Prince William Forest Park—situated about 30 miles south of Washington, DC—preserves a 17,000-acre slice of what was once a vast sea of oaks, hickories, and chestnuts spanning much of modern-day Virginia. Surprisingly, many DC residents are oblivious to its existence, but those who have been to Prince William Forest Park know it for its serenity, …
Continue reading North Valley – South Valley Trail Loop (Prince William Forest Park, VA)
This 4.6-mile ramble from Turkey Run Park to Scott’s Run Nature Preserve in McLean, Virginia constitutes the third section of the Potomac Heritage Trail heading westward from Rosslyn in Arlington. (Note: Descriptions of the two preceding sections—Roosevelt Island to Fort Marcy and Fort Marcy to Turkey Run Park—can be found here and here, respectively.) Despite …
Bearing westward from Rosslyn in Arlington, Virginia, Donaldson Run is the third notable tributary feeding into the Potomac River. Like its neighbors—Spout Run, Windy Run, and Pimmit Run—Donaldson Run cuts through rocky bluffs, with the last half-mile punctuated by minor but pretty cascades. The Donaldson Run Trail links the lengthy Potomac Heritage Trail, on the …
Continue reading Donaldson Run Trail and Loop (Arlington, VA)
Arlington, Virginia’s Windy Run Trail offers a brief, scenic jaunt with four creek crossings, culminating at the base of one of the Washington, DC area’s best waterfalls. Starting at N. Kenmore Street, the nearly half-mile trail drops more than 120 feet; most of it comes at the end, when the stony path descends a sandstone …
- Civil War Series - The importance of Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia in influencing the course of American history is hard to overstate. This picturesque town, situated at the confluence of two rivers in a majestic valley, played host to a 19th century federal armory, Civil War battles, several distinguished civil rights advocates, and abolitionist …
Identified on select maps as the “Rough Trail,” this little-known hike through Glencarlyn Park in Arlington, Virginia (see here for more on the park) is aptly-named: it’s narrow, hard-to-follow, and plagued with fallen trees, roots, and brush. The upside is that the trail—unmarked in any way—is virtually empty, situated in a rarely-visited corner of Glencarlyn …
The 2.5-mile trek to Annapolis Rocks is one of the most popular hikes in northwest Maryland and features sweeping views of Hagerstown Valley, Greenbrier Lake, and beyond. One mile farther, hikers can get an even better—and more private—vista from Black Rock. The hike follows a short section of the famed Appalachian Trail (AT) and climbs …
Continue reading Appalachian Trail to Annapolis Rocks and Black Rock (South Mountain State Park, MD)
Generally less rip-roaring than several of its nearby tributaries, Pimmit Run nonetheless carries a rather significant volume. It weaves gently through McLean, Virginia—a generally upscale Washington, DC suburb—for eight miles before emptying into the Potomac River. Unpaved walking trails flank the stream for much of this distance, allowing for several relatively easy hiking opportunities. The …
Continue reading Pimmit Run Trail – Fort Marcy to Solitaire Ln. (Fairfax County Parks, VA)
Most outdoor types in the Washington, DC area will know the famously rugged Billy Goat Trail on the Maryland side of Great Falls. Across the river, however, is an equally—if not more—scintillating loop hike around Virginia’s Great Falls Park, featuring stunning vistas of the namesake falls and Mather Gorge, as well as a lovely meander …
Continue reading Great Falls Loop, including Difficult Run Trail (Great Falls Park, VA)
Dead Run. It’s an ominous name for what is actually quite a lovely stream, though at times this 3.6-mile loop hike can feel rugged and perplexing. The first half is relatively straightforward: nearly two miles of hiking through some of Fairfax County, Virginia’s most peaceful terrain. A 1/10-mile section of Dead Run—the highlight of the …
Live and Let Hike 