Leesylvania State Park (Prince William County, VA)

    
FIG. 1A view of the Leesylvania launch on a calm autumn morning
 (to view a land photo:   if browser is Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE), use "control ="
to zoom in by hitting the "=" key while the ctrl key is depressed.  To zoom back out,
use "control -".  If browser is Netscape or Firefox, simply right click on the photo
and then select "View Image")
 
FIG. 1B aerial view of the Leesylvania launch area

Directions:  Leesylvania State Park is located near the junction of
the Potomac and the Occoquon Rivers and is situated in Prince
William county, VA.  This is about 30 miles south of Washington
and about 16 miles south of the Springfield interchange.  From
the springfield interchange, take I 95 South towards Richmond. 
Exit at exit 156.  Follow signs for VA Rt 784 East towards
Rippon Landing.  In about 0.5 miles you will reach U.S. 1. 
Take a right onto U.S. 1 south.  Travel 1 mile to Neabsco Road
and make a left onto Neabsco road.  Neabsco Road is at the
Wawa on Rt 1 and is beyond the 7-11.  Travel 1.5 miles east
on Neabsco Road and make a right onto Daniel Ludwig drive
at the sign for the park.  Travel 0.5 miles to toll booth.  Pay
toll, and continue 1 mile into park.  1 mile after toll booth,
bear right at sign for boat launch and park store.  Travel to
a large trailer parking lot.  Proceed to far corner of trailer
parking lot and unload your gear at the far corner near the
water.  Park in the gravel car parking lot adjacent to the
trailer parking lot.  There is about 100 feet distance from
the gear drop off to the sandy launch.

FIG. 2 view of trailer parking lot -- unload your gear at the
far corner of this lot and park in the gravel parking lot to
the left (not visible) (to view a photo:   if browser is Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE),
 use "control =" to zoom in by hitting the "=" key while the ctrl key is depressed.  To zoom back out,
use "control -".  If browser is Netscape or Firefox, simply right click on the photo and then select
"View Image")

Launch faces SE across the Potomac into Maryland.  The river is
quite wide here. 

FIG. 3 view of the Potomac and Maryland in the background from
the Leesylvania launch (to view a land photo:   if browser is Microsoft Internet
Explorer (IE), use "control =" to zoom in by hitting the "=" key while the ctrl key is depressed. 
To zoom back out, use "control -".  If browser is Netscape or Firefox, simply right click on the
 photo and then select "View Image")

Launch Notes:  The entry fee is $5 for a weekend day and $4 for
a weekday.  Season passes are also available.  When the toll booth
is unmanned, you are to use the honor's system.  There is no fee
for a car top launch, but there is if you use a trailer 

Amenities:  park store, restrooms
Hazards:  large number of motor boats in the summer from
               late May til Labor day.

Other Notes:  Within the park is another launch area called
Freestone Point.  This is located by continuing past the first launch
on the main drag, past the visitor's center to a cul-de-sac
about a small monument.  This is the gear drop off zone and
the beach is beyond the cul-de-sac.  However, although there
are no signs saying so, the park office has told me that launching
a windsurfer from freestone point is not allowed.  The reason
for this is that there are strong undercurrents here and there
have allegedly been a number of deaths in the past as
a result.  Thus, if you launch from freestone point, they
will tell you you can not do this and they may give you
a ticky for your protection. 

They can also issue a ticky for 1) parking in the trailer parking
lot without a trailer, 2) display or consuming a beer, 3) failure
to pay using the honor system, 4) speeding, ...
Does this belong in the hazards section?

If any of the above is incorrect, please notify me
at: WindsurfResource@yahoo.com

FIG. 4 aerial view of the Leesylvania and Mason Neck Launch
areas (North being towards the top)