Day Hike, Chinn Park Nature Trail, Woodbridge, VA

This easy 1.1 mile loop within a loop trail hike took place on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. It was just me on this one.

I had some business in Woodbridge, VA so I thought that, while I was in this neck of the woods, I would take a short walk around the nature trail behind the Chinn Aquatics and Fitness Center, which is located near the intersection of Prince William Parkway and Old Bridge RD in Woodbridge, VA. The weather was pleasant, sunny and in the mid to upper 50’s. Not many people know about this trail. One has to look on the

Prince William County, VA Parks and Recreation Website

to find it.

So I parked my vehicle in the rec center parking lot and proceeded to walk the road to the Steven J Seefeldt Soccer Fields. The road was gated as these fields are only open during soccer matches. The road turned from asphalt to gravel. I proceeded through the parking lot, walked along the western edge of the soccer fields, then came to a dirt road.

By the way, the grass on these fields was that Zoysia grass. It is like a thick carpet and it goes dormant in winter. It must be a pleasure playing on this surface. I was probably at the .2 mile mark. The road went another .2 miles and came to one of those water retention ponds. Just past the retention pond was a cul de sac for Beaver Ford Road.

At this point I was near the half way point. The trail turned to the right. It would be all asphalt based from here on. The sign said that this was now the Old Bridge Estates Trail. Not sure if this was an HOA trail, a joint venture with Prince William County, VA or whatever. This was a typical stream bed trail through a forested area. Though I could not find out the name of the stream. It was very scenic. I only passed one other person on this trail, a man walking a dog, at this point.

There was a loop within a loop on this trail. I had to pass a turnoff to the right that I would eventually take back to the Chinn Center. I would hike another .3 miles around a good sized loop that would come close to Lawn Leaf LA, then a parking lot at the end of Trowbridge DR. This parking lot was weird. The asphalt was arranged like there were supposed to be a few houses there. But instead, the area became a parking lot for this trail. It was gated.

There were some slight hills on this stretch but nothing extreme. The loop within a loop soon returned to the main trail. I took a left, hiked about 50 feet, then took another left. This was the home stretch. It was all slightly uphill but still a pleasant walk. After about another .2 miles the trail ended at the back of the Chinn rec center. I turned right, walked about 500 feet and made it back to my vehicle.

This “leg stretcher” only took a bit over a half hour to hike. It was close to sixty degrees and sunny when I finished. This would be a great hike by itself or after swimming a few laps at the rec center or a good workout.

Mike C

Map of where I hiked