Explore the best rated trails in Lexington Park, MD, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Fairfax County Parkway Trail and Cross Island Trail . With more than 26 trails covering 163 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!
I’m a casual writer and I wrote the entire trail and one day.
We were on Kent Island for a wedding, and we took a stroll from the Hyatt Hotel in the direction away from the Bay Bridge. The trail runs alongside the busy road for a mile or so, then there’s a short stretch in a pleasant piney woods, and then back to the busy road. The trail is well maintained and the surface is good, and the part in the woods was pretty nice. But for most of our 3.5 mile walk (total, there and back) it was like walking beside a busy road. If I did this again, I’d try to access the trail at a place where you would have a nicer experience.
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.
Liked the trail very much. However, I’ve seen other maps that show this trail actually begins on the north side of Rt-50 on the westbound side and connects to the trailhead. Is that portion part of this trail? It would make for a much longer route.
Best trail in PG county hands down.
While the trail in town is very lovely, relatively short, it’s very clean and enough meandering through green space, I really enjoy the less known western spur more. That trail spur on the opposite side of Easton Parkway is really awesome. I love riding through the well laid curves and tree canopies. Enough trail benches and smooth pavement. Love it!
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.
Rode this trail twice this month. Lightly used with only one street crossing. Only encountered one area washed out by the creek that had a gravel bypass. Watch out for a big bump just before a bridge. I hit it going to fast and it took out my front tire. They have added a bike repair station at the Tucker Road Ice Rink with a stand, tools and a pump.
This is a nice trail for walking and biking. There is a good sized parking lot in the Waldorf area and parking along the trail as well. It is definitely worth a visit.
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