Click here for driving directions to the start of the walk.

This walk will take you along a temporary route utilizing a perimeter road around the site of former Lorton Prison. After passing the prison the walk will follow the path of an old railroad bed to reach Lorton Road. This section of the trail offers an excellent opportunity to examine the outside of a large prison complex that is no longer in use. The surrounding area is now the site of several luxury home developments.

  1. (South) The walk starts at the southern corner of Silverbrook Road and White Spruce Way. Walk across the grass to the prison watchtower facing Silverbrook Road.
    (North) After passing the prison watchtower turn left and walk across the grass to the intersection of Silverbrook Road and White Spruce Way. This ends this section of the CCT. The next section of the CCT is directly across those streets.
  2. (South) A fence has been placed at the watchtower. Keep to the left of the fence and follow it on a short detour through the woods. Then follow the perimeter road along the prison wall.
    (North) Follow the perimeter road along the prison wall to a fence at the next watchtower where the road ends. Turn right to follow a short detour through a wooded section. The watchtower has been declared unsafe resulting in the construction of the detour.
  3. (South) The perimeter road turns slightly to the left to pass along the outside of a fence enclosing a baseball field. This field is now in use by the public.
    (North) The perimeter road turns slightly at the end of the baseball field fence to follow the prison wall.
  4. (South) The perimeter road turns to the right to follow the fence at the end of another section of the baseball field.
    (North) The perimeter road turns to the left to follow the fence at the end of another section of the baseball field.
  5. (South) The perimeter road passes through a gully. Just before the road starts down the hill notice 2 grave markers to the right for William Lindsay and wife Ann C. Lindsay. William Lindsay was a revolutionary war soldier and the family home was 100 yards southeast of the cemetery. http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/vr/cem/cem252.htm
    (North) The perimeter road turns left to follow the fence at the end of a section of baseball field. This field is open to the public. Notice the 2 grave markers for the Lindsay family to the left at the top of the hill.
  6. (South) The perimeter road edges closer to the prison fence and passes a watchtower.
    (North) The perimeter road turns right and passes through a gully.
  7. (South) The perimeter road intersects with an access road to Lorton Road. Just after the access road there is a parking area on the left. Continue straight on the perimeter road next to the prison fence.
    (North) The perimeter road passes a parking area on the right. An access road from Lorton Road intersects on the right after the parking area. Stay to the left to follow the perimeter road along the prison fence.
  8. (South) The perimeter road passes a final watchtower. Notice the Laurel Hill Golf Course ahead in the distance. Turn left to follow a hard surface trail down the hill.
    (North) The hard surface trail ends at a parking area and a prison watchtower. Turn right to follow a perimeter road along the outside of the prison fence.
  9. (South) The trail passes over Giles Run on a bridge. After crossing the bridge notice a sign marking the Giles Run Meadow trail on the left. Continue straight on the present trail. Notice the old freight car on the right as you climb the hill.
    (North) The trail passes over Giles Run on a bridge. After crossing the bridge turn to the right to follow the trail up a hill. The trail to the left will be part of the final route and is not completed.
  10. (South) A dirt road intersects from the right. The walking trail makes a slight jog to the left here to continue in the same direction as before.
    (North) The walking trail makes a jog to the left where it intersects with a dirt road. Turn right to continue in the same direction as before. Notice the old freight car on the left.
  11. (South) (North) The trail passes under a historic barrel bridge carrying Furnace Road overhead. A hard surface starts at this point going north with a dirt surface going south.
  12. (South) The dirt trail turns right just prior to Lorton Road. After a short distance it turns left again to go down a hill along a bank next to an asphalt road.
    (North) (After walking along the road a short distance up the hill notice the trail markers on the bank on the right side of the road. Walk in the field up the bank for a short distance and turn right at the next trail marker. After a short distance the trail turns left to go through a wooded area. Do not go up the road beyond the first house on the left or you will miss the trail.
  13. (South) Walk down the road to the intersection with Lorton Road watching for vehicles on the road. This section of the walk ends here. To continue on the next section of the trail cross Lorton Road and follow the dirt trail to the right on the other side.
    (North) This section of the CCT starts on the Restricted Road where it intersects with Lorton Road. Apparently, neither vehicles or pedestrians pay attention to the restricted sign and it is necessary to walk up that road a short distance to reach the point where the CCT intersects with it. There is traffic utilizing that road so be careful here. Lorton Road is quite busy with heavy truck traffic.

Pictorial Directions

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