One of my most favorite things to do in my free time is bike. We are so very fortunate to have some of the best biking trails anywhere. Additionally, when biking in Arlington and DC there are many bike lanes (yes, drivers, when you see a bike painted in a lane, the bike has full access to that lane).

Here are some of the wonderful bike paths in the area courtesy of bikewashington.org:

Mount Vernon Trail: 18 Miles – PavedVery scenic trail that runs along the Potomac River to George Washington’s estate at Mount Vernon. Recommended ride for visitors.

Washington & Old Dominion Trail: 45 Miles – PavedThe W&OD (pronounced “wad”) is probably the best all around trail in the area. This is a rail trail between Shirlington and Purcellville, VA.

The Custis Trail: 4 Miles – PavedThe Custis Trail runs parallel to I-66 through Arlington, VA. It connects the W&OD trail with downtown Washington DC.

Capital Crescent Trail: 13 Miles – Paved/Crushed StoneThe very popular CCT is another great rail trail project. The paved section runs from Georgetown to Downtown Bethesda. The remain section has a crushed limestone surface.

Chesapeake & Ohio Towpath: 184 Miles – Natural SurfaceMy favorite trail in the area, it runs from Washington DC all the way to Cumberland, MD. Watch for future extension to Pittsburgh, PA!Rock Creek Hiker/Biker Trail: about 20 Miles – Paved
(On Road Sections)A loose collection of paths that were eventually linked together. Not too bad in Maryland, but the DC section does leave something to be desired. The DC on-road section is closed to traffic on weekends.

Sligo Creek and Branch Trails: about 20 Miles – PavedMaryland’s Anacostia Tributary Trails start near Mt Rainier, and provides connections to Wheaton, College Park, and Greenbelt.

North Bethesda Trail: 4 Miles – Paved
(On Road Sections)This trail provides an excellent commuter connection between Rockville and Bethesda.Metropolitan Branch Trail: (proposed)This trail will run north from DC’s Union Station to Silver Spring, Maryland along the west side of the CSX Railroad tracks.

To find out where many of the trails are and all the trail in Arlington along with Capital Bikeshare locations, go here:

http://www.bikearlington.com/pages/maps-rides/

Today, I was fortunate enough to ride from my home (in Overlee Knolls section of Arlington, near the East Falls Church Metro), along the W&OD, to the Custis, to the Mt. Vernon Trail where I took this photo just a bit past Roosevelt Island. It was one of the picture perfect days:If you have a favorite ride in the area, please share in the comment section below. Happy Trails!