Lots of hills, and forest. I would avoid on a bike when wet because there are lots of boardwalk bridges. This is definitely one of the best trails in the area.

I have biked the Matthew Henson Trail many times and it is very relaxing as it follows the water or has raised bridges in a very wooded area. Parts of it are inside a residential neighborhood but you would not know it. There is a lot of pedestrian traffic so be careful if you are on a bike

I have done the Carl Henn loop many times and it can be fun if you are fine with making traffic light crossings and taking your time. The Gude drive portion is industrial and gravelly and not so pleasant but the rest of it is really pretty

This trail was simply beautiful. All paved and nestled through amazing forest and along the water. So worth the hour drive from my home and the $6.00 entrance fee.

This trail was very beautiful. Nicely paved and winds through woods with breathtaking scenery along the way. Was about an hour drive from my home and entrance was $6 per car, but I will absolutely go back.

My wife and I enjoy this well-maintained trail almost every weekend when the weather is nice. We like to drop onto the trail at different points along its 180+ mile length for variety—it’s absolutely beautiful with nature around every turn, mixed with lots of history. We recommend heading down to the Potomac River on one of the many paths to enjoy the scenery when you need a break.

Rode the trail from Harpers Ferry to Locke 8 on Tuesday, April 13th. Be aware that just east of Brunswick is a detour that crosses an ancillary canal that proved to be impassable and resulted in a 10-mile plus to detour, over road with little shoulder and hilly. Another cyclist said the area was passable as recently as the Sunday prior (4/11).

wonderful trip across America

This trail If you start in Silver Spring is a total of 11 miles one way. We started our bike ride in Bethesda. The trailhead in Bethesda is right outside the Capital Crescent Garage (31). It is free on weekends and holidays. There is a separate elevator for folks with bikes. We parked on level G2 right by the elevators, easy to get in and out of the elevator. Once you exit the garage, the trail will be right in front of you. From this point, it is 7 miles to get to the Georgetown Waterfront Park. This trail also runs parallel to the C & O canal towpath. There are breaks in the trail, so you can easily go back and forth between the two trails. A lot of people walking on the trail, so be careful if you’re bicycling. From the park if you go up Wisconsin Ave, you’ll find bike racks where you can lock up your bike. We knew we wanted to walk around Georgetown, so we brought locks with us. We took some time to window shop and eat. If you want a great cupcake, go to Sprinkles. Their cupcakes are delicious and better than Georgetown Cupcakes. The ride to Georgetown was downhill and easy. The ride back was harder because it was uphill. If you’re only doing the trail and you’re riding at a steady pace, it should take you 2 hours to complete. Round trip from Bethesda to Georgetown and back was ~15 miles. I wouldn’t recommend doing the trail from Silver Spring, there’s construction at the moment and they have a detour in place. Overall beautiful ride, great for adults and kids. Plenty to see and do!