| Wakefield Park | Wakefield Park, located in the heart of the Capital region, is host to numerous mountain biking events throughout the year.
It is a convenient and scenic spot for the MTB crowd in the DC area.
The singletrack trails are mostly beginner to intermediate level and the trailwork done by the local mtb club, MORE, is fantastic.
Don't miss the whoop-di-doos and slalom course in the powerline section.
Conveniently, Wakefield connects to the Lake Accotink Park trails via a tunnel underneath Braddock Road. | Singletrack and dirt paths | 7 miles |
| Elizabeth Furnace | Elizabeth Furnace is located about an hour west of DC, making it an easily accessible weekend destination.
The trails have numerous panoramic views of the Shenandoah Valley, but all of this beauty comes with the price of extremely steep and rocky single track.
This is not a romantic getaway for first time mountain bikers, unless you enjoy doing the "hike-a-bike". Those made of the right metal will be rewarded with miles of technical,
lung busting single track that will keep you coming back again and again. | Rocky, mountainous singletrack and forest roads | 30 miles |
| York River State Park | York River State Park has a multitude of land and water activities. It is situated along the banks of the York River. The park has a mix of multi-use and singletrack trails. | Singletrack trails and forest roads | 25 miles |
| Poor Farm Park | This county park is packed with a network of challenging singletrack trails. It has a little of everything - roots, log piles, tough climbs and tight twisting turns. | Singletrack | 15 miles |
| Walnut Creek Park | Just a 15 minute drive from Charlottesville, Walnut Creek is a popular mountain biking destination in central Virgina.
The trail network is packed with technical challenges including rocks, roots and some long steep uphills. | Technical singletrack | 15 miles |
| Douthat State Park | This state park is situated around the 50 acre picturesque Douthat Lake.
There are a multitude of water and land activities including fishing, canoeing, hiking and mountain biking.
The park also offers rustic cabins for rent and tent & camper sites.
The over 40 miles of trails are intermediate to difficult level due to the hilly terrain and rocky sections.
Since the trailheads are located at lower elevations and the trails head upward on either side of Wilson Creek and Douthat Lake,
most of the loops will have you climbing for quite a while. Hence, be prepared for a great cardio workout & your efforts will be
rewarded at the end - the technical descents back to the lake are a blast. | Singletrack with rocky sections, switchbacks, and numerous creek crossings. | 40 miles |
| Freedom Park | Freedom Park dishes up a little of everything. It has long downhills, technical turns, plenty of whoop-di-doos
and several short but challenging uphills. Several freestyle obstacles are sprinkled throughout the park to challenge the advanced riders.
The Eastern Virginia Mountain Bike Association has done a fantastic job of utilizing the
terrain to create a fun network of singletrack. | Technical singletrack | 10 miles |
| Pocahontas State Park | Pocahontas is a 7600 acre state park located just south of Richmond. It offers numerous activities such as mountain biking, hiking, various water sports, camping and much more. | Singletrack, fire roads and some paved park roads | 40 miles |
| New Quarter Park | New Quarter has a 5 mile singletrack loop in addition to scenic fire roads that lead to tranquil views of an estuary of the York River. | Singletrack, doubletrack. | 10 miles |
| Fountainhead Regional Park | Fountainhead is a popular mountain biking and trail running destination in the DC area. It is the trailhead for the popular Bull Run-Occoquan hiking/equestrian trail.
The dedicated mountain bike trail is a 10 mile loop packed with steep climbs and fun descents. | Singletrack | 10 miles |
| Powhite Park | Conveniently located, this park is a popular after-work destination for many a Richmond MTB enthusiast. The twisting, hilly singletrack loop offers a fun, challenging workout. | Technical Singletrack | 4.5 miles |
| Sherando | Sherando Lake is neslted in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western Virginia, just south of Shenandoah National Park.
A 25 acre spring-fed lake is at the the center of the Sherando Lake Recreation Area, which offers camping, water activities, hiking and mountain biking. | Singletrack, fire roads, paved road | 40 miles |
| Old Rag Mountain | Old Rag Mountain, a spectacular peak in Shenandoah National Park, is one of the best known hikes in the Blue Ridge.
Its rock covered peak makes it a unique hike, which includes some scrambling through boulders near the top. | Hiking trails and forest roads | 12 miles |
| Harwoods Mill Park | Harwood Mills is a great place for a beginner to cut their teeth on easy single track.
The trails labeled as Intermediate and Expert are both fairly easy and smooth with just a few log obstacles to negotiate.
