Where to go hiking near Alexandria/ NOVA area

[brooklynborndad]

Originally Posted by Caladium

You might enjoy the Heritage Trail. It includes a river trail next to GFNP. and lots more river scenery along the Potomac, as well as switchbacks up and down hills, rocks, a few streams to cross, and some surprises (one stretch goes along a narrow wooded valley next to Trump's golf course. Surreal, and oddly entertaining.) What I particularly like about the Heritage Trail is that it goes on forever and it's not crowded with lots of people, so you really feel like you're getting away from the city.

thats downstream from GFNP? we have done the walk upstream to and from River Bend SP - we have wanted to do the trail downstream to connect to Difficult Run Trail, which is the part of the CCT (along with the far south end of the Accotink trail) we have not yet done.

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by brooklynborndad

thats downstream from GFNP? we have done the walk upstream to and from River Bend SP - we have wanted to do the trail downstream to connect to Difficult Run Trail, which is the part of the CCT (along with the far south end of the Accotink trail) we have not yet done.

Downstream and upstream. You were probably walking on a section of it at GFNP. It runs all the way from Difficult Run to Leesburg (although you probably won't want to hike the entire trail). The stretch in the middle, through Ashburn/Lansdowne, is not interesting. I usually just hike the eastern section from GFNP to a little bit west of Algonkian Park. That takes me 4-5 hours and that's more than enough for me. Don't try it right now, though, as the river is too high and made parts of the trail extremely challenging. Some sections had flooding this spring.

[brooklynborndad]

Originally Posted by Caladium

Downstream and upstream. You were probably walking on a section of it at GFNP. It runs all the way from Difficult Run to Leesburg (although you probably won't want to hike the entire trail). The stretch in the middle, through Ashburn/Lansdowne, is not interesting. I usually just hike the eastern section from GFNP to a little bit west of Algonkian Park. That takes me 4-5 hours and that's more than enough for me. Don't try it right now, though, as the river is too high and made parts of the trail extremely challenging. Some sections had flooding this spring.

Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail - Northern Virginia (U.S. National Park Service)

ah, the Potomac Heritage Trail - yes, looks like that is a designation for a linking up of various existing trails (similar to the CCT in some ways, but NPS designated and longer?) It apparently includes the River Trail, the connection from GFNP to Difficult Run, the trail from GFNP to River Bend, etc, as well as yet uncompleted (?) connections in both directions, including per the NPS map all the way to the MVT.

[brooklynborndad]

Originally Posted by Caladium

That takes me 4-5 hours and that's more than enough for me. Don't try it right now, though, as the river is too high and made parts of the trail extremely challenging. Some sections had flooding this spring.

we've been on the parrt between GF visitor center and Riverbend SP at high water in the past, you're not kidding.

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by brooklynborndad

we've been on the parrt between GF visitor center and Riverbend SP at high water in the past, you're not kidding.

Yes, and when we were down at Riverbend last weekend the section that goes north from Riverbend to the Harry Potter bridge is underwater. I kid you not!

[slim04]

There is a really good book titled 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: DC by Paul Elliot. Most local bookstores have it. Paul is the former president of the local Sierra Club and used to run the 100K One Day Hike from Georgetown to Harper's Ferry.

It's a great resource.

[SallyField]

Originally Posted by slim04

There is a really good book titled 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: DC by Paul Elliot. Most local bookstores have it. Paul is the former president of the local Sierra Club and used to run the 100K One Day Hike from Georgetown to Harper's Ferry.

It's a great resource.

I own this book and second the recommendation. Another book I'd recommend is from the Appalachian Mountain Club -- "Best Day Hikes Near Washington DC," with 50 trails in the area. I used to hike a lot, not so much anymore, but both books are very good for this area. Here is the Amazon link: Amazon.com: AMC's Best Day Hikes near Washington, D.C.: Four-season Guide to 50 of the Best Trails in Maryland, Virginia, and the Nation's Capital (9781934028391): Stephen Mauro, Beth Homicz: Books

[Joke Insurance]

Cross County Trail

Check that out.