New little adventure for Desmond and I. I was on Yelp looking for a new dog park or trail for my…read moredog and I to explore not too far from home. Dora Kelley nature park was such a great find! There are several entrances. We entered off the Sanger Ave entrance next to the Nature Center. There's lots of informational signs along the trail, explaining all of the different things to be on the lookout for, including plants, flowers, birds, and other species you may encounter. There's a paved and unpaved trail that runs along a creek. I usually keep an AirPod in and listen to music or audiobook, but there were so many earthly sounds that made me want to walk in silence and take in everything nature was offering.

This is a lush, peaceful neighbourhood park. We parked on N Chambliss and headed south, and…read moreimmediately past the playground, a tree-lined paved trail opened up. The trails are mostly wide enough for 3 adults, and mostly flat with gentle slopes. The trail ran along a wide gorge creek, and we came across several families enjoying the outdoors. It's easy enough to navigate, and connects multiple nearby neighbourhoods. I appreciate this green space being maintained and freely available to the community.

Easy to get to from highway, not super crowded and had plenty of parking (granted, it was a…read moreweekday). A few decent miles of trails with lots of cute bridges. There are benches scattered throughout the preserve on the trails, as well as some picnic tables near the pond. At some points the trails were well marked, well at others it was less clear where to go. Great for a quick fix of nature not too far from the city. Probably will go again!

Beautiful park that's truly a hidden gem. There are a few miles of trails, a man-made waterfall,…read moresmall picnic area and pond. Great place to spend an hour or two- without having to drive far.

Ideal place to enjoy the park, see wildlife, bicycle, walk, and just immerse yourself in beautiful…read more nature. It was our first time here, and we enjoyed bicycling the area for the first time. I liked how you had a two way lane to bike and walk. There was a lot of renovations on the Mt Vernon Trail going through the park and marsh area. It does get crowded there yet there was a lot of parking. It is parallel to Belle Haven Park. There were no nearby restrooms. You do hear sounds of cars & traffic along the Mt. Vernon Trail. The trail gets narrow at some areas and can get uncomfortable by the renovation area - close to oncoming cars. Bicycling through the woods over bridges and stopping by areas to enjoy the views were highlights we enjoyed at Dyke Marsh. We decided to just bicycle for an hour, yet it was enough for both of us. Looking forward to bicycling through all 18 miles of the Mt. Vernon Trail.

Dyke Marsh is a gem. Hidden a few south of Old Town Alexandria, and situated between the Mt Vernon…read moretrail and Potomac, Dyke Marsh is a wetland preserve that George Washington noted centuries ago. This wooded area with a trail that runs a bit more than a mile along the river, has owl and eagle nests and amazing guess of small islands in the Potomac. On any day, there are families, couples, people with dogs. The Marsh attracts lots of birders with their binoculars and photographers with seriously long zoom lenses. This is a place to amble for 45 minutes and connect with the natural world. It's managed by the US Park Service. If you're interested, join the Friend of Dyke Marsh to help preserve this treasure.

We ended up going about 2 miles until we reached the waterfall. The beginning of the trail was…read moreuncovered and some portions was along the highway.

Like the review before states, this trail is a feast for your eyes! It hugs along the Potomac…read moreRiver with beautiful views in between the trees on one side and sheer rock faces on the other. There are many creeks and streams that traverse the path on their way to going the Potomac. Despite going on Labor Day late morning/early afternoon, I only saw a handful of people several of whom were running with their dogs (no worries, no doggie land mines were encountered). I picked up the trail at the Theodore Roosevelt Island parking lot. There is a dirt footpath that goes from here to the American Legion Bridge (10 miles) and as mentioned before almost all of it is shaded. It may extend further, but I turned around at this point! There are parts were you will have to slow down your jog due to some uneven, rocky footing but have no fear, there are long stretches perfect for running. Someone must have come by and cleaned up the litter because it was pristine today! Huzzah!

A very nice walking trail that is very close to DC/Rosslyn. A bit of a walk to get there from the…read moreRosslyn Metro station, but definitely worth it. Wish that there were more walking routes with a better view of the water, but it was pleasant and easy to walk--not at all strenuous.

Thedore Roosevelt Island is filled with trails and it's a little dilapidated now. The fountains…read morearen't running and it's not in such good shape, which is a real shame. The trails are overgrown & there wasn't much to see or do here. The view of DC from the island was disappointing.

