The Fairfax County Park Authority staff picked the 2-mile Cub Run Stream Valley Trail as a starter hike for those park users over age 50. And when they say hikes, they mean walking, jogging, biking, horseback riding, and scenery strolling.
The Cub Run Stream Valley Trail is located at 4630 Stonecroft Blvd, Chantilly. Parking is plentiful at Cub Run RECenter, located adjacent to Westfield High School. The trail is open daily sunrise to sunset.
To start: Follow the woodchip path past the playground (to the right of the RECenter entrance) to the start of the trail. (For an ADA accessible option, go around the left side of the RECenter, past the water slide.) At the fork in the path, either choose left to go toward Old Lee Road, or right to go toward Stonecroft Boulevard. Either direction is a half mile out. Start out to the left and when approaching Old Lee Road, turn around to go back the way you came. Pass the path entrance and continue all the way down the path until approaching Stonecroft Boulevard. Turn around once again, to double back to the path entrance. That will cover the 2-mile distance.
The trail is paved — stroller, bike, and dog friendly. Wide paths accommodate trail users in both directions.
This path is paved, but not marked. Since both sides are down-and-back, stay close to the point of entry at the Cub Run RECenter, which is convenient for bathroom and water stops.
Trail Buddy is a free GIS app that can be downloaded that will help get around Fairfax County's hundreds of miles of trails. View the app online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/trails/. One can also access the app from a Smartphone. No special app is needed to view the map. Go to http://bit.ly/fairfaxtrailbuddy.