In addition to the single track, there are miles of forest roads both north and south of Denbigh Blvd. | Singletrack | 5 miles |
| Newport News Park | One of the largest municipal parks in the country, Newport News Park features a wide variety of activities including camping, fishing, and boating.
In addition, there are plenty of picnic tables with views of the reservoir, a frisbee golf course, a nature center and a 36 hole golf course.
The 6 mile bicycle loop is a flat, wide trail that the whole family will enjoy.
The park also has hiking trails that wind their way through open forests, marshlands,
and Civil War breastworks that are remarkably well preserved. Several historical markers along these trails tell the story of the battles that occurred in this area.
Newport News Park connects to Yorktown Colonial National Historical Park via the bicycle loop. | Forest Roads | 15 miles |
| Upper County Park | The mountain bike trail at Upper County Park is short but sweet. The Eastern Virginia Mountain Bike Association always
does a superb job of creating new trails, and Upper County is no exception. Look for plenty of short, steep climbs and banked turns. Upper County
Park also has a pool, playground, ballfields and picnic shelters. | Singletrack | 3.5 miles |
| Wahrani | The trails at Wahrani take full advantage of its terrain - you can find technical switchbacks and fast downhill sections in a picturesque wooded setting. | Singletrack | 5 miles |
| Carvins Cove | Carvins Cove Natural Reserve is the second largest municipal park in the country.
Within its 12,700 acres, are opportunities for a wide
variety of outdoor activities. Boating, fishing, and canoeing are available on the picturesque 800 acre lake. Canoe and paddleboat rentals are available at
the Boat Dock offices. Also, a large picnic area overlooking the lake is located at the Boat Dock.
The hilly terrain surrounding the lake offers over 40 miles of biking, hiking and equestrian trails.
Carvins Cove has a wide variety of singletrack trails, ranging from fast, smooth flowing trails to technical, rocky terrain.
In addition, there are miles and miles of fire roads offering long steady cardio climbs.
The Appalachian Trail follows the park boundary along the nortern half of the park.
NOTE: When mountain biking bench-cut trails along some of the steeper hillsides, stay along the inner edge of the trail.
The outer edge is soft along many sections and has the potential of giving way.
We noticed these conditions on the following trails: Buck, The Trough, and The Gauntlet.
NOTE: Pick up a day pass before driving to the Carvins Cove Rd parking lot. Passes can be purchased at the Boat Dock offices and at some of the
bike shops in the area. Please check the county website for more information. | Singletrack, doubletrack | 40 Miles |
| Observatory Hill | A stone's throw from the UVA campus, (and filled with all of the stones used to test this theory) this network of rocky, hilly singletrack offers a great workout for C'ville locals. | Singletrack | 7 miles |
| James River Park | The James River Park System, located in the heart of Richmond, consist of over 550 acres of scenic shoreline and islands in the James River. Activities include whitewater rafting, rock climbing, hiking, and mountain biking. | singletrack | 10 miles |
| Lake Maury | This 10 mile mountain bike trail is located in the heart of Newport News across the street
from the Mariner's Museum. The trail is mainly smooth, flat singletrack, with some undulating terrain & a few obstacles
to keep you on your toes. | Singletrack | 10 miles |
| Deep Run Park | Deep Run Park has a small network of beginner to intermediate mountain biking trails.
In addition, it has walking paths, a small lake, picnic areas and a recreation center. On nice weekends, expect a large crowd. | Singletrack | 5 miles |
| McIntire Park | McIntire Park, located in Charlottesville Virginia, has a of network beginner to intermediate level singletrack. The Charlottesville
Area Mountain Bike Club has also added a small black diamond course with several technical obstacles. | Singletrack | 3 miles |
| Kemper Park & Secluded Farms | Kemper Park is part of Jefferson's Monticello, just south of Charlottesville. A two mile walking trail leading to Monticello is part boardwalk, part crushed stone path.
Secluded Farms, located behind Kemper park consists of smooth forest roads suitable for those who are just getting familiar with off-road cycling. It is a great place to bring
the entire family for an easy bike ride. The trail going to the top of Carter mountain is intermediate to difficult singletrack. | Singletrack, forest roads, boardwalk | 5 miles |
| Beaverdam Park | Beaverdam Park, located in Gloucester, Virginia offers nature trails, a campground, fishing, and canoe & paddle boat rentals.
The multi-use trails wind their way around the lake from the main entrance to the Fray's Mill Road parking area. | Singletrack and doubletrack | 12 miles |
| Petersburg National Park | Petersburg Battlefield National Park commemorates the 10-month long siege of Petersburg by Union troops
during the Civil War. Travel the tour road to learn about the series of battles waged between Grant's
Union army and General Lee's Confederate troops.
