For the location of Whitlers Creek Dr. and Hooes Rd click here for a link to Yahoo Maps.

The walk starts at the intersection of Hooes Road and Whitlers Creek Drive. There are no roads with available access to the CCT at the other end of this section of the CCT. Although the beginning of the walk is at the intersection with Whitlers Creek Drive you may wish to park on Hooes Road where the trail leaves that road to go south (point 2 on the map). This will save you about one block of walking on the shoulder of Hooes Road.

The CCT crosses Pohick Creek on columns at point 5 on the map. You may avoid this crossing by taking an alternate route using Hooes Road to cross Pohick Creek. Instructions for the alternate route are given in steps 21 through 23 of the instructions.

  1. (South) Walk west on the shoulder of Hooes Road from the intersection with Whitlers Creek Road. People coming from the previous section of the CCT will have crossed the Fairfax County Parkway at the walk signal and should turn right after crossing Hooes Road.
    (North) Walk east on the shoulder of Hooes Road to Whitlers Creek Road. People planning to go on to the next section of the CCT should turn left and cross the Fairfax County Parkway using the walk signal.
  2. (South) Turn left onto the asphalt trail near the bottom of the hill before Pohick Creek. The trail follows a wide opening through the woods. People wishing to take the alternate route should not turn left at the first asphalt trail but should stay on Hooes Road until it crosses Pohick Creek. Go to step 21 for further instructions.
    (North) The trail intersects with Hooes Road. Turn right and walk on the shoulder of that road about one block.
  3. (South) The trail turns right to follow a telephone cable.
    (North) The trail turns left and leaves the telephone cable.
  4. (South) An asphalt trail intersects from the left. Continue straight on the present trail for a short distance. The trail turns right to leave the telephone cable.
    (North) The trail turns left to rejoin the telephone cable. After a short distance an asphalt trail intersects from the right. Continue straight on the present trail.
  5. (South) The trail crosses Pohick Creek on columns. The columns are wide but some distance apart. The columns end in some thorny bushes on the other side of the creek but with care may be passed. Turn left on the intersecting asphalt trail after crossing the creek. The alternate route rejoins the CCT here as the trail follows the creek closely for a short distance.
    (North) The trail intersects with an asphalt trail. Turn right to take the CCT across Pohick Creek on columns. The columns are wide but somewhat far apart and start from a thorny bush making it difficult to take the first steps across the creek. People wishing to avoid the column crossing should turn left at the intersecting trail and follow the instructions in step 23 for the alternate route.
  6. (South) The trail curves as it climbs the hill and rejoins the telephone cable.
    (North) The trail curves away from the telephone cable and continues down the hill to follow the creek.
  7. (South) An asphalt trail intersects from the left. Turn left to follow that trail as it passes a water retention basin on the right and then enters the woods.
    (North) The trail passes a water retention basin on the left and ends at an intersecting asphalt trail. Turn right to follow that trail down the hill along a telephone cable.
  8. (South) A trail intersects on the right on steps. Stay on the current trail as it curves to the left.
    (North) A trail intersects on the left on steps. Stay on the current trail as it curves to the right.
  9. (South) An asphalt trail intersects from the left. Turn left and follow that trail as it shortly crosses a bridge over a side creek.
    (North) After crossing a bridge over a side creek an asphalt trail intersects from the left. Turn right to follow the current trail.
  10. (South)(North) The trail crosses Pohick Creek on columns.
  11. (South) The asphalt trail surface changes to a natural surface. The trail crosses a narrow side creek on rocks. It then climbs a short hill as it follows Pohick Creek.
    (North) The trail descends a short hill. It crosses a narrow side creek on rocks. Shortly after the creek crossing the trail changes to an asphalt surface.
  12. (South)(North) The trail is somewhat muddy but passable. It appears that drainage pipes under the trail are blocked here.
  13. (South) The trail turns right to cross over Pohick Creek. New wide columns have been built here. There are 4 more water crossings on columns from here that are all pretty similar to these. Walkers with a good sense of balance can continue south on the Pohick North section of trail on this site. Otherwise, this is a good spot to turn around and head back north.
    (North) The trail from the Pohick North section of this site crosses Pohick Creek on new columns (built in 2010). After crossing turn left to follow the creek. The trail to the right leaves the valley.

Alternate Route

  1. (South) After crossing Pohick Creek using Hooes Road turn left at the first asphalt trail. This will be prior to Pohick Ridge Ct. The trail enters the woods behind the houses.
    (North) The trail intersects with Hooes Road. Turn right and follow that road across Pohick Creek. You will rejoin the CCT on the right shortly after crossing the creek. Go to step 2 in the instructions to continue to the next section of the CCT.
  2. (South) The trail passes a bench and a CCT sign. This is not the CCT and it is not clear how the sign got there. Shortly after the sign the trail is washed out slightly but passable. Bicyclists should be careful passing the washout.
    (North) The trail is washed out slightly here but passable. Bicyclist should be careful passing the washout. The trail passes a CCT sign and a bench.
  3. (South) The trail climbs a short hill and joins an asphalt trail. Turn left to follow the trail down the hill for a short distance. Turn right at the intersecting asphalt trail to rejoin the CCT at step 5 in the instructions.
    (North) Turn left on the intersecting asphalt trail. This is the trail that starts at the columns that are visible on the right. The trail climbs a hill. Turn right on the first intersecting asphalt trail and follow it as it passes behind the homes on the left.

Pictorial Directions

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