Trails in the City
By Lynette Hill
washingtonpost.com Staff Writer
Monday, April 28, 2003; 10:01 AM
Imagine. Just one short (but steep) block from Georgetown's constant congestion are trails along the C&O Canal, where you can hike, bike, skate or just walk and birdwatch among the trees. (In Virginia, the Mount Vernon Trail is a short walk from the concrete canyons of Rosslyn.) Local biking clubs have made the trails around Rock Creek Park and Hains Point their own practice courses. For a major metropolitan area, Washington is positively stuffed with places to walk or wheel your way through the great outdoors. Trails in the Shenandoah Mountains of Virginia or West Virginia's Appalachians are just a short drive away. Need a path to follow? Here's a list of some of the area's best trails for hiking and cycling.
Washington
C&O Canal National Historical Park
850 Dual Hwy., Suite 100, Hagerstown, MD,
301-739-4200,
Hours: Daily dawn to dusk
Driving Directions
You can bike, hike and camp almost the entire 184.5 miles that the C&O Canal follows the Potomac River from Georgetown to Cumberland, Md. The park's Billy Goat Trail won "Best Hike/Bike Trail" in washingtonpost.com's Best Bets 2003 Readers' Choice contest.
Rock Creek Park
3545 Williamsburg Lane NW, Washington, DC,
202-282-1063,
Hours: Daily dawn to dusk
Price: Free
Driving Directions
Valley Trail and the Western Ridge Trail are just two of the trails that pass through this large forested area.
Virginia
Fountainhead Regional Park
10875 Hampton Rd., Fairfax Station, VA,
703-250-9124,
Hours: Daily 6 a.m.-6 p.m.
Driving Directions
Hike the Bull Run-Occoquan Trail or check out the park's off-road biking trails.
George Washington National Forest
5162 Valleypointe Pwy., Roanoke, VA,
540-265-5100,
Price: Varies at different areas
Driving Directions
This national forest has one million acres set aside for recreational fun.
Great Falls Park
9200 Old Dominion Dr., McLean, VA,
703-285-2965,
Hours: Daily 7 am to dusk; Closed Christmas Day
Price: $5
Driving Directions.
Hike, bike and enjoy the falls.
Mount Vernon Trail
Off of the George Washington Parkway, Alexandria, VA,
703-289-2500
Driving Directions
You can bike, run, walk, skate and otherwise enjoy this 18.5 miles of recreational trail.
Prince William Forest Park
18100 Park Headquarters Rd., Triangle, VA,
703-221-7181,
Hours: Daily dawn to dusk
Price: $5; $3
Driving Directions
This park has more than 35 miles of hiking and biking trails.
Washington and Old Dominion Trail
340 N. Maple Ave., Purcellville, VA
Driving Directions
Follow an old railbed west from Shirlington to Purcellville. Washington and Old Dominion Trail won "Best Bike Trails" in washingtonpost.com's Best Bets 2002 Readers' Choice contest.
Shenandoah National Park and Surrounding Area
3655 US Hwy. 211-East, Luray, VA,
540-999-3500
Hours: Open all year.
Price: $10; $5
Driving Directions
You can be hiking through forests in Blue Ridge in less than 1 1/2 hours from the Washington Beltway. Shenandoah National Park won "Best Place to Hike" in washingtonpost.com's Best Bets 2002 Readers' Choice contest.
Maryland
Gunpowder Falls State Park
2813 Jerusalem Rd., Kingsville, MD,
410-592-2897
Hours: 8 a.m. to dark, seven days a week.
Price: $2 park entrance fee per person
Driving Directions
This Maryland state park has more than 100 miles of trails, an excellent trout stream and a tidal fishing area.
Henson Creek Trail
Between Temple Hill and Oxon Hill Road, Fort Washington, MD,
301-699-2407
Driving Directions
This lesser-known trailway through Henson Creek Stream Valley Park is used for hiking, cycling, horseback riding and other outdoor activities.
Monocacy National Battlefield
4801 Urbana Pike, Frederick, MD,
301-662-3515
Hours: Daily 8 am-4:30 pm, April 1-Oct. 1; Daily 8 am-5:30 pm on weekends, Memorial Day to Labor Day; Wed-Sun 8 am-4:30 pm, Nov. 1-March 31; Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day
Price: Free
Driving Directions
This park's trail system loops through sites of historical interest.
Point Lookout State Park
PO Box 48, Scotland, MD,
301-872-5688,
Hours: Dawn to Dusk
Price: $3 Summer holidays and weekends
Driving Directions
Along with easy trails for off-road biking novices, Point Lookout offers many opportunities to observe nature.
© 2003 Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive
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