As you cycle through the park on the 13 miles of wide multiuse trails, you can see the remains of Civil War breastworks.
The multiuse trails intersect the tour road and take you past some of the historical markers along the way. | Forest Roads | 13 miles |
| Pandapas Pond / Brush Mountain | Located within cycling distance of Blacksburg, this park is nestled in the hills of Jefferson National Forest.
Pandapas Pond has something for everyone - for a technically easy ride, hop onto the Poverty Creek Trail, which runs the length of the park,
and then ride back on the fire road.
For more of a more technical challenge, take any of the numerous side trails off of the Poverty Creek Trail or off the Fire Road, which are steep and intermittently rocky. | Forest roads, singletrack. | 30 miles |
| Great Falls National Park | Great Falls National Park, located only 15 miles from Washington, is a
haven for the DC crowd. One of the most visited national parks in the country, it can get crowded, especially on
summer weekends. Hiking trails afford views of the beautiful Mather Gorge and the Potomac. In addition to the hiking trails, about 5 miles
of multi-use doubletrack trails are accessible to equestrians and mountain bikers.
** Note that this map is incomplete. The hiking-only trails are not displayed yet. Plans are to have
the park completely mapped by autumn 2008. | Doubletrack, hiking trails | 15 miles |
| Conway Robinson State Forest | Conway Robinson State Forest, a 450 acre park, located in Gainesville, Virginia is a scenic wooded forest
with about 7 miles of beginner to intermediate singletrack and doubletrack. The trails are multi-use, seeing hikers, equestrians,
geocachers and mountain bikers. Most of the trails are flat and smooth, great for beginner mountain bikers. A couple of the
trails have log piles and rock gardens where the intermediate rider can hone their technical skills.
Thanks to the Friends of Conway Robinson and MORE for their efforts on maintaining the trails in this park.
To find out more about Conway Robinson, including news, events, and trail conditions, visit http://www.conwayrobinson.org | Singletrack | 7 Miles |
| Scout Camp | **Note: This is private land. You must have permission to ride here.
The 18 Scout's Honor Race is held at Scout Camp each year. | | |
| Mint Springs | Located in Albemarle County Virginia, just west of Charlottesville, the 500 acre Mint Springs Valley Park
makes for a challenging mountain bike and hiking destination. It has about 5 miles of rocky, hilly singletrack.
The singletrack at Mint Springs is not for the faint of heart. Be prepared for some steep climbs that will
get your heart pumping. The numerous rocky sections will keep even the advanced mountain biker on their toes.
It's a picturesque park, just be prepared for some very technical sections and some hike-a-bike areas.
In addition to the trails, Mint Springs also offers a trout-stocked lake, swimming, a small beach, picnic areas,
and a playground for the kids. | Singletrack | 5 miles |
| Lake Accotink Park |
Lake Accotink offers an abundance of activities.
The park features a 55 acre lake where you can fish, kayak, canoe, or take a tourboat ride.
A carousel, snack bar, playground and picnic tables ensure a fun time for the whole family.
The 4 mile hiking and biking loop circumnavigating the park can be accessed at various entrance points along the way.
For mountain bikers, there is a network of about 6 miles of mostly intermediate singletrack that can be accessed from the
Lake Accotink Fire Road. For more mountain biking, take the fire road access tunnel under Braddock Road to Wakefield Park. | Singletrack and dirt paths | 11 miles |
| Lake Fairfax / Colt's Neck | Easily accessible from Reston, Lake Fairfax Park sees large crowds every summer weekend
destined for the water park, the large picnic area, canoeing on the lake, camping, etc.
Mountain bikers have several miles of wooded singletrack trails at the southern end of
the park in addition to the Colt's Neck loop, which passes through Lake Fairfax Park
and continues on to the Fairfax CCT and W&OD trails to make a 9 1/2 mile loop. | Singletrack, doubletrack, paved roads | 12 miles |
| Laurel Hill | Once the site of the Lorton Prison, Fairfax County has been transforming this piece of property into a recreational use area.
There are several planned projects including an Equestrian Center and sports complex.
A golf club and a disk golf course already exist on the property.
MORE has built about 10 miles of singletrack trails at Laurel Hill. The Giles Run Meadow Trail is a 1.7 mile twisty loop through a beautiful
wooded section of Laurel Hill. South of Furnace and Lorton Roads are an additional 7 1/2 miles of mostly smooth, fast singletrack trails that wind through
picturesque fields. The Slaughterhouse loop is a more technical ride that has multiple logs and rock gardens, combined with steep uphill climbs and
tight turns. Also located in this section is a small skills area with a pump track, skinny, and rock garden.
