For a suburban destination, Glencarlyn Park in Arlington, Virginia is a nice one. The 96-acre park can be approached from multiple directions and boasts a dense network of hiking trails of varying difficulty. The focal point is a pleasant stream valley where the Long Branch stream meets Four Mile Run, the latter a relatively high-volume …
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Marie Butler Leven Preserve comprises 20 acres in central McLean, Virginia, an arboretum created to serve as a sanctuary for native plants. Situated on the side of a 90-foot hill, the preserve is easily accessed from Kirby Road in McLean and includes a network of crisscrossing hiking trails. The highlight is a pretty meadow a …
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The Pimmit Run Trail system follows its namesake creek along much of its eight-mile meander from the heart of suburban Fairfax County to the Potomac River. Unfortunately, the trail is segmented into three separate parts, interrupted by plots of private property in upscale McLean, Virginia. The easternmost (and arguably most interesting) section runs roughly from …
Continue reading Pimmit Run Trail – Bryan Branch Rd. to Olney Park (Fairfax County Parks, VA)
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 …
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Far from Arlington’s finest, the Lubber Run Trail nonetheless offers a pleasant, paved stroll through a pretty stream valley south of Ballston, Virginia. The namesake creek is flanked by thousands of gray stones, and a series of minor dips make for some trickling cascades. Picnic tables abound, and a gargantuan outdoor amphitheater marks roughly the …
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 …
While its namesake viewpoint is no more, Potomac Overlook Regional Park in Arlington, Virginia still offers a couple miles of unpaved hiking trails through a diverse deciduous forest. A combination of five different trails forms an easy-to-moderate circuit around the park that clocks in at around 1.6 miles. Access is from the restrooms and parking …
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- Revolutionary War Series - The Veach Gap Trail is a quality hike leading up the eastern flank of Virginia’s Massanutten Mountain, nearby Shenandoah’s quieter and oft-forgotten brother. While covering 1,100 feet in elevation gain, the 3.5-mile ascent is gradual and ends at the fantastic “The Point” Overlook, one of Massanutten’s finest vistas. Better yet, …
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Situated in the heart of Shenandoah Valley, northern Virginia’s Shenandoah River State Park is an oft-forgotten destination in a heavily-trafficked area. While lacking the heights of nearby Shenandoah National Park or Massanutten Mountain, a tangle of hiking and biking routes crisscross the state park, exploring fields and bluffs adjacent to the Shenandoah River, the waterway …
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Live and Let Hike 