This place is hidden right in plain sight. You'll walk by here 100 times and never notice it but…read moreit's worth a look if you're in the area. There's a nature trail that takes you through some woods and along a small stream. Not exactly the Appalachian Trail but it's a nice spot in the middle of Falls Church.

This is a nice, somewhat secluded trail. It took us a while to find the entrance. Its great for…read moreshort walks with the dog. There is a stream running along the trail, which is mostly gravel. However, if you are an avid runner or are looking for a long walking trail, don't waste your time. The trail itself is less than a mile long.

We were pleasantly surprised by this greenway. The walkway is narrow and better suited for small…read moregroups and cyclists. There are several dangerous blind areas, and I wish the cyclists announced themselves more often. We'd still visit again.

I'm fairly sure that I have not explored this whole trail yet, but the portion of it that I have…read moreexplored was kind of wonderful. I really enjoy being out and being able to feel the breeze. On a hot day, walking in and out of the shadows of the trees was a welcomed treat as the hot breeze flowed by. The way the trail is set up is quite nice, wide, and enjoyable. I'm not sure where this trail actually starts and ends, but I feel like that segment that I walked would equate to an overall enjoyable trek to explore. I mean it doesn't hurt that it is near the water, and goes through some area where you can see a lot of things. It can come off as an open air museum as well with all the historic marks around it and memorials along the way. It's a good place to take your mind off things and let yourself disassociate.

This is where it all begins; Mile 0 of the Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail. A plaza,…read morecomplete with plaques detailing the history of the W&OD, mark the start of the W&OD. From here, the W&OD travels west through Arlington County as it heads towards Purcellville, VA, some 45 miles away. This is a great place to start a trek on the W&OD trail. There's plenty of parking. If you forgot something to eat or drink for your ride, or need refreshment after your ride, the Village at Shirlington is just a block or so away and offers many restaurants, coffee shops, a Harris Teeter grocery store. Check out other Yelp reviews for other portions of the W&OD. For trail maps, check out Friends of the W&OD (http://www.wodfriends.org).

I've only run on the trail in the Falls Church-Arlington area around Four Mile Run, but I…read moreabsolutely love it. This is a great trail, easy to run, very peaceful, easy to access. Would love to do a long run out toward Dulles sometime. Maybe next time I need a long run and I'm down in NOVA. If you've ever lived anywhere that doesn't have awesome trails like this, then you know this is something special.

A great spot for casual rides, with plenty of excellent restaurants along the way--perfect for…read moregrabbing a bite when you need a break. However, it tends to get crowded on weekends, so be prepared for heavier foot and bike traffic.

The Washington and Old Dominion Trail is 45 miles long. I have jogged in Reston and in Herndon…read more The Herndon portion seems to be busier, but maybe it's because it goes right through the downtown area. It was definitely congested with bikers on the weekend. I mean, huge groups of cyclists. The Herndon part of the trail is not very scenic, it's mainly just greenery. There were a few water fountains and because it's passes through downtown, you can stop for a snack or a drink at any of the nearby shops. There's even a bike store right next to the trail. There's a cute small museum which used to be the train station. I couldn't visit it because it was closed. But I need to check it out. 5 stars. Pretty cool trail.

Fort C.F. Smith Park is a remnant of an earlier time in Arlington County. The park is arranged…read morearound the area of one of the Civil War forts that surrounded Washington, DC. After the war, it reverted to farmland and was then incorporated into the Woodmont neighborhood. Today, the park can be enjoyed by Civil War and local history enthusiasts, bird watcher and joggers, or simply as a natural area in the midst of Arlington County and nearby Rosslyn. Little remains to mark the fort except for earthworks and interpretive markers. Still, it is a spot to visit among the other Defenses of Washington locations. A stone well, a bank barn and a cottage remain from the farm. The most significant structure in the park is the Hendry House, in the Craftsman Style, completed in 1924. It is used as an event center and may be rented for weddings and the like. A trail encircles the park, excellent for walking to jogging. It goes by all the major sites as well as though a wood and a meadow. A trail guide points out the historical and notable features along the way. Near the parking lot is a pond used by birds as a bird bath. Here and in the meadow and wood one can do some significant bird watching. We saw eight species on our visit. A really enjoyable spot!

Just north of Rosslyn is a very green public park along the Potomac River. There's a large free…read moreparking lot on the east end of the park near a trail that takes you along the highway/water. The park is pretty large with stone paths, gardens, benches, a restored mansion, and earthworks from a Civil War defense. My toddler loved our time in the park!