Pohick Bay Regional Park--  (Fairfax County, VA)

 
FIG. 1A view Gunston Cove from PBRP in early December
(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 launch area
 

Directions: PBRP is a a park off the Lorton exit of I95 south of DC. 
Take the exit on Lorton Road, and turn north to intersection with 
Route 1. Go south on Route 1 to traffic light at Gunston Rd, 
turn left, and go down Gunston Road about about 2.5 miles. 
Turn left into park, pay toll at toll booth and then proceed 
down the hill and to the left to the launch area.  

Fees:  Fees include 1) admission and 2) car top launch fee. 
Fees are based upon whether or not you are within jurisdiction
as per your driver's license.  For out of jurisdiction, the admission
fee is $7 and the launch fee is another $4.  For within jurisdiction,
the admission is free but the car top launch fee is still $4. 
Within jurisdiction is within one of Alexandria, Arlington,
City of Fairfax, Fairfax County, Falls Church and Loudoun county.
Non-jurisdiction people can buy an annual pass for $25. 
This annual pass is for admission and not for launching. 

This park provides you with access to the same body of water as
that accessible within Fort Belvoir.  Pohick is considered a minor
 launch as 1) there is often a lot of wake by motor boats
in the summer, and 2) the park itself is congested in the summer,
but out of season, it is much more quiet. 
 The Park's website can be found by clicking here.

FIG. 2 a sign of the times and a sign of the congestion within the
park during the summer

 The launch faces NE into Gunston cove, and one must travel SE
to get to the Potomac.

FIG. 3 view of the pebbly car top launch area at PBRP
(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")

FIG. 4 view of Gunston Cove on a calm day from the pebbly
beach launch area (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")