The Fairfax Cross Country Trail passes through the park and ends a couple of miles south at Occoquan Regional Park. | Singletrack, doubletrack, & paved paths | 10 Miles |
| Riverbend Regional Park | Located along the picturesque Potomac River, visitors can enjoy the water by
fishing, kayaking, and canoeing or hiking along the bank on the Potomac Heritage Trail. Picnic tables are located
across from the visitor center, which offers refreshements, a gift shop, and activities for kids.
A several mile network of hiking and mountain biking trails are located within the park. Great Falls National Park
is 2 miles south, and accessible to hikers via the Potomac Heritage Trail and to mountain bikers via a doubletrack trail. | Singletrack, doubletrack, hiking trails | 5 miles |
| Occoquan Regional Park | Picturesque views of Occoquan River can be seen from this park, which is
located on 400 acres of land across the river from the town of Occoquan. It offers picnic facilities, ball fields, a hiking trail,
a marina and boat launch. A paved section of the Fairfax Cross Country Trail runs the length of the park
and terminates at the marina.
For history buffs, the park has a brick kiln dating back to the early 1900's. Also on the grounds are historical
markers telling the story of the women's suffrage movement. Women protesting for the right to vote were
imprisoned in the old Lorton Prison, located just up the road from the park.
| Paved paths, hiking trail | 2.5 miles |
| Quantico | Quantico Marine Base has an extensive trail system that is shared by mountain bikers, hikers, and equestrians. The
trail system offers a variety of difficulty levels, with both hilly technical singletrack for advanced riders and
smoother easier terrain for the casual rider. The trails at Quantico are available for use by service members, their families,
and civilians from surrounding communities.
There are two common loops enjoyed by mountain bikers. The "Race Loop" is a 9 mile technically and aerobically challenging
singletrack loop, and the "Recreational Loop" is shorter, easier trail for beginner riders.
** Special thanks to James Kaminsky for providing the detailed GPS map data that was used to generate this GPS Map and the
GPX downloadable tracks. | Singletrack/doubletrack | 13 miles |
| Burke Lake Park | One of the most popular parks in the DC area, Burke Lake has a variety of activities to keep the entire family occupied.
The park has frisbee golf and traditional golf courses, a campground, several playground areas and picnic shelters.
The 200 acre lake is stocked with largemouth bass. Visitors can take a boat out on the lake - rowboat rentals are available.
The doubletrack trail that encircles the lake is always crowded with hikers, joggers, and cyclists. Unless you are at the park during
off hours, it is difficult to maneuver through the crowds on the Lake Loop. This park is a perfect choice for taking the family for a leisurly bike ride
around the lake & a picnic lunch. There is limited singletrack riding at Burke Lake, though a few miles of trails do exist that that branch off of the main doubletrack trail
around the lake. | Doubletrack/some singletrack | 5 miles |
| Washington Lacy Park | Opened in December 2008, this county park has about 2 1/2 miles of smooth, wide multi-use trails through open forest.
This is an excellent location for beginners to begin cutting their teeth on dirt trails. There is also a small mountain bike
skills area located on the eastern side of the park. Since the trails are multi-use and show the obvious signs of horse traffic,
please remember to yield the trail to our equestian friends, its just safer for everyone that way!!!
During early 2010, the Friends of Hanover Trails will be working on adding more trails to the park!
Plans are to add 5 1/2 miles of singletrack. | Doubletrack | 2.5 miles |
| Prince William Forest Park | Located only 30 miles from Washington DC, 15,000 acre Prince William Forest Park is a great place to get away
from the city and spend the weekend camping, hiking, biking, or fishing. The park offers over 20 miles of paved bike paths and
fire roads and over 30 miles of hiking trails. There are an abundance of camping options, with 5 cabin camps and
over 100 tent and rv sites on the premises.
For history buffs, the remains of the Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine are accessible via the North Valley Trail.
Interpretive signs explain the history of this mine. | Doubletrack, hiking trails | 45 miles |
| Fairfax CCT (South) | Over 40 miles in length, the Fairfax County Cross Country Trail (CCT), spans almost the entire length of Fairfax County.
The southern half of the trail (South of Rt 50), links many of the popular parks in the area, including Wakefield Park,
Lake Accotink Park, Laurel Hill, and Occoquan Regional Park. The trail surface varies from paved sections to wide dirt paths
to narrow singletrack. It is easily accessible from many neighborhoods along the way, the majority of which have paved paths leading
directly onto the CCT.
