I hiked the Mine Run Trail as the first segment of a 6-mile loop hike around Great Falls Park. See the Hiking Trails web page for details. A link to the second segment of the hike is located at the bottom of this trail review.
Length: .7 mile, one-way
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 30 minutes
The trailhead for the Mine Run Trail is located about halfway between the upper and central parking lots at Great Falls Park and is marked with a directional sign. The trail gets its name from Mine Run, a small creek that it follows for the first .2 mile. The terrain along this short segment is flat and easy to hike, though portions of it can be very muddy following recent rain storms.
Creeks are usually located at the lowest point on the landscape, and sure enough, as soon as the trail curves north and departs from the water it heads uphill, peaking only at the very end, .3 mile from the creek. The climb is moderate and certainly won’t pose a problem for anyone who set out on a 6-mile hike to begin with.
Note: A short section of the trail is outside the Great Falls Park boundary. Residents have allowed the trail to pass through their property, but hikers must stay on the trail. Private property signs indicate which areas are off limits to park guests. This section comes just as the trail turns north and leaves Mine Run.
The Mine Run Trail officially ends after a half mile at the intersection with an unnamed fire road. Take a right on the road to get back to the upper parking lot at Great Falls Park, a .2-mile walk. This is the way to go if you plan on taking my 6-mile hike. Take a left if you want to hike to Riverbend Park, a Fairfax County Park. The Riverbend Park Visitor Center is 1.5 miles away.
The fire road ends across the street from the upper parking lot. To continue on the next leg of the 6-mile hike, the North River Trail, enter the parking lot and take a left. The trailhead is located at the far northern end of the parking lot.
Next Trail Segment: North River Trail
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Last updated on January 14, 2025