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Colvin Run Trail Mountain Bike Trail
Reston, Virginia
MTB TRAIL STATS
Avg Rating:    |
21 trail reviews |
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Status: updated 9/10/11 by fade.rotha |
Difficulty:  Intermediate |
| Length: 4 miles | Global Rank: #1348 |
| Tread: Singletrack | Configuration: Out & Back |
| Ridden: 113 | Wishlist: 44 |
| Avg. Speed: 8.25 mph | Avg. Time: 1hr 14min |
| Elevation Gain/Loss: +2,458/-1,863 ft | |
 1 trail check-ins |
Directions:
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Description: In the heart of Reston, this trail has something for everyone. Made up of mostly wide singletrack, it can be ridden as a four mile (one way) out-and-back trail or you can link up with the Difficult Run Trail and stretch it all the way to the Potomac River in Great Falls Park. The trail can also be done as a ten mile loop with a few miles along Difficult Run and the W&OD trail.
Description: In the heart of Reston, this trail has something for everyone. Made up of mostly wide singletrack, it can be ridden as a four mile (one way) out-and-back trail or you can link up with the Difficult Run Trail and stretch it all the way to the Potomac River in Great Falls Park. The trail can also be done as a ten mile loop with a few miles along Difficult Run and the W&OD trail.
added on August 1, 2004 by 
SIMILAR TRAILS
Riders who liked this mountain bike trail also liked:Carvin's Cove Trail system in Roanoke
TRAIL REVIEWS review this trail
reviewed by luv2mtb on October 7, 2010
Has a few quick downhill sections that are rather rewarding. Lots of people ride the loop-don't know why; everything south of the toll road is horrifyingly boring. There are numerous side trails that offer unique challenges. Do watch out for joggers and dog-walkers.
reviewed by luv2mtb on October 7, 2010
Has a few quick downhill sections that are rather rewarding. Lots of people ride the loop-don't know why; everything south of the toll road is horrifyingly boring. There are numerous side trails that offer unique challenges. Do watch out for joggers and dog-walkers.
reviewed by rybolov on July 4, 2010
I work across Sunset Hills Road and ride this a couple times every week. It has enough balance that beginners can have a fun time and there is challenge for intermediates if you go looking for it. The trailhead at the skating rink has a sizable riding community. Every time I go to ride, there are a handful of people getting ready to set out.
reviewed by renovatio on January 11, 2010
Rode this trail last year with a buddy. Not a bad setup at all. If your looking for a shorter ride or a more "relaxed" ride this is an ideal trail. As of now 1/11/10 the trail is still pretty icy and lots of snow everywhere. Difficult to keep traction on most parts which makes for a sketchy ride but thats where the fun lies! Although, in my opinion best to just wait for the ice and snow to melt away but if your up for that type of terrain go for it while it lasts. All in all a good trail for bikers of all levels as previously stated.
reviewed by Krister on August 7, 2009
I am a complete begginer when it come to mountain biking but this trail offered me a challenge without being so tough that i didnt want to ride it again. There are a few descents and uphills that are challenging but that is most likely because i am not riding an "all mountain" or full off road bike. I ride a GT transeo 3.0 which is obviously not an offroad bike but it can handle this trail. Would it be easier and a little more fun on a full suspention bike? Yes, but it is not impossible on other style bikes.
reviewed by skibum on November 8, 2008
This trail was a pleasant surprise. I had little in the way of expectations but there turned out to be some fine singletrack. It's a little wide and you can't go far without running back into suburbia, but much of the trail has some great flow and just enough obstacles to hold interest. I would almost call it a beginner trail, but there's a couple downhills that are just steep/rutted enough to spook a noob. My 9-year old son did a couple short walks, but other than that he stayed in the saddle the whole time. Even though mostly easy, you can make it harder by pushing the speed and taking the tougher(rootier/rockier) line on the climbs.
Similar Trail: Fountainhead
reviewed by gclement on October 16, 2008
I was in town for a week and brought my bike along to get out of the hotel with. Found the Colvin Run on Singletracks and headed out for a look-see. There are at least five POSTED signs at the entrance behind the skating rink, not sure if I had found the right place or not but, being the naughty chap that I am, I headed off down the trail anyway. I was pleasantly surprised to find that, despite its location in the midst of urban and industrial sprawl, the trail and surrounding woods are relatively secluded and you could almost fool yourself into thinking you were in the wilderness. Nothing overly challenging but it was sure as hell a lot more fun than sitting in the hotel watching Maury. Get out there!
reviewed by romarosie on September 10, 2008
I am new to mt biking, just started this year, and have a single speed to learn on. I've been to Wakefield and to Difficult Run and this one is my favorite place to keep learning. Not too hard of climbs and great downhills without too many rocks or roots. I totally bit my first time out at the mouth of the trail leaving the skating rink but the trail is really fun after that for a novice. My boyfriend is a highly skilled biker and he rides this trail every night after work he can. He says it get better everytime!
