Mason Neck State Park (2023)

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General Information

Just a short drive from Washington, D.C., this Northern Virginia park offers many outdoor activities and programs. It has hiking trails, 3 miles of paved multi-use trails, a large picnic area, a playground, a car-top canoe launch and a visitor center. Canoe, kayak and bicycle rentals are also available. Bird watching, especially for American bald eagles, and guided canoe trips of Kane's Creek and Belmont Bay are favorites with park visitors. The park's wetlands, forest, open water, ponds and open fields make it ideal for environmental study and wildlife observation. Nearby attractions include the Elizabeth Hartwell National Wildlife Refuge, Gunston Hall and Pohick Bay Regional Park.

Hours

8 a.m. - dusk.

Location

The park is in southern Fairfax County, about 20 miles from Washington, D.C. Access to the park is via U.S. 1, then five miles east on Route 242 (Gunston Road) to the park entrance.

Its address is 7301 High Point Road, Lorton, VA 22079-4010; Latitude, 38.654365. Longitude, -77.184114.

Drive Time: Northern Virginia, half an hour (park is in Northern Virginia); Washington, D.C., 45 minutes; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach, three hours; Richmond, one and a half hours; Roanoke, four hours.

Park Size

1,856 acres.

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Cabins, camping

OVERNIGHT FACILITIES

None - day-use park. For information on the availability of other parks' overnight accommodations, particular park amenities or to make a reservation, you can reserve online or call 1-800-933-PARK. Click here for park fees.

Although Mason Neck has no overnight facilities, you can learn about other parks' rental rates for cabins and camping. Rental rates for cabins and camping vary by season, offering and park. Rates are subject to verification by DCR's state parks reservations staff (1-800-933-PARK). First determine the season, which varies by park, then the rate. Click here for park fees.

Recreation

TRAILS

Hiking, biking and self-guided trails. More than six miles of unpaved hiking trails and three miles of paved multi-use trails wind through the park providing a glimpse of nature by the bay. Elevated walkways allow visitors to explore some of the marsh areas in the park.

SWIMMING

There are no designated swimming areas.

FISHING, BOATING

Fresh and brackish water fishing are available. Must have a valid Virginia or Maryland fishing license. Car-top boat launch facilities available; no facilities for trailer launching. From April through October, rent a kayak or canoe for an hour or all day to explore Belmont Bay or Kane's Creek. It's a great way to see eagles. Here's the rental agreement with rates.

HORSES

None at this park.

Park Trail Guide

Click here for the park's trail guide.

Download (external link for use with Avenza App) the geo-referenced map

Download the geo-referenced map for this park

Nearby Attractions

Use this interactive map, complete with photos and locations, to find things to do near Mason Neck State Park.Also, Gunston Hall, Mount Vernon, Pohick Bay Regional Park, Woodlawn Plantation, the Bureau of Land Managment Meadowood Special Recreation Area, to name a few.

Picnic Shelters

One shelter is available for rent through the Reservations Center at 1-800-933-7275 (PARK). Parking fees are not included in shelter rental. Click here for park fees. The shelter can be rented from 8 a.m. to dusk (all day).

Cancellation policy: No refund within 14 days before reserved date. Before then, there's a nominal cancellation fee.

Amenities: Visitors wishing to pre-pay a group's parking fee should call the park beforehand. Some activities require a special use permit, which can take up to 30 days to receive. The park is open daily 8 a.m. to sunset; there are no designated swimming areas.

Shelter 1 Tent Shelter. This shelter, which has a vinyl tent cover, is available for reservations May through October. The area, without the tent set up, is available at a reduced rate from November through April. When not reserved, it's available first-come, first-served.

The universally accessible shelter is a 40 x 20 foot framed tent. There are no holes in the center, and the sides are open. The floor is gravel. There are eight picnic tables and two pedestal charcoal grills. It seats 50 people at one time. Groups of more than 50 but fewer than 100 people can use the site (although shelter rental does not guarantee sole usage of the area open to the general public). Erecting additional tents is not permitted. Additional tables and grills are not allowed. Parking space is adequate, but it may be necessary on busy weekends to offload supplies and park elsewhere in the park, still within walking distance. The shelter is near a general picnicking area that the general public uses. Restrooms are about 60 feet away. There are no electric outlets or water hydrants.

