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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.
- (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.
- (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.
- (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.
- (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.
- (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.
- (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.
- (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.
- (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.
- (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.
- (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.
- (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.
- (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.
- (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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