Review Date
April 17, 2008

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 2 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: iammike ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Hadn't been to Wakefield in probably 6-7 years (college, starting a career, etc), but decided to venture back one Wednesday afternoon. The work that has gone in to the trail since then is pretty incredible. There's a great berm trail at the top of the powerlines, there is a newly developed section with rock gardens, bridges, and well-developed cambered corners... I only spent about an hour as I was trying to reserve some energy for when a friend arrived (he didn't, so sad), but one could easily spend 2 hours at a time without getting bored. Tack on Accotink right across the way and you've got the absolute best weeknight riding in the DC Area.

MY RATING COMMENTS
Aerobic: it simply isn't that tough. No extended climbs, relatively low speeds.
Technical: I didn't come off my bike once and I haven't really ridden (minus commuting) in 3-4 years.
Overall: I reserve 5 for something that is perfect. To be perfect, a trail must be in the mountains or be something I'd travel hours for. Huge props to the people who have worked on the park, though, I hope to start riding there weekly (any chance somebody could remedy the traffic on 50 from Arlington?).

Recommended Route:
Head back past the tennis courts towards the power lines... I mostly played around on the yellow trail and the new section, which is pretty much at the back of the park, but next to the power line field.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Accotink, Fountainhead.

Review Date
March 24, 2008

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 2 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: oldskoolbiker ,  Downhiller

Summary:
I would have to rate Wakefield park as the best place to Mountain bike in Northern VA. Who would expect mountain bike heaven right off the Capital Beltway. Anyway, first I would say don't pay attention to any reviews older than like a year. This place is constantly evolving. The last two years the county working with the local bike club MORE, hired IMBA to build trails. Last year they put in a huge berm trail that is downhill with about 10 6ft high berms. This year they added about two miles of trails with rock gardens and nice bermed turns.

The park isn't that big, but they have made the most of the space. Basically mountain bike trails are everywhere, twisting all around the park. I would guess within the limits of the park there are about 10 miles of trails, but at any given moment you are at most about 1 mile from the parking lot.

As far as the difficulty of the trails, there are no major climbs or major downhills. The single track can be technical in some areas with logs, rock gardens, berms. There are a few large logs, couple of log rides, and other technical features. These all have go arounds for less skilled riders. There are no real advanced features like skinny's, drops or teeters.

Total beginners can do a loop with not much climbing or technical features, other than logs, to get their first taste of singletrack.

Advanced riders will keep entertained by the flowing singletrack which can be ridden quite fast without long climbs to slow you down. And if you want to kick it up a notch. The park allows night riding on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday until 10:30PM.

Recommended Route:
Park near the recycle bins in the parking lot of the RECenter. Head out the dirt road and you will see the the trails. Just start riding. You can follow the Yellow arrows for about a 5 mile loop, or just ride trails are everywhere.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Accotink trails nearby and can be ridden to from Wakefield via the CCT trail. There is another 5+ miles of singletrack there, which is a little more advanced than the trails at Wakefield.

Fountainhead is about 25min south of Wakefield, and is a 8 mile loop. Fountainhead has much more climbing than Wakefield, and the trails aren't as beginner friendly.

Review Date
May 14, 2007

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 1 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a year

Reviewed by: mtnpat ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
I had the chance to ride here last Saturday....I don't live in the area so hadn't ridden at Wakefield in several years. What I found was very different than what I remember, I must say I emjoyed it a lot. Nice work MORE, etc. Great for a rigid singlespeed.

Review Date
August 5, 2006

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: moto-ufo ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
(Well I had about 3 paragraphs about what I thought of this place but I clicked on and icon here and lost it all!)

Quick summary:
If you're in the mood to get out and go for a good ride for a couple hours and just enjoy being on your bike and have some fun, then this is the place for you. If you're in the mood for crazy, gnarly terrain that will push you and your bike to your limits, then the the Wakefield trail system may not be for you. Then again, maybe there's some really technical, challenging stuff but I don't know about it.

Overall, outstanding place to ride. Very diverse terrain, good elevation changes, well marked and well kept. So glad it's so close to where I live. I'll be riding there after work and looking forward to trying some night riding around there too.

Recommended Route:
Don't know the place well enough yet.

Review Date
November 21, 2005

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: pcolon1 ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Not very technical and not too challenging, Wakefield is just flat out fun. I like the powerline trail the best which hits some pretty awesome turns and steep mounds. I'm not aware that there is a direction in wakefield. I've seen the same amount of bikers going both ways. Like the reviewer before me just tell them you don't care if someone tries to yell at you. It's fun both ways. Theres also a trail along the creek on the west side of the park and another one on southeast side that heads into the woods. Many creek crossings. Alot of fun.

Recommended Route:
For a great cross country ride, Park at Wakefield. Take the trail on the southern part of the first parking lot to a multitrack trail. Head to the underpass under Braddock road and follow the trail around Accotink lake clockwise. Follow the signs to the Marina. Go over the dam and up the steep hill. Head over a small bridge and you will see the end of the trail ahead. Go right. Head trough the cut and the trailhead will be on the left after a steep drop on your right. Go on the foxtrot trail, follow it back to the small brige. Head back the way you came. After you get to the underpass, keep left and head into Wakefield Park and hit the powerline trail. Then head back to the parking lot. The whole thing is about 7 or 8 miles. A great cross country ride if you can't leave fairfax county.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Fountainhead, Accotink