Find the top rated hiking trails in Culpeper, whether you're looking for an easy short hiking trail or a long hiking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a hiking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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.
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.
I haven’t anything new so I thought I would add one. I love this route! I am an inline skater and it is a very smooth ride. It is not super crowded & very peaceful. The people are really nice & I never have any issues.
From Dupont Circle in DC out to Purcellville in VA is almost exactly 50 miles. So hard core cyclists can do a century, while less extreme pedalers can make a two day trip out of it. And, as there are many Metro stops along the trail, cyclists can also do rides of varying lengths along different sections. An amazingly versatile trail in that regard. All of which — plus the C&O Canal (360 miles r/t from DC to Cumberland), Mt Vernon Trail (42 miles rt from DC to Mt Vernon), Rock Creek Park trail (45 miles rt from DC to Lake Needwood) should make DC the top cycling destination in the US.
The main trail incorporates a mix of asphalt and gravel surfaces with great views. There’s also a number of off-trails that offer more of a trail running experience through the deeper woods. Love this place!
Very calming trail with little to no traffic at 7pm.
Only did part of the trail from Herndon to Reston. Just watch out for the ‘Lance Armstrong’ wanna bees. Most of them do alert they are coming to your left, so stay to your right and you should be ok.
The map gave us the start of the trail. But, it was in a neighborhood and there was no parking at all.
As others have said - this trail is very bumpy. Much of the trail still has railroad ties going across it. I did on a touring bike and even deflated the tires partway into the trail. I still called it after 8 miles. Just not much fun. Hope they will improve it a bit sometime because I lived the countryside and overhanging tree branches etc. Really beautiful. Good walking trail or mountain bikes.
I started my experience at the trailhead of the charming and historic town of Purcellville at 7:30 on a Saturday morning in late October. I only went about six miles, but was surprised at the amount of fitness minded people using the trail so early in the day. It was primarily walkers and runners, but every now and then serious speed demons on their bikes would race past me. It's certainly a good trail for building up speed.
As for me, a tourist from California, I was moving along the trail moderately so as to take advantage of as many photo ops as possible. I especially enjoyed the fall colors, rolling hills of farm and pasture land, and some historic, vintage buildings. The stately country homes were absolutely stunning! I wish I'd had more time to explore more of this trail further!
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