**Note that there are a few road crossings along the way. Please use cautions at these intersections. | Doubletrack, Singletrack, Paved | 25 Miles |
| Potomac Heritage Trail (Fairfax County) | The Potomac Heritage Trail is a network of about 800 miles of trail that connects the Chesapeake Bay area to the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania.
The section that we have featured here is the portion that follows the Potomac River from Algonkian Regional Park down to River Bend Regional Park. | Doubletrack, Singletrack, Paved | 15 Miles |
| Meadow Farm Museum | Listed in the National Register of Historic places, Meadow Farm Museum is a living history museum consisting
of a 19th century farmhouse, several outbuildings, and a blacksmith forge. It is a great place to spend the
day with the family, learning about farmlife in the 19th century. Costumed interpreters are on the grounds
several weekends throughout the year explaining various aspects of the day to day operations of the farm and the
museum hosts year-round activities and workshops.
Several miles of hiking trails wind their way through the fields and woods of the grounds.
Adjacent to Meadow Farm is the RF&P Park which has several ball fields in addition to the RF&P Baseball Stadium.
Several historic rail cars are displayed throughout this park.
| Hiking Only, Paved | 4 Miles |
| Third Battle Of Winchester | The Third Battle of Winchester is a self-guided tour along a wide paved/gravel trail that explains the story of the
Civil War battle that occurred here in September 1864. There are several places along this path where you can access the network of singletrack
trails. These mostly intermediate level trails are very well maintained and have several steep, challenging climbs, logs, and rooty areas that
will hone your mtb skills. | Doubletrack, Singletrack, Paved | 8 Miles |
| Fredericksburg Quarry | Be prepared for some technical riding when visiting the Quarry trails. The terrain here is steep in sections, so you will have an opportunity
to get a great cardio and quad workout. This network of intermediate to advanced trails has plenty of logs and rooty sections to keep the advanced rider
happy and to challenge the intermediate level rider. As you ride the trails here, be sure to take in the views of the Rappahannock River, which borders the
property to the north.
| Doubletrack, Singletrack | 14 Miles |
| Chippokes State Park | Chippokes Plantation State Park is one of the oldest working farms in the United States,
having been in operation since the 1600's. It is a living history museum, located rural Surry County along
the James River. The park includes several historic buildings and a farm and a forestry museum with antique farming equipment.
Activities available include picnicking, camping, fishing, canoeing, and swimming. Also, the park has a beach with access at the visitor center.
The 3 to 4 miles of paved and doubletrack trails are ideal for taking the family on a short bicycle ride. The James River
trail is a short ride down to the beach and beautiful views of the river. Note that the Equestrian Trail is a grass track and is
accessible to hikers and mountain bikers, but is geared towards equestrian use.
| Doubletrack, Paved, Grasstrack | 4 Miles |
| South River Falls | Located off of Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park, this short hike will treat you to views of the picturesque
South River Falls, which descends 83 feet into the South River Gorge. The 4 mile loop takes you to an overlook
with a view of both the falls and the gorge below. Hiking further down into the gorge and along a small, rocky spur
trail will give you a closer view from the base of the falls. | hiking | 4 Miles |
| Sky Meadows State Park | Hiking along the trails in Sky Meadows State Park will reward you with beautiful vistas of the surrounding farmland and gently
rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. There are about 12 miles of trails, which will take you through a mix of meadows and open forests.
The Appalachian Trail passes through the park and continues on into the neighboring G. R. Thompson Wildlife Management Area. In addition to the hiking
trails, the park also offers serveral miles of bridle trails for equestrians.
During your visit, stop by the visitor center, which includes a gift shop and nature exhibits or take a guided tour of the historic Mount Bleak House.
The park also has various events scheduled throughout the year - check their website for upcoming events. | Hiking | 10 Miles |
| New River Trail State Park | New River Trail State Park follows an abandoned rail bed, winding its way along the New River from Pulaski at the northern end to Galax at the southern end.
Along this 57 mile, gently sloping multi-use trail, you will find beautiful views of the New River. Pack a lunch and enjoy the scenery from one of the
numerous picnic tables along the way.
If you cycle at New River Trail State Park, we recommend making Shot Tower State Park your starting point.
Located at about the midpoint of the trail, this park features the historic Jackson Ferry Shot Tower which was built in 1807 to make ammunition for firearms.
The building is on the National Register of Historic Places. Shot Tower State Park also has a cozy campground located right next to the river.
Tubing and canoeing on the river are also popular activities at this location. | | 57 Miles |