Looking for the best trails around Takoma Park?

Explore the best rated trails in Takoma Park, MD, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Anacostia River Trail and Meadowlark Connector Trail . With more than 118 trails covering 4648 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.

Recent Trail Reviews

Lake Mercer Loop Trail

Enjoy the Silence

September, 2024 by danadominguez75

Great trail. Not too crowded. Lots of shade. We biked the loop with our six-year-old who rides a fixed gear bike. A few hills on the south side were a bit steep, so we did some walking, but the north side was much easier. Definitely going back.

Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park (W&OD)

The best part of the WOD is west of Leesburg, through Paeonian Springs into tunnels of trees, past farmland, ending at a fabulous barbecue place in Purcellville. Stunning in fall foliage.

September, 2024 by rgurney

The best part of the WOD is west of Leesburg, through Paeonian Springs into tunnels of trees, past farmland, ending at a fabulous barbecue place in Purcellville. Stunning in fall foliage.

Mount Vernon Trail

scenic trail that gets you to great destinations

September, 2024 by byasaphotography

The friends of the Mount Vernon trail has done a lot to improve the MVT including grinding down the trip hazard, filling potholes, replacing water fountains and more. NPS has also replaced a lot of the bridges and boardwalks, and will be widening and repaving the entire trail soon. be sure to stop in old town Alexandria for the self guided black history tour, or to get a bite to eat. Check out Mount Vernon and the distillery at the Southern end, or cut across into DC at the 14th street bridge. You can end your ride in Rosslyn for the many great attractions! The trail also goes past the new Amazon headquarters, Crystal City, the Pentagon, Arlington nationalcemetery, Teddy Roosevelt Island, and is just a bridge away from the Kennedy Center, Georgetown and the famous C&O Canal Trail.

Accordion

Grist Mill Trail at Patapsco Valley State Park

Trail is Great, Parking Not So Great

September, 2024 by garailroader

I was in the area visiting my parents in Ellicott City and found this trail that looked like a good target for a 5 mile morning walk. I parked at the Ilchester Rd end and found the trail head. The trail seems very well kept, 2 of the bridges were new and I didn't see any litter, fallen trees or other maintenance issues. I am thinking the trail must have been recently paved as it was very smooth with no roots cracking and bending the asphalt. A lot of people using the trail and swimming in the river. Great to see so many getting out on a nice summer day. When I finished my walk and went back to the parking lot my dad's truck was not there. My first thought was why would someone steal that 20 year old truck. As I was pondering what to do next, I noticed a sign at the end of the parking lot and went over to take a look. It showed that it was private parking and patrolled by Paladin Impound and showed the address of the Impound lot. A $30 Uber ride and a $280 fine and I got my dad's truck back. I obviously should have paid closer attention to the parking but I feel it is a bit of a trap. The Private Parking sign is kind of a conspicuous location like they are hoping you don't see the sign and do park there so they can collect their bounty. I wasn't the first car parked in the lot, and someone else was parked there when I was waiting for Uber. Anyway, if you do check this trail out be very careful to make sure you are parking in the correct trailhead parking lot.

Three Notch Trail

Three years later

September, 2024 by c8

BARN CATS STILL THERE! I couldn't believe it. Again, one was laying on the trail, just as chill as could be. An hour later, it was still there! Must have become jaded with all the attention it must get, b/c it didn't care about my presence, or the little pat I gave it, lol.
Trail is still a pleasant getaway in the country. Very little traffic on the trail on an early Saturday evening. Still in good shape. Some bumps in it now, from tree roots, but they are few and far between. Wish I could live along this trail.

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park

Perfect for bikepacking

August, 2024 by scott43243

Rode from Cumberland to a parking area 23 miles outside of DC, camping at four of the campsites along the way. They have been doing a lot of work to improve the condition of this trail and it shows. Weather was perfect, but most sections seemed like they would still be pretty good even after some rain. There was one detour that was a tough push over really rocky roads for a few miles. Other than that, it was perfect.

Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail

Torrey C. Brown Trail

August, 2024 by khamel2_tl

This was a ride done during the day prior to a wedding we attended in MD. We picked up the trail on rented bikes by PaperMill Road and headed north. Some of the surface was muddy from heavy rain but still passable. We had lunch at Monkton Hotel. There was a museum too that we were able to tour along the trail. Would recommend being ready for bugs but overall still a great ride.

Great American Rail-Trail

West bound from Ellensburg. August 2024

August, 2024 by tastesbadtobears

We ( recumbent trike & e-bike) headed West from the Kiwanis park. Turned around after 9km as the surface was really tough on the trike. There’s 2 good wheel tracks for bikes, but the trike had to ride partially in the coarse trail ballast. Scenic area with farm views and a huge windmill farm in the distance.

Kent Island South Trail

Great Trail

July, 2024 by tpslucks

Liked the trail very much. However, I’ve seen other maps that show this trail actually begins on the north side of Rt-50 on the westbound side and connects to the trailhead. Is that portion part of this trail? It would make for a much longer route.

Henson Creek Trail

Best trail in PG county hands down.

July, 2024 by tyronne.patterson

Best trail in PG county hands down.

Mount Vernon Trail

Trail needs better maintenance south of Woodrow Wilson Bridge

July, 2024 by bmyer

Rode the trail from Jones Point Park to Mount Vernon last week. Most all of the wooden bridges are newer and add to the ambience, but don't provide a good riding surface for my MTB with Schwalbe Silento 26x1.75 tires. As others have noted, the pushed up roots have been ground down somewhat, but not smooth, until about a 1/2 mile from Mount Vernon where the pushed up roots are simply marked and the trail becomes unrideable. On the return, I rode on the George Washington Parkway to get past the badly pushed up roots section. Then, I rode as far as I could on lightly travelled neighborhood streets running parallel to the trail, which were substantially smoother. Then proceeded back on the trail to Jones Point Park. Overall, it wasn't a very enjoyable ride and likely won't seek to do it again.

Henson Creek Trail

A hidden gem

July, 2024 by rdroll

Rode this trail twice this month. Lightly used with only one street crossing. Only encountered one area washed out by the creek that had a gravel bypass. Watch out for a big bump just before a bridge. I hit it going to fast and it took out my front tire. They have added a bike repair station at the Tucker Road Ice Rink with a stand, tools and a pump.

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