Meeting Space and Facilities

MEETING FACILIITIES

Explorers Hall in the visitor center accommodates up to 30 people for meetings and educational sessions. It can be configured various ways to suit your group's needs. Audiovisual equipment is available, or bring your own. Contact the park for more information and to rent the hall for your next meeting.

VISITOR CENTER, GIFT SHOP

The park's visitor center was expanded to include a new exhibit room, gift shop and meeting room. There are several exhibits in the center, and the view of Belmont Bay is breathtaking. The gift shop offers park-oriented merchandise and souvenirs and some snacks. Visitor center staff can answer questions and provide information on park trails, facilities and local points of interest. Many programs originate or take place at the visitor center. Check the schedule here to see what’s happening at Mason Neck that day.

RESTAURANT

None at this park.

LAUNDRY

None at this park.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER

None at this park.

SPECIAL FEATURES

None at this park.

Other Info

ACCESSIBILITY:

• Picnic area: There is a universally accessible restroom facility in the picnic area with a 6-foot wide cement walkway leading to it and one accessible picnic table.
• Playground is fully accessible.
• Visitor center and park office: Both are fully accessible, each with a 6-foot wide walkway leading to the entrance. There are six universally accessible parking spaces.
• Trails: A fully accessible paved hiking trail, the Beach Trail, has breathtaking views of Belmont Bay. The trail is about 300 yards long and ends at an accessible observation platform overlooking the bay. The Dogue Trail has a hard-packed dust surface and is about .8 miles long. It meanders through the forest and offers a cool and relaxing outing. It is accessed from the paved Wilson Spring Trail parking lot. The quarter-mile Marsh View Trail is stone-packed and ends at an elevated platform that overlooks the upper marshes of Kane's Creek. The 3-mile paved High Point Road Multi-use Trail parallels the park road.
• Although motorized vehicles are not permitted on park trails, electric wheelchairs and electric scooters that meet the federal definition for wheelchairs are allowed to enable people with disabilities to use the trails.

NATURE, HISTORY PROGRAMS

Pond study, bird watching, nature walks and talks, and GPS adventures are just a few of the exciting programs offered by park rangers throughout the year. There is always something new to experience or participate in at the park. Click here to view all parks' events, festivals, workshops and interpretive programs.

CONCESSIONS

The visitor center sells snacks and ice cream. Drink vending machines are behind the visitor center and at the picnic shelter.

HISTORY

In 1965, the Mason Neck Conservation Committee was formed after two bald eagle nests were spotted at Mason Neck. The committee, concerned about impending development on the peninsula, recommended part of the area to be used as a site for a state park. In August 1967 the state, with the aid of matching federal grants, began buying land parcels from private landowners and the Nature Conservancy.

A series of events threatened the sanctity of Mason Neck in the late 1960s and early 1970s. After plans for a proposed beltway through the area were dropped in 1967, an airport, a natural gas pipeline, a landfill and a sewer line were proposed for the area. These proposals met strong opposition from groups such as the Mason Neck Conservation Committee. Plans for the projects were dropped because of the potential negative impact each had on the federally operated Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge and Mason Neck State Park. Mason Neck State Park opened to the public in April 1985.

FRIENDS GROUP

The Friends of Mason Neck State Park group works to conserve, enhance and interpret the park’s natural, educational, recreational and cultural resources. The group sponsors picnics, kayak trips, show-and-tell programs, volunteer activities and other special events. Email geninfo@masonneckstateparkfriends.org or visit www.masonneckstateparkfriends.org
for details.

MASTER PLAN

Master plans must be written for parks before they're built. The plans are updated at least once every 10 years thereafter. The plans cover the size, types, infrastructure and locations of facilities as well as the site's special features and resources. Three public meetings are held during the initial development of each plan. Click here for this park's master plan.