite/6GZFDD

Go Pro Dual Battery Charger https://amzn.to/3WtJMiW  

Synology (Backup) https://amzn.to/3J6KxeJ  

INIU Portable Charger https://amzn.to/3ZY4CKq  

GoPro Max Grip + Tripod https://amzn.to/3k6mse3