Fairfax County, Maryland
1,525 hiking trails · 11parks & campgrounds · 30 cities. Real OpenStreetMap + Recreation.gov data.
About Hiking in Fairfax County, Maryland
Fairfax County is home to 1,525 mapped hiking trails and 11 federal parks, campgrounds, and recreation areas spread across 30 cities. Trail data is sourced from OpenStreetMap contributors; park and campground info comes from Recreation.gov.
Looking for something specific? Search all trails in Fairfax County or browse parks. Want to narrow further? Pick a city below to see only that city’s outdoor options.
Trails & Parks in Fairfax County
Up to 211 pinpoints showing trail and park locations across the county.
Cities in Fairfax County
Click any city to see trails and parks within it.
6 more cities in this county.
Sample Parks in Fairfax County
Sample Trails in Fairfax County
Hiking guides for Maryland
Statewide rankings and guides — useful context for Fairfax County.
Photo: Silvia GrešováHow to Read the SAC Hiking Scale (and Why It Matters)
The SAC scale is the most common trail difficulty system on OpenStreetMap. Here's how to interpret each tier — and why a T3 can ruin your day if you're not ready.
Photo: Joshua EarleThe 10 Essentials: What to Actually Pack on Every Day Hike
The 10 Essentials are the minimum survival kit for any hike. Here's what they are, why each one is on the list, and what to skip.
Photo: Maddi BazzoccoA Complete Beginner's Guide to Hiking (Without the Marketing)
Your first hike doesn't have to be a disaster. A practical step-by-step for picking a trail, packing right, and building real outdoor skills.
Photo: Patrick HendryHow to Score Hard-to-Get Campsites on Recreation.gov
Booking a Yosemite or Glacier campsite at peak season feels impossible. Here's the strategy that actually works.
Photo: Tobias MrzykHow Trail Difficulty Ratings Actually Work (and Why They Lie)
Every trail app rates trails differently. Here's why an "easy" trail in one app can be a "hard" trail in another — and how to read between the lines.
Photo: Joshua EarleWhen to Visit Each Major National Park (Without the Crowds)
Summer at Yosemite means three-hour shuttle lines. Here's when each major US national park is actually worth visiting.