Mount Vernon Trail

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Difficulty: Easy
Length: 18.0 miles / 29 km
Duration: Half day

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Overview: You will not believe how scenic some portions of this trail are. Whether you visit during spring, summer, winter, or fall, you'll see some gorgeous riverfront scenery and enjoy some unique and interesting stops along the way.

Fortunately this trail is fairly easy to do out and back in one day, especially if you spend some recuperation time at Mount Vernon. If you are combining this ride with a C & O Canal Towpath ride, you can easily cross the Frances Scott Key Bridge to start your ride on the Mount Vernon Trail.

While in the Washington D.C. area, be sure to take time to look at the monuments. You get a different perspective of the area from this trail. And speaking of monuments, be sure to look at the Navy and Marine Memorial located between D.C. & Alexandria. You will be one of the few people who get to see this artwork since it is not very well known and is in a fairly out-of-the-way area.

Even though this trail is heavily used, it is a fairly relaxing ride since it is well paved and spends very little time on roads. You will be on Union Street in Alexandria and then on a very sparsely used road a little further into Virginia. Other than that, there's only one other road crossing except when there are construction detours.

One of the many unique stopping spots along the way is at Reagan National Airport. It is a fun spot to watch the planes taking off and landing. You can almost touch the landing gear as the trail dives right under the flight path of two of the runways.

Next, you will explore some scenic wetlands as you ride over them on wide boardwalks. I have heard this area can have lots of insects, but in the numerous times I've ridden the trail, I've never had that problem.

Just before you get to Alexandria, the trail will fork and give you two options. If you are traveling from D.C. toward Mount Vernon, take the left (waterfront) fork. It is more scenic and offers more trail-time, although both routes involve time on roadways.

Old Town Alexandria and its waterfront area is a good place to spend some time, either on your way to or from Mount Vernon. You will enjoy the ice cream parlors, coffee shops, art galleries, and King Street shuttle. It's a good place for a meal, a snack, a drink, some shopping, or site-seeing.

Stay on Union Street as you go through Alexandria, then bear left when you get to the trail again. Look for signs to Jones Point Park. This will take you back down near the Potomac then under the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.

From there, you will leave the hustle and bustle of the cities behind and start enjoying a more placid pace and scenery. Although you will be following the course of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, it's easy to forget the fast pace of the highway and enjoy the tranquility of the river and forest. You will make your way through parks and wildlife preserves until you get to George Washington's home.

If you've never been to Mount Vernon or haven't been there recently, you should plan to spend some time touring the home and the grounds. It is beautiful and historic. And the sit-down restaurant will even serve you some colonial food befitting the first president of the United States of America.

Tips: 1. If you are starting from Mount Vernon, there is plenty of parking there. If you are starting from the D.C. end, you may want to park at Theodore Roosevelt Island.
2. Dogs are allowed from T. R. Island to Mount Vernon.
3. Plan to spend some time in Alexandria where you can find a year-round Christmas store, an old Torpedo Factory that is now an art gallery, a waterfront park, and even a Starbucks right on your route.
4. Plan to have lunch either at Mount Vernon (where they have a fast-food court & a sit-down restaurant) or in Alexandria.

Points of Interest

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Mount Vernon

This is the home of the first president of the United States, George Washington. It is definitely one of the top ten places to visit while in the Washington D.C. area. In addition to being an essential historical stopover, it is also a great place to get lunch or dinner as it has two good, relatively inexpensive restaurants at the welcome center.

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Fort Hunt National Park

Fort Hunt played a significant role in the Spanish-American War and a covert role in World War II. But for the purposes of the Mount Vernon Trail, its current role is to provide a picnic/rest area for weary travelers.

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Collingwood Park

The trail moves away from the Potomac River for a ways during this shady stretch. There is one restroom and a drinking fountain located near the trail in this stretch, but the bathrooms may not always be accessible, depending on the season and time of day.

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Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve

This is a good spot to observe the Potomac wetlands and enjoy superb bird-watching.

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Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge

Do not cross over the bridge here, but go east on trail and cross under the Woodrow Wilson bridge.

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Jones Point Park

You are now just south of Alexandria, Virginia and north of the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge.

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Old Town Alexandria, Virginia

The bad news: You have to ride your bike on the road (Union St.) for this portion of the Mount Vernon Trail.
The good news: You're in Old Town Alexandria with its shopping, history, restaurants, and coffee shops. Enjoy the shops & cafes along Union Street and King Street. If you park (and lock) your bike somewhere near the intersection of those two streets, you can browse the art shops in the Torpedo Factory Art Center, stroll along Waterfront Park, and take a free shuttle up/down King Street.

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Oronoco Bay Park

If you are riding from D.C. toward Mount Vernon, you will take a left here and ride on Union Street through most of Old Town Alexandria.

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Reagan National Airport

The Mount Vernon Trail makes a semicircle around Reagan National Airport, so if you bring your bike with you when you fly into D.C., you can literally start your ride right at the airport.
At this particular point in the trail, you are very close to the end of two runways, and there is a steady stream of jets taking off or landing directly overhead. Many locals hang out in this area to watch the jet traffic.

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Navy and Marine Memorial

At one time, the only way you could access/view this memorial was via the Mount Vernon Trail. They are currently building a new access route.
This memorial is dedicated to Americans lost at sea.

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good view of Washington D.C.

This portion of the trail provides excellent views of the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the Jefferson Memorial.

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good starting/ending point

You can either start here or in Georgetown. There is easy access to either side of the river via the Key Bridge. It has a wide pedestrian/bike path.
The Marriott Hotel is near here and would make a good base of operation if you want to ride the Mount Vernon Trail, the C & O Canal Towpath, the Capital Crescent Trail, Rock Creek Park trails, or even the W & OD trail.

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wetlands

This part of the trail utilizes a boardwalk to cross wetlands.

Pictures in this guide taken by: trailsnet, This is the start of the trail if you're headed for D.C., You will be on a remote, seldom-used road for a very short period of time in order to utilize this underpass., This national park includes rest rooms, picnic tables, and benches for resting., fall, spring, summer, This path is popular with trail-runners and joggers., Follow the signs for Mount Vernon or Maryland (depending on which way you're going) and look for Jones Point Park if you're goin, near Jones Point Park & Waterfront Park, Alexandria town houses along trail, cobblestone street, Christmas shop along Union Street, Torpedo Factory, Velocity Bicycle Co-op building, Be careful on this part of the trail. It is almost always congested., Reagan National Airport runway, Navy and Marines Memorial: Dedicated to Americans lost at sea., beautiful view of the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, willows in Washington, view from Frances Scott Key Bridge, pedestrian/bike path, mount vernon trail, boardwalk over wetlands, boardwalk

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