Mason Neck Regional Park, Lorton VA

March 2025

I arrived at Mason Neck after making a rookie mistake. I was driving towards the park, saw a sign for a Mason Neck trailhead, and pulled in to a different park that connected to Mason Neck. After a satisfyingly long hike there, I actually looked at the park's signs, realized my mistake, slapped myself on the forehead, and got back on the road.

As a result, I didn't spend that much time at Mason Neck proper; I was too tired from my previous walk and needed to get home. And that's a shame, because I loved it.

The entrance--where a sign invites you to pay USD $10--leads to a long road winding through a nice old forest of stately oaks and poplars. The quaint, 1970's-1980's-era visitor's center sits only a few dozen yards from the shore of Belmont Bay, a beautiful expanse of water that rippled invitingly on this mild afternoon in early spring. I strolled along the shore to the left of the visitor's center, which led to a wooded shoreline trail into a marshland filled with croaking frogs. As I walked, tortoises sunning themselves on logs plopped into the water at my approach. I glimpsed a heron glide away from me through the trees.

It's a lovely place, and I wish I'd spent more time here. I'm looking forward to going back soon.

Cost: $10 per vehicle

Conditions: 66° Fahrenheit and clear