Explore the best rated trails in Bowling Green, VA, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Ox Road Sidepath and Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail . With more than 26 trails covering 246 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.
This experience is based on parking at Mount Vernon and riding the trail for approximately 4 miles in one direction, then returning. The trail is primarily paved, with a scattering of wide wooden bridges to cross. You will ride an asphalt two-laned path through lightly forested areas as well as open areas, so you can enjoy the sun and the breeze coming off the Potomac River. The scenery is spectacular, and gives you the opportunity to forget that you are in Northern Virginia.
However, there are a lot of inclines and descents that some may find challenging. If all else fails, just get off the bike and walk, and pick up riding when the trail flattens out. Part of the route -- not the trail itself -- goes through a short tunnel, so the trail ends at the tunnel entrance, and picks up again once you go through and exit the tunnel. This means while in the tunnel, you are on the road, and not on a bike path. For children bike riders and hikers, extra precaution should be taken at this point. Other than that, absolutely stunning views of Northern Virginia and the Potomac River. Bald Eagles can be seen flying over the water as well. This trail is definitely a do-over!
Great ride. Wish the trail had more bathrooms along the trail
The view from the dam, with the lake and fall colors is magnificent.
I recently walked virtually every foot of the 40+ mile long Jerry Connolly Cross County trail, in both directions. This includes the part of the route which is not a trail at all, but a 2-mile long sidewalk along a busy road. I would start by driving to a starting point and walk about 5000 steps in one direction, stopping at a convenient point where I could park my truck nearby. Then, I walked back along the same trail. Most of the southern part of the trail, from the Occoquan river to Arlington Blvd is paved in asphalt. Almost all of the northern part, from the Oakmont rec center to Great Falls park is a rough trail. This part would be quite muddy after a rain. Most of the trail parallels a stream, from Difficult Run in the north, to Accotink Creek in the middle, to Pohick Creek in the south. Trail markers range from excellent in some parts to hardly noticeable in other parts. Having Google Maps on a phone app was super helpful at times when I accidently veered from the trail, or was at a point with a fork in the trail. There are several signs along the way with a map of the trail in the near vicinity. These were necessary and helpful when the trail came to an apparent end and the resumption point was several yards away. Almost all of the trail is an easy walk with just a few steep-ish ascents and descents. Most of the trail is really quite pretty. Overall, a very fulfilling experience for me.
Great trail. Not too crowded. Lots of shade. We biked the loop with our six-year-old who rides a fixed gear bike. A few hills on the south side were a bit steep, so we did some walking, but the north side was much easier. Definitely going back.
Just finished 4 days biking on trails here!! Beautiful scenery, mostly quiet trails.. a few seniors enjoying Virginia!!Karen from Canada
The friends of the Mount Vernon trail has done a lot to improve the MVT including grinding down the trip hazard, filling potholes, replacing water fountains and more. NPS has also replaced a lot of the bridges and boardwalks, and will be widening and repaving the entire trail soon. be sure to stop in old town Alexandria for the self guided black history tour, or to get a bite to eat. Check out Mount Vernon and the distillery at the Southern end, or cut across into DC at the 14th street bridge. You can end your ride in Rosslyn for the many great attractions! The trail also goes past the new Amazon headquarters, Crystal City, the Pentagon, Arlington nationalcemetery, Teddy Roosevelt Island, and is just a bridge away from the Kennedy Center, Georgetown and the famous C&O Canal Trail.
BARN CATS STILL THERE! I couldn't believe it. Again, one was laying on the trail, just as chill as could be. An hour later, it was still there! Must have become jaded with all the attention it must get, b/c it didn't care about my presence, or the little pat I gave it, lol.
Trail is still a pleasant getaway in the country. Very little traffic on the trail on an early Saturday evening. Still in good shape. Some bumps in it now, from tree roots, but they are few and far between. Wish I could live along this trail.
I rode the Virginia Capital Trail from Richmond, VA to Jamestown, VA over to Williamsburg, VA to stay the night and back to Richmond. I did it on my Trek Dual Sport + (E-bike) on the lowest assistance (1% assist). First I was really impressed I got over 60 miles on the charge with the extra battery so I made it both ways with an overnight charge.
The trail was nice with some rolling hills, nothing unbearable to climb. However the heat was bad. Yesterday the heat index was 110 degrees. I did have plenty of water and gatorade with me. On Monday the heat index, I think, was around 105 degrees. Majority of the trail is not shaded! And if you are looking for a bench to take a break, well most of the benches (not that there is a lot to choose from) are in the sun. There are places to stop along the way to replenish drinks but there is also about a 15 mile run where there really isn't any convenient place to get food or water. The cool thing with this ride is the American history and history markers along the route. There are many plantations along the way that you can stop. I didn't read most of the markers or stop at any plantations. Once I got to Jamestown I did stop at the visitors center for food and more water before heading to Williamsburg. I found out that part of the Colonial Parkway was closed which sucked since I had to take a little detour through Colonial Williamsburg in order to get to my hotel. This added about 3 extra miles in the heat.
On the way back it was brutal in the heat. On top of the heat I had 9 mph SW winds which meant I was riding into the wind. 9 mph isn't much but on a bike you feel it. It only took me 4 hours to ride from Richmond to Jamestown but 6 hours back. I did enjoy the ride to Jamestown from Richmond better than coming back but I think that was also because of the wind. I really loved the downhill as I got closer to Richmond.
Overall I am really glad I did the trail but I don't need to do it again. There are many other trails I want to do; I am really glad I did this one at least once. I feel very accomplished. This was my longest ride I have done as an overnight trip.
Rode the trail from Jones Point Park to Mount Vernon last week. Most all of the wooden bridges are newer and add to the ambience, but don't provide a good riding surface for my MTB with Schwalbe Silento 26x1.75 tires. As others have noted, the pushed up roots have been ground down somewhat, but not smooth, until about a 1/2 mile from Mount Vernon where the pushed up roots are simply marked and the trail becomes unrideable. On the return, I rode on the George Washington Parkway to get past the badly pushed up roots section. Then, I rode as far as I could on lightly travelled neighborhood streets running parallel to the trail, which were substantially smoother. Then proceeded back on the trail to Jones Point Park. Overall, it wasn't a very enjoyable ride and likely won't seek to do it again.
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