The Washington, DC area has become a great biking/hiking destination, with more than 800 miles of jogging and biking trails in the region. Many of these are of the popular "rail to trail" sort, where previous railroad tracks have been converted to scenic bike trails.
Be aware that the best trails are frequently the most crowded, especially during peak weekend hours, so if possible, plan for early mornings and weekdays.
Washington DC Trails
- Capital Crescent Trail
- This 13-mile popular trail is partially paved with some crushed stone, and is another "rail to trail" project.
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- Chesapeake & Ohio Towpath
- This trail is really a wonderful resource, and runs the entire 184 miles from DC to Cumberland, MD, along the towpath that follows the old manmade Chesapeake & Ohio Canal
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- Custis Trail
- This four-mile paved trail in Arlington from Bon Air Park, east to the Key Bridge at Rosslyn has a few moderate climbs and winding turns, but nicely, almost no grade crossings.
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- Mount Vernon Trail
- This is an 18.5-mile paved trail along the Potomac River, running parallel to the George Washington Memorial Parkway.
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- National Mall Path
- The 2.5 miles between the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial is an excellent running path.
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- Rock Creek Hiker/Biker Trail
- This trail totals 18.6 paved miles and is comprised of several paths that pass through Rock Creek Park that link together.
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- Washington & Old Dominion Trail
- The 45-mile Washington & Old Dominion Trail is one of the supreme trails in the area, a rails to trails conversion with a smooth, paved surface and a painted yellow center line.
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