Mason Neck

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January 5
Sunday

Mason NeckPre-registration is required for this event, opening Monday, Dec. 30 at 6pm and closing Saturday January 4 at 12 noon.
There will be no day-of registration.

Happy New Year!! Please join us to ring in 2025 with a wonderful day of orienteering at a club favorite, Mason Neck State Park!

Orienteering at Mason Neck provides a distinctive navigation experience due to the flatness of this coastal plain terrain. With a great trail network, many sections of open woods, and distinctive terrain, this a fine venue to get started or to hone your advanced skills. The park's subtle contours (2.5 meter contour interval rather than the standard 5 meters) and subtle features present a change from the usual Northern Virginia spur and reentrant terrain. At Mason Neck you'll enjoy the chance to develop your compass skills and pace counting. Runners have their choice of a full set of classic courses, White to Blue (details below) thanks to QOC course setter Rob Field.

Also, to help those new to the very useful skill of pace-counting, we will set up a 100 meter pace course near registration. Those interested will be able to get some instruction/recommendations on how to calculate your pace and employ pace-counting most effectively.

As always, you must be off the course no later than 3pm and remember to download at our e-punch station even if you do not finish. We want to make sure of everyone is safely out of the woods and accounted for. Check in will be on the west side of the main parking area as usual. Follow QOC signage from the turn off Gunston Road.

Beginners: Make sure to check out our Your First Event and For Beginners webpages, and if they don’t answer any remaining questions you have, just ask them via our Contact Form.

Group Leaders: please see our For Group Leaders webpage and then contact the Event Director so they are apprised of your plans.

Please do contact the Event Director if you're able to help at this event.

  • Beginner instruction will be offered.
  • Pets are allowed in Mason Neck State Park but must be kept on a leash and under the owner’s control at all times.
  • QOC will continue to use pre-registration as the ONLY method of signing up for our meets. There will be NO day-of, on-site registration. Refunds are paid only in the case of event cancellation.

    • Location

    Mason Neck SP, Mason Neck SP, Lorton, VA (Classic)
    RegistrationAdvance registration will be required. The date and time that registration will open will be posted here; usually, registration will open at 6pm on the Monday before the event.
    Start TimesStart times will be by windows (to be defined for this event before registration opens).
    ScheduleSunday, January 5
    10:00 am - 3:00 pmClassic:
    Volunteers
    Event Director:John Baker
    Course Designer:Rob Field
    Location Details

    Classic
    Mason Neck SP
    Mason Neck SP
    Lorton, VA
    Google Map

    		From southbound I-95, take exit 163 (Lorton). Go left onto Lorton Rd at the end of exit ramp. Go under the 2nd overpass and turn right onto Lorton Market St., then go about 1.5 miles to the traffic light at Route 1. Go straight through light (the road name changes to Gunston Rd) and go about 5 miles to the right turn on High Point Road (it's about 1.2 miles after the Pohick entrance). Once in the park ($10 entrance fee per vehicle), follow the signs towards the Visitor Center. The registration area will be to the left just before the Visitor Center; look for the banner.
    Google Maps Link
    Apple/iPhone Link
    Course NotesClassic

    Classic courses from White through Blue will be offered. First note: All courses will cross High Point Road (the paved road you came in on) at least once; please DO NOT run along this road, but cross perpendicular after checking for traffic.
    The terrain at Mason Neck is relateivvely flat and open; the park's subtle contours (2.5 meter contour interval rather than the standard 5 meters) and subtle features present a change from the usual Northern Virginia spur and reentrant terrain. In general, it's quite runnable terrain, with the challenge being staying in contact with the map. At Mason Neck you'll enjoy the chance to refine your compass skills and practice pace counting. There will be a 100 meter course near registration where you can measure / confirm your pace count. As with many maps, not all rootstocks are mapped, and conversely, some mapped rootstocks are no longer as obvious as they once were, so keep that in mind.
    The water features such as marshes and minor watercourses fluctuate based on recent rainfall. With the current drought, many of the marshes or minor water channels are dry, but that is likely to change in the next month. Historically, the open marshes along Kanes Creek on the north edge of the map may be totally impassable if there's been recent precipitation. All courses will start from the large clearing in front of the registration/download area.
    Entry FeesIndividual Entries

    Note: juniors = under 21

    Club Member, adult Club Member, junior Non-Member, adult Non-Member, junior
    $10 $5 $20 $5

    Group Entries

    Participants are welcome to orienteer together as a group (up to the maximum for that event; usually 4). Each member of a group is charged their individual rate as shown above, up to a group total of $30 (maximum), and each receives a map. A group receives one epunch. Individuals or groups desiring to compete on a second course after completing their first can do so for a reduced fee of $2/map subject to approval at the event by the Event Director.

    Important Notes
    • If you wish to become a QOC member you should join online in advance via this webpage (which also explains the member benefits). Membership is completely optional.
    • Most of our events use an 'epunch' timing chip for electronic timing. Individuals or groups without their own epunch will be loaned one for that event. Loaned epunches that are lost incur a $40 replacement fee. Epunches (also known as SI-cards or finger sticks) can be purchased from online vendors as described here.
    • Former QOC members who have let their membership lapse pay non-member fees.
    • Compasses are available at no charge, but if lost incur a $15 replacement fee.
    • Please provide collateral (such as car keys) when borrowing a compass or epunch.
    • Beginners are encouraged to watch relevant videos such as this one created by QOC's instructional guru David Onkst.