[8] Supervisors voted to investigate the matter at the time and a month later attempted to hike across the county over a weekend, but were thwarted by the lack of connections.

[8] A month later, in early 2000, the Board voted to spend $100,000 on the first 5 phases on the trail and at the end of the year allocated another $500,000 left over from a budget surplus.

The money was needed to acquire 10 parcels, build several connections and construct 10 culverts and 8 fair-weather stream crossings.

[11] In 2002, the county acquired the Lorton Reformatory, the District of Columbia's former prison, which enabled them to connect the trail to the Occoquan.

[16] The entire trail - between Pohick road in southern Fairfax County and Great Falls - opened on December 17, 2005 with a small ribbon-cutting ceremony.

[5][17][7] Fairfax County had a larger ceremony and celebration, called "Trailfest", officially opening the trail on May 6, 2006.