Similar Trail: Wakefield Park
reviewed by vanrossem on August 10, 2008
I have ridden this trail 4 or 5 times in the past couple of months. I must say it is more fun with every ride. As noted in other reviews, there is something for everyone. Whether new to MTB or a veteran, you will have a great time..
Similar Trail: Wakefield
reviewed by Iridethedirt on August 2, 2008
I've been riding this trail for over 10 years, and its still a blast! there are plenty of roots that over the years have become more exposed giving added technical difficulty. there are plenty of rooty and rocky downhills, and climbs... This trail gives you everything from smooth wide fast singletrack, to tight narrow singletrack... rock gardens, and some really great (if somewhat short) downhills. I would reccomend NOT following the loop, and just riding the trail back in the opposite direction. the reason for this is that the CCT trail is flat, and very easy to ride. and the W&OD is paved... you might lose 2 miles of riding, but in my opinion, riding this trail as an out and back is a better workout and more fun than riding the loop.
Similar Trail: wakefield park.
reviewed by ploughman on July 5, 2008
This is my first time coming to an actual trail and riding for a certain amount of time.. I am definately going to have to get back into shape before i can complete this one in one trip.
reviewed by me_rubin on April 12, 2008
I think this trail is more than for beginners. I started out from Michael Fariday drive and the first mile was not a beginner route. Rocks and Roots to ride over and the fact that we had a lot of rain last night made this part of the trail more difficult. I took it over to difficult run and back around with trails marked as CT. I ended up back on the W&OD making my loop about a 10 mile ride. Got a little lost. ( I really need a GPS ). A fun ride never the less.
reviewed by yakky on February 25, 2008
Nice after wor/quick run trail. There are some nice hills/decents but nothing too hard. There legal is parking right down the road at the W&OD trail or you can risk it near the trail.
reviewed by PistolPete33 on February 15, 2008
Colvin Run is a decent trail in a great location. It is not overly challenging but a pretty fun ride nonetheless, especially when cold/ice make it a little more challenging and cut down the number of dog walkers. Don't be prepared for an epic ride, but you can (easily) get to the difficult run trail and ride it into Great Falls, which though a little muddy and overused is a beautiful trail near the water. Colvin Run also links to the county connector trail on the other side of the W&OD which you can ride all the way to Wakefield and an 'epic ride' - for Northern Virginia anyways.
Similar Trail: Fountainhead Wakefield
reviewed by kackeroo on October 23, 2006
I loved this little trail. Since I'm a beginner, it was technically "just right" and wasn't too long of a ride. We got on at Michael Faraday Ct, turned left at the "T" after the stream crossing, pedaled through Lake FFX Park past the campsites and over the dam, picked up the equestrian trail south of the picnic areas, crossed the open field and descended onto return trail that brought us back to the campsites where we re-traced back to trailhead. There were a couple of good stream crossings and some good downhills/uphills. Only caution is this is a well-used trail so watch out for other riders/hikers.
Similar Trail: Fountainhead
reviewed by Lawmaster87 on July 31, 2006
Trail is nice fast hard-pack that is forgiving and easy to ride. There are not any sections that could be considered difficult. However, the trail is a really fun ride. There are a couple of small jumps at the beginning of the trail that are good practice for beginners. This trail is very short but is a good training ground before tackling an epic ride. Keep your head up because this trail always has hikers and dog walkers on it.
reviewed by getonthetrail on October 27, 2005
The first couple of times ridding this trail I was not overly impressed. However, my tune has changed over the last couple of weeks as I found the horse trail extension to Colvin run. This makes for a sweet after work ride! Take the main trail until if forks (L or R) go RIGHT and continue past the park. Ride across the field and hook back up with the trail that will eventually cross the road (not sure what road yet, will update later). Continue on through some fun horse trails until you cross a neighborhood entrance on your left you will notice the main road says Leesburg Pike. The trail picks back up after crossing the neighborhood entrance road. Continue on the trail until you reach brown mill road paved trail. This is as far as I've been to date. I plan to investigate more this weekend! This is a GREAT after work ride. It has a couple of short steep climbs, roots, rocks, logs, stream crossings and fun downhillís! I ride this trail a couple of times a week after work at a minimum. If you do this route its about 11 miles.
reviewed by getonthetrail on October 7, 2005
I started at the end of the parking lot across the way from the indoor hockey rank. The start of the trail is good, nice decent, roots and a couple sweet jumps but after that there is not much. There are several switchbacks but the trail extension was not easy to find. I think next time I will go when I have more time to get lost and see what I can find. This is an okay ride, good for after work as it is sooooo close to Tyson's.
Similar Trail: Wakefield, Lake Accotink
reviewed by boarderjss on July 11, 2005
sweet after-work ride... hit it up a few times a week at 5:00. normally start at twin branches pool lot. sometimes from reston ice rink. anyone interested in joining the squad, email me at swietlikjs@yahoo.com
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