Top Washington Bike Trails

When all roads around Washington are clogged with the nation's worst traffic and the Metro has another breakdown during rush hour, Washington bike trails are the best way to get around. Thanks to the Capital Bikeshare program and the fancy indoor bike parking at Union Station, bikes are very welcome in the city and around it. Here are some of the top Baltimore and Washington bike trails to skirt around town sans cars, or just to enjoy a leisurely ride.

Capital Crescent Trail. This is one of the most popular trails in town. Following an old rail line from downtown Bethesda, the trail parallels the Potomac River and eventually the C&O Canal into Georgetown, where people can hop on the Key Bridge into Virginia. This is a great trail to take into downtown Washington from the suburbs to avoid traffic.

Mt. Vernon Trail. This 18-mile trail is also a historic adventure of Northern Virginia. It winds bikers from Arlington Cemetery through Old Town Alexandria, where many colonial highlights still stand, onto George Washington's estate of Mount Vernon. In between, you can stop along for scenic moments of the Potomac and watch planes take off and land at the National Airport as well.

C&O Canal. The C&O Canal is not for the faint of heart and not for the skinniest of wheels. This dirt path follows the old Chesapeake & Ohio canal for more than 180 miles, eventually connecting with the Alleghany Passage that finishes in Pittsburgh. You could feasibly bike to Pittsburgh without ever seeing a car. Of course, you can always just bike a small portion of this path without interruption. The canal ends in Georgetown; just make sure you follow the dirt path and don't get onto the Capital Crescent trail by mistake.

Gwynn Falls Trail. At least Baltimore has a rustic bike scene of its own. This quaint trail starts in downtown Baltimore and stretches for 15 miles of asphalt and a short path of crushed stone, all set up with patrolling police to ensure safety. The downtown portion of the trail travels through neighborhoods, but the natural setting begins at Carroll Park. Many interesting points to stop along the path include the Crimea Mansion, the Mt. Claire Mansion, the B&O Railroad Museum, Oriole Park, and Federal Hill Park. There are also several ball fields and places to hike and explore off the trail as well.

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