Lake Audubon

Length (short route): 2.6 miles

Length (SLHS route): 3.2 miles

Surface: paved trail and natural path

Exposure: sun and shade

Surroundings: lakes, roads, woods

Directions:

The walk begins at the Lake Audubon pool parking lot. Coming out of the parking lot turn right and cross the Lake Audubon dam so that the lake is on your right.
The path follows Twin Branches Road until Glade Drive.
Turn right and follow the path along Glade Drive.
The path is shown crossing the second appearance of Thrush Ridge Road along Glade Drive.
After crossing Glade Court the path turns slightly into the woods for a short distance but returns to follow Glade Drive.
After crossing Timberhead Lane follow the asphalt path to the right along that road.
The asphalt path turns left and leaves Timberhead Lane. It goes between the houses just past the fire hydrant shown.
The path crosses a cul-de-sac at the end of Compass Point Lane and proceeds down a steep hill on the other side. As an alternate route to avoid the hills you may turn left on the sidewalk along Compass Point Lane and proceed back to Glade Drive. Turn right at Glade Drive and walk about half a block along a dirt path. A narrow asphalt path will then return you to the wider trail coming up the hill shown in step 9. Follow the wide path along Glade Drive.
At the bottom of the hill the path turns left and proceeds back up the hill where it rejoins Glade Drive. Turn right to continue following Glade Drive.
The path crosses Quartermaster Lane and passes a soccer field at the top of the slight rise.
At the other end of the soccer field turn right and follow the path down the hill through the woods.
The path crosses Spyglass Cove. The path is slightly to the right on the other side of the road.
After walking a short distance the garden shown in the photo will appear to the left and Lake Audubon will appear on the right. The path will shortly turn to the left to follow Lake Audubon.
Turn right at the green manhole and cross the bridge across the creek.
To take the short route turn right at the next trail intersection and continue to follow Lake Audubon for a short distance. To take the longer loop around South Lakes High School (SLHS) turn left instead of right and skip to point 24 in these directions
These are the instructions for the short route. Note the wildflowers along the lake to the right. The Reston Association maintains these. There is a short dirt path by the flowers should you wish to get a closer view. The asphalt path turns to the left and goes up the hill.
The path crosses Wakerobin Lane.
The path intersects with South Lakes Drive. Follow the path to the right along South Lakes Drive for several blocks.
The path climbs a slight rise after crossing Cabots Point Lane.
At the next trail split take the path to the left back down the rise and continuing to follow South Lakes Drive.
Cross Ridge Heights Road and follow the dirt path between South Lakes Drive and the guardrail. This path will follow South Lakes Drive across the Lake Thoreau dam. If you prefer to take a paved path turn right onto an asphalt path after crossing Ridge Heights Road. After intersecting with a path on your left turn and proceed in a reverse direction to enter a tunnel under South Lakes Drive. After exiting the tunnel turn right onto the path. Go to point 36 in the instructions to follow the remainder of the route.
The natural path is shown crossing the dam. Notice that here the guardrail is to the left of the path.
The natural path intersects with Twin Branches Road. Turn right and follow the sidewalk on this side of Twin Branches. Skip to point 40 in the instructions to finish the walk.
These are the instructions for the SLHS alternate route. The trail cuts through the woods with houses on your right.
The trail comes to a bridge. After crossing the bridge take the trail to the right.
A trail intersects from the left. Continue curving to the right and pass through a tunnel under South Lakes Drive.
After exiting the tunnel go straight. The path to the right goes to a high school parking lot.
At the next trail intersection turn right and cross a bridge.
The trail comes to a clearing. Take a sharp right and follow the trail up the hill through a grassy section.
The trail passes through the rear of the high school grounds. Continue straight with tennis courts on your left.
The trail crosses Seahawk Drive. Continue straight across and the trail curves to the left between the homes on the other side.
The trail crosses Whisperwood Glen Lane. Continue straight on the other side.
The trail crosses Silentwood Lane. Go straight across and follow the concrete sidewalk to the right in front of the homes on the other side. The path will turn left between the homes and become an asphalt trail again.
The path passes through a grassy area on the left. It then goes down into a tunnel under Ridge Heights Road.
After exiting the tunnel take the path to the right. Just before that path enters another tunnel turn left and follow a path along the north side of South Lakes Drive.
The path crosses the Lake Thoreau dam.
After crossing the dam the path turns left to follow an entrance road into South Lakes Village Center.
At the Starbucks cross the entrance road to the sidewalk in front of the service station.
The sidewalk crosses the entrance to the village center from Twin Branches Road. Turn right and follow the sidewalk along the entrance road to the crosswalk across South Lakes Drive (at the traffic light). Cross South Lakes Drive to the asphalt trail on the east side of Twin Branches Rd. You have now rejoined the shorter version of the walk.
Both alternates rejoin at this point. Take the asphalt path along Twin Branches Road. It will shortly cross Villaridge Drive. It will cross this street again at the next intersection
The asphalt trail crosses Twin Branches Road just after Sentinel Point Lane. A street crossing should be made prior to this point because of the poor visibility around the curve. The Lake Audubon pool is only another block down Twin Branches Road.

Next - Pictorial Directions

Home - Contents - Links