Fountainhead West

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Adventure beckons at Fountainhead West, home to some of the area's most remarkable terrains. Perched on the peninsula between our two access points, this site offers premier locations for orienteering fans.

IMPORTANT
Please run your level and pay close attention to time if you’re heading to Bull Run to finish. Review the course map before starting to ensure you’re comfortable recovering from navigational errors; the safety bearing is north, and the entire peninsula has cell coverage. Courses were made shorter because of 1) elevated difficulty due to various factors and 2) significant elevation compared to other maps.
Please observe the off-limits areas! The northern area is quite restricted, with residences close to the orienteering area.

Start and Finish Locations Per Course
White/Yellow: Begin and end at Bull Run Marina—no shuttle required. You'll find the starting punch close to the registration tent.
Orange: Shuttle to Wolf Run Shoals to start. You'll traverse the entire peninsula and finish at Bull Run Marina.
Brown: To maximize your time on the peninsula, you'll start and finish about 900m from the shuttle drop-off at Shoals. There are multiple ways to get there, but the gentle way will be streamered; consider it a free warm-up! :)
Green: Shuttle to Wolf Run Shoals to start. You’ll finish there too.
Red/Blue: Shuttle to Wolf Run Shoals to start. You'll traverse the entire peninsula and finish at Bull Run Marina.

Course Setter Notes:
Runnability: The terrain is generally highly runnable. However, be prepared for hills, deadfall, heavily leaf-covered ground, or 'slow green' patches that might slow you down. Leaves blanket the area, so tread cautiously.
Contour Lines: Fountainhead West features numerous terrain elements like erosion gullies, spurs, and reentrants. Mastering contour reading is crucial here. Pay close attention to whether you ascend or descend and in which direction. It's easy to head up or down the wrong hill. Broaden your view to confirm your location. The map uses 5m contour intervals, with additional form lines to help you better sense the terrain.
Cairns: While cairns containing controls are mapped, you'll discover other unmapped ones. These rock piles vary in size and width across the peninsula. One unique cairn is part of a tree—and it holds a control! Nearly all cairns are <1.5m high, including those with controls.
Rootstocks: Some rootstocks are marked with the knoll (small brown dot) symbol, but most aren't. Don't rely on them for navigation.
Creek Crossing: All runners except those on white/yellow courses will face a creek. While there's a dedicated crossing, feel free to forge your own path. The creek is shallower to the north, allowing you to cross without getting wet. The southern end reaches about thigh-high. Embrace your adventurous spirit—you might save time by skipping the natural bridge. Man-Made Objects: Marked as 'X' on the map, these objects have no controls placed on them. Advanced runners, and possibly those on the orange course, might stumble upon this man-made debris while exploring the forest!
Obstacles: On advanced courses, you'll encounter unmarked deadfall, knolls, rootstocks, and cairns.
Trails and Rides: Indistinct trails and rides may be hard to spot due to the fall foliage. The blue-blazed Bull Run/Occoquan trail is well-traveled and maintained, but other mapped trails and rides can be extremely subtle and tricky to follow because of downed trees or vegetation.

Safety Bearing
If you ever feel disoriented, head NORTH. This direction will lead you to a trail back to the parking area or toward civilization. Moving uphill typically brings you to a trail or ride that leads northward. If you’re lost, pull out your cell phone; the entire peninsula has coverage.