Explore the best rated trails in Severna Park, MD, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Anacostia River Trail and Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail . With more than 111 trails covering 4633 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.
We started off at Mt. Vernon and the trail was easy to follow for about 3-4 miles right at the connection to Washington and Old Dominion trail. However past that, it was not easy to navigate as there are a lot of forks and parks that the trail passes, also there are some sketchy under bridge passes that are slippery and also very narrow concrete paths over streams. This makes trail fun, but you have to be cautious.
The description on TrailLink is a bit outdated, as the trail continues past Bluemont junction and past the intersection with Custis trail. Four miles runs alongside W & OD trail for a few miles, past the custis spur. It may even run further than that, but we turned around at that point to go back to Mt. Vernon. On AllTrails, this is labeled as 15 miles out and back.
I'd give it 5 stars but so many people let their dogs off-leash here. It's a true nuisance. They are extremely rude when asked politely to leash their dogs. There is a great deal of wildlife around - beaver and muskrats in the creek, tiny spotted fawns in the spring, barred owls, foxes, hawks. People allow their dogs to chase them and to foul the paths and bushes. There seems to be no authority to stop it. Looks for the water snakes basking under the bridge over the creek and the pileated woodpeckers nesting in the dead trees!
The best part of the WOD is west of Leesburg, through Paeonian Springs into tunnels of trees, past farmland, ending at a fabulous barbecue place in Purcellville. Stunning in fall foliage.
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.
I was in the area visiting my parents in Ellicott City and found this trail that looked like a good target for a 5 mile morning walk. I parked at the Ilchester Rd end and found the trail head. The trail seems very well kept, 2 of the bridges were new and I didn't see any litter, fallen trees or other maintenance issues. I am thinking the trail must have been recently paved as it was very smooth with no roots cracking and bending the asphalt. A lot of people using the trail and swimming in the river. Great to see so many getting out on a nice summer day. When I finished my walk and went back to the parking lot my dad's truck was not there. My first thought was why would someone steal that 20 year old truck. As I was pondering what to do next, I noticed a sign at the end of the parking lot and went over to take a look. It showed that it was private parking and patrolled by Paladin Impound and showed the address of the Impound lot. A $30 Uber ride and a $280 fine and I got my dad's truck back. I obviously should have paid closer attention to the parking but I feel it is a bit of a trap. The Private Parking sign is kind of a conspicuous location like they are hoping you don't see the sign and do park there so they can collect their bounty. I wasn't the first car parked in the lot, and someone else was parked there when I was waiting for Uber. Anyway, if you do check this trail out be very careful to make sure you are parking in the correct trailhead parking lot.
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.
Rode from Cumberland to a parking area 23 miles outside of DC, camping at four of the campsites along the way. They have been doing a lot of work to improve the condition of this trail and it shows. Weather was perfect, but most sections seemed like they would still be pretty good even after some rain. There was one detour that was a tough push over really rocky roads for a few miles. Other than that, it was perfect.
This was a ride done during the day prior to a wedding we attended in MD. We picked up the trail on rented bikes by PaperMill Road and headed north. Some of the surface was muddy from heavy rain but still passable. We had lunch at Monkton Hotel. There was a museum too that we were able to tour along the trail. Would recommend being ready for bugs but overall still a great ride.
We ( recumbent trike & e-bike) headed West from the Kiwanis park. Turned around after 9km as the surface was really tough on the trike. There’s 2 good wheel tracks for bikes, but the trike had to ride partially in the coarse trail ballast. Scenic area with farm views and a huge windmill farm in the distance.
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.
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