Looking for the best trails around Essex?

Explore the best rated trails in Essex, MD. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail and Springlawn Trail. With more than 107 trails covering 4554 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

Enola Low Grade Trail

Love this trail. Crushed stone, flat, maintained. Plenty of benches to stop and rest.

March, 2023 by wattamutt

Love this trail. Crushed stone, flat, maintained. Plenty of benches to stop and rest.

Enola Low Grade Trail

Will not go back

March, 2023 by prhelt

The 3 stars is for the first 6 miles or so out of Turkey Hill. The trail goes along the river and is in good shape and nice views. Once you get off the river the trail gets really boring. Nothing to look at. Even the towns have no connections to the trail. From about miles 20 onward the trail quickly deteriorates to the point where it should not even be listed as a trail. Zero Stars here. It is just at best an unmaintained access road for people working on the power lines. Sometimes it is not even that good. If you are looking for a nice first few miles this is fine.

Cross County Trail (VA)

Long, multi use trail

March, 2023 by mramat

This trail is mostly paved and runs through varied terrain. It travels along a creek, through the woods, near an old repurposed prison, and several neighborhoods. I started at the Southern terminus. Time only allowed me to ride the southern 10 miles (10 out and 10 back). Although paved, I’d recommend a hybrid, gravel, mountain or comfort bike of you are biking it. There are rooted areas and some creek crossings with cement stepping areas to get across. There were very few on the trail on the Wednesday afternoon that I wenrX There are some tricky forks in the path. Make sure you have a map or app accessible.

Accordion

Mount Vernon Trail

great scenic trail along the Potomac River

February, 2023 by mramat

This trail is mostly paved with some boardwalks. It travels mostly along the Potomac River. It is well marked except for a few spots where it joins the road in Alexandria. There are several spots to park along the trail and several parks along the trail. You can ride any type of bike on this trail , but due to some bumps and routes, I think a road bike would be uncomfortable. Walking or running in the trail should be very easy.

Potomac Yard Trail

great connector

February, 2023 by asaorrinbrown

This trail is paved and in good condition. Used by cyclists, runners, dog walkers and walkers pretty evenly. Connects Braddock metro and Del Ray to Crystal City. Target, Long Bridge rec center, Mount Vernon trail, and soon the long bridge crossing into DC!

Metro Linear Park

simple and functional

February, 2023 by asaorrinbrown

This path is a simple paved connection between King Street metro and Braddock metro. It’s in okay condition, and has a mix of cyclists, walkers, dog walkers and the like. Be careful at the crosswalk on the north end. Traffic often doesn’t stop. Continue north on the other side of the train tracks to get to Potomac Yard, Crystal City, Target, the spray Park, and the mount Vernon trail. Long Bridge crossing into DC coming soon!

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park

wonderful ride, just awesome

February, 2023 by ray72

I have done the C&O/GAP trip 4 or 5 times now and loved it every time. everyone is friendly and on the C&O you can go as little or as far as you want per day. Camping areas every 10 miles so you cant get yourself stuck.

I love the GAP but prefer the C&O because its more of a trail vs just spinning away road ridding like always. Much of the C&O feels like you are in the woods away from things but without ever really being far should you need help. its the perfect amount of "adventure" for normal people.

Don't over pack, towns and stops all along the trial. Its flat so its easy to over do it.... but once you hit the PawPaw detour you will question if you really needed the laptop, espresso machine, and mini fridge :)

Test ride your bikes loaded, make sure its still fun to ride and remove the silly stuff you really don't need.

Bring/try and keep 3 water bottles full in case a pump or two is out, and drink more than you think you need to

bring snacks and eat more than you think you need to

ride a bike with around 38c-50c (1.5"-2") tires and do not pump them up to the max pressure listed on the sidewalls. that number on the side of the tire is the maximum and not even close to ideal pressure (google tire pressures for dirt roads on bikes), not a rule, you can totally go with thinner tires, I had no problem with my 32c tires last time but it is far more comfortable with a bit more rubber between you and the trail especially if you don't ride all the time.

Makes me sad when I see people complain about the C&O trail surface, thats why I go.... We have millions of miles of road to ride starting at our doorsteps why make more. Just use the proper tire and pressure for a TRAIL and your golden.



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

Magical Trail

January, 2023 by clairemullins01

I can’t describe how much I love this trail. It goes longer than anyone could ever want and the people are courteous and everyone looks to be having a great time.

B&A Trail

Half Marathon distance

January, 2023 by mackbrazelle

Awesome trial to run or bike. At 13 miles it is almost exactly a half marathon. Down and back should be a full Marathon. Mostly flat and smooth. Passes thru different neighborhoods with lots of options for stopping to eat or let the kids take a break and play.

Enola Low Grade Trail

Nice easy ride

December, 2022 by wadebusha

It's nice to be able to ride all the way through again but Too bad they had to build this hideous concrete and steel bridge though, instead of finding the person who burned the old one and hanging them from the trestle as an example.

Eisenhower Avenue Trail

Convenient For Locals; Trailing Getting A Little Rough

December, 2022 by myokitis

This trail is indeed convenient for the connection to Holmes Run Trail. It is semi-urban in nature, no exciting scenery but the greater positive is that there are no road crossings on the trail.

At this writing the trail was getting a little rough in spots. Hazards include at least one pothole at a utility box but more numerous are tree-roots that are causing the asphalt to protrude in multiple areas, creating potential hazards for wheeled transport, but especially inline skaters. However, these are navigable if care is taken to watch for them.

B&A Trail

B&A

December, 2022 by dequanfrance

This is a great trail to ride. I frequent it often. Mostly flat with a few crossing from Arnold to Glen burnie. This also connects to the BWI trail which makes it a nice 41 mile loop.

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