Northern Virginia · Fairfax Station · Running · Loop
Burke Lake Loop
A shaded 4.7-mile gravel loop around a Fairfax County lake — reliable, safe, and family-ready.
- Distance
- 4.7mi
- Climb (listed)
- 200ft
- Time (hiking est.)
- 1h37–2h12
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Terrain
- Crushed stoneShaded
The route
Where it is
No route line is on file for this trail yet, so the map shows the trailhead only. Trailfinder publishes lines only when they can be assembled from OpenStreetMap and checked against the agency distance.
What it feels like
What it feels like
Essentially level across 4.7 miles; 200 ft of listed gain barely registers. Crushed-stone tread that stays firm in most weather, mostly under tree cover.
Before you drive
What to know first
Closures and conditions change. Check the agency's alerts page before leaving.
- Parking
- Not on file
- Fees
- Parking fee applies for non-residents on some days — check the park page.
- Permits
- Not on file
- Hours
- Park grounds open sunrise to sunset (dawn to dusk) daily; no legal night or pre-dawn use. Closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve. Park Information Office staffed 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Restrooms
- Not on file
- Water
- Not on file
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Cell service
- Not on file
- Emergency
- Not on file
How hard it will feel
Difficulty, explained
Easy
Level gravel loop with minor undulation.
Nothing here should surprise a first-timer: short, gentle, and easy underfoot.
- Distance
- +1
- 4.7 miles is a comfortable half-morning.
- Climb
- +0
- 200 ft of climbing, about 43 ft per mile.
- Footing
- +1
- Natural tread: roots, mud after rain, uneven in places.
- Technicality
- +0
- Nothing technical recorded; walking the whole way.
- Exposure
- +0
- Mostly sheltered; shade is listed.
Commitment
How long it takes
- Hiking
- 1h37–2h12
- 2.6 mph moving on natural tread, no stops. 200 ft of climbing adds 6 min at a hiking pace.
- Running
- 46–62 min
- 5.5 mph moving on natural tread, no stops. 200 ft of climbing adds 6 min at a hiking pace.
- Family pace
- 2h37–3h55
- 1.5 mph moving on natural tread, no stops. 200 ft of climbing adds 6 min at a hiking pace.
Terrain
Underfoot
- Surface
- Gravel, Crushed stone
- Technicality
- Nothing technical recorded
- Crossings
- None recorded
- Exposure
- Not on file
What you'll see
On the record
- Consistent 4.7-mile loop
- Shaded gravel surface
- Playgrounds and marina
Setting on file: Forest, Park.
When to go
Seasonal character
Northern VirginiaUsable year-round. Summer afternoons are hot and crowded; winter ice lingers on shaded paved sections after storms.
General seasonal character, not a live condition report. Check the agency's alerts page for closures.
Who it fits
Is this for you?
- Runners
- Yes, running is supported
- Families
- Good with kids
- Strollers
- Stroller friendly
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Accessibility
- No notes on file
- Experience
- Beginners welcome
The long version
About this route
Burke Lake Park's perimeter trail is one of Northern Virginia's most-used loops: crushed gravel underfoot, shade nearly the whole way, and a consistent distance that makes it easy to gauge fitness.
The park side has restrooms, playgrounds, and a marina; the far side is quiet forest. It works for stroller walks and for tempo running alike.
If not this one
Related, and why
Northern Virginia
Washington & Old Dominion Trail
- Distance
- 45mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,573ft
- Hiking time (estimate)
- Your call
- Paved
Longer version · 45 mi when you want more of the same.
Shenandoah National Park
Old Rag Mountain
- Distance
- 9.4mi
- Elevation gain
- 2,482ft
- Time (agency)
- ~6h30
- Scramble
- Ridgeline
More views · Ridgeline or summit on the record; expect open outlooks.
Northern Virginia
Mount Vernon Trail
- Distance
- 18mi
- Elevation gain
- 535ft
- Hiking time (estimate)
- Your call
- Paved
- Riverside
Nearby · 13 mi from this trailhead.
Before you drive
What to know first
Closures and conditions change. Check the agency's alerts page before leaving.
- Parking
- Not on file
- Fees
- Parking fee applies for non-residents on some days — check the park page.
- Permits
- Not on file
- Hours
- Park grounds open sunrise to sunset (dawn to dusk) daily; no legal night or pre-dawn use. Closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve. Park Information Office staffed 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Restrooms
- Not on file
- Water
- Not on file
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Cell service
- Not on file
- Emergency
- Not on file
Provenance
- Facts:
- verified against the managing agency · last checked August 29, 2026.
- Readings:
- anything marked Trailfinder reading is derived by Trailfinder from those sources, not published by the agency.
Before you go: Trail conditions, access rules, weather, water availability, and closures can change. Check the linked official source before leaving and choose a route appropriate for your experience and current conditions.