Looking for the best trails around Washington?

Explore the best rated trails in Washington, DC, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Anacostia River Trail and Meadowlark Connector Trail . With more than 120 trails covering 4641 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.

Recent Trail Reviews

Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park (W&OD)

Another top 10 bucket list ride nationwide !!

May, 2024 by d_morris

From Dupont Circle in DC out to Purcellville in VA is almost exactly 50 miles. So hard core cyclists can do a century, while less extreme pedalers can make a two day trip out of it. And, as there are many Metro stops along the trail, cyclists can also do rides of varying lengths along different sections. An amazingly versatile trail in that regard. All of which — plus the C&O Canal (360 miles r/t from DC to Cumberland), Mt Vernon Trail (42 miles rt from DC to Mt Vernon), Rock Creek Park trail (45 miles rt from DC to Lake Needwood) should make DC the top cycling destination in the US.

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Awesome Nature Rides

May, 2024 by d_morris

Whether a multi-day ride from DC 180 miles to Cumberland or individual day rides along the tow path next to the C&O canal, this trail is awesome. And now that much of it has been resurfaced to be crushed granite rather than just dirt, muddy rides will no longer be a problem after and during rains. One of the top 10 bucket list rides in the US, easily.

Metropolitan Branch Trail

Great Easy Access City Trail

May, 2024 by astrathman31

Very easy to find the trail from any of the nearby red line stops which allows for easy segmenting if you don’t want to do the entire trail. Very runner friendly the entire way. It’s a great resource to have in the middle of the city.

Accordion

Powerline Trail (MD)

Maryland "Rolling" Hills

May, 2024 by hughes29187

Good mountain bike trail that as described in the trail overview traverses up and down the "rolling" hills with many areas of no shade. If you start up at the Germantown Soccerplex, I suggest you park near the BMX bike course and south along the tree line and you come across the starting marker for the Powerline trail (about a tenth of a mile down).

Burke Lake Loop Trail

Great Trail

April, 2024 by zxdf4q96ty

The main trail incorporates a mix of asphalt and gravel surfaces with great views. There’s also a number of off-trails that offer more of a trail running experience through the deeper woods. Love this place!

Rocky Run Stream Valley Trail

Beautiful

April, 2024 by zxdf4q96ty

Very calming trail with little to no traffic at 7pm.

Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail

Great Trail

April, 2024 by cyclesail

It is a very scenic rail trail. It is obviously well maintained and wide for a bike trail. As listed, it is hard packed gravel and dirt. I do not understand the negative complaints about the surface when it is clearly stated in the description. The minimum tire width for this type of trail is 32mm with 50 psi max. pressure. I ride 45 mm tires with 38 psi on this type of trail surface.

BWI Trail

Awesome ride

April, 2024 by chboddy1963

My son and I enjoyed the ride

Gwynns Falls Trail

Not well maintained, but lots of Potential

March, 2024 by tonybonta

We rode from the I70 park and ride into Baltimore and then took the Jones Falls Trail up to Mt Washington and then back to I70.

While the Jones Falls Trail seems relatively well maintained, the Gwynns Falls Trail was not. Especially from the Carroll Park Golf Course to Edmonson Ave. There were at least 4 fallen trees laying across the trail that I believe had been there for a number of weeks based on reports from other riders. All sorts of debri covered the trails including tons of broken glass. And there's literally mountains of trash and dumped household items all along the trail.

The top part of the trail including the gravel sections were beautiful and I feel most of the trail could be a wonderful experience if it were better maintained and cleaned up.

Mount Vernon Trail

Scenic, bad condition

March, 2024 by jaded1

Wonderfully scenic but woefully in need of maintenance. Congress cuts National Park Service funding so rich people don’t have to pay taxes.

B&A Trail

Nice trail -- And don't miss the very cool Ukraine mural!!

March, 2024 by chrisneilbelles

A nice solid rail trail. The southern 2/3 of the trail is mostly thru woods and suburbs. The northern 1/3 is in the Glen Burnie area and is more like an urban bike path. This section has a few more bumps and more busy street crossings. So it is all good, but just be ready for these two diffferent types of environments. From the northern end of the trail in Glen Burnie at Rt 176 there is a connector trail in good condition west to the BWI Loop Trail. For my ride, I started on the B&A in Annapolis and rode north and then did the BWI Loop. These two trails together --- plus the connector --- made for a very nice day ride. And Heads Up! At the Pasadena Road crossing, check out the wonderful, huge mural dedicated to the people of Ukraine! A very cool spot!

Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park (W&OD)

Great trail, watch out for speeding cyclists

March, 2024 by peter.ortizmarrero

Only did part of the trail from Herndon to Reston. Just watch out for the ‘Lance Armstrong’ wanna bees. Most of them do alert they are coming to your left, so stay to your right and you should be ok.

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