Burke Lake Park - A Great Place to Visit in Fairfax County, Virginia

Just outside the Washington D.C. Beltway, is a park that is loved by residents and tourists alike. Burke Lake Park is an excellent place to spend a day, or to enjoy a weekend away from the hustle and bustle in this metropolitan area. According to the Fairfax County Park Authority, which manages this facility, the park is slightly under 900 acres in land and water area. Generations of families have known this park as a location to play golf, volleyball, rent a boat, fish, and camp at. It is open year round for most activities, with prime season being between May and September.

The lake is among Northern Virginia's largest, and it is absolutely beautiful. The water is sparkling clean, unlike a lot of local lakes and rivers, and there are plenty of shaded areas around it. Canoes and rowboats are available for renting at low cost, but swimming and using boats with engines are prohibited. Water depth is average throughout the lake, and while it supposed to be an outstanding fishing spot, I have found it to be marginally acceptable at best. Bass are supposed to be abundant, but I have only caught a few during many visits here. You are more likely to have a catfish or Perch on your line, but be sure to arrive earlier than the large crowds do. A nice place to fish here is on the walk-out pier, which is about two hundred feet from the marina. If you want to try your hand at muskie fishing, which is quite challenging, bypass the marina area for the west side of the lake.