Hidden Hiking trails from your neighborhood?

[Anonymous]

Wondering if anyone care to share some interesting local hiking/walk trails (or starting point of trails) that are not so obvious (i.e. not starting at a park or other obvious places)?

Here are examples:

1. Access to Langley Oaks Park from here:

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9590986,-77.1640638,3a,75y,79.35h,84.3t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sT9s8OkYry_2HIHKy3ZAVtw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656


2. Access to Potomac Heritage Trail from here:

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9665809,-77.1809649,3a,75y,62.44h,68.5t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s8tRUhfpOwSBq_5THTKEDbg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[Anonymous]

The Old Trolley line that runs along the Potomac, through the Palisades and into MD. It's a really cool trail, unmarked, but still gets occasionally mowed. You can grab the entrance right behind the Montessori school off Foxhall Road NW. You'll cut across a few roads, go behind backyards of homes, end up on a few trails and cross a creek, etc.

https://goo.gl/maps/f1QaYaVQPm37wSs56

[Anonymous]

Not telling a soul. I like them quiet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not telling a soul. I like them quiet.

Let me guess, you live in those exclusive neighborhoods? I like the ideas of this thread and hope more people will share -- after all, these are public lands and should be used / shared more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Old Trolley line that runs along the Potomac, through the Palisades and into MD. It's a really cool trail, unmarked, but still gets occasionally mowed. You can grab the entrance right behind the Montessori school off Foxhall Road NW. You'll cut across a few roads, go behind backyards of homes, end up on a few trails and cross a creek, etc.

https://goo.gl/maps/f1QaYaVQPm37wSs56

This looks really cool! How long does it go? Seem like it goes all the way to Palisades Recreation Center & Playground?

[Anonymous]

This is not at all hidden but I didn’t know about the Rachel Carson greenway/NW branch trail until covid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wondering if anyone care to share some interesting local hiking/walk trails (or starting point of trails) that are not so obvious (i.e. not starting at a park or other obvious places)?

Here are examples:

1. Access to Langley Oaks Park from here:

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9590986,-77.1640638,3a,75y,79.35h,84.3t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sT9s8OkYry_2HIHKy3ZAVtw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656


2. Access to Potomac Heritage Trail from here:

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9665809,-77.1809649,3a,75y,62.44h,68.5t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s8tRUhfpOwSBq_5THTKEDbg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

In the second link, I don't even see an opening in the woods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Old Trolley line that runs along the Potomac, through the Palisades and into MD. It's a really cool trail, unmarked, but still gets occasionally mowed. You can grab the entrance right behind the Montessori school off Foxhall Road NW. You'll cut across a few roads, go behind backyards of homes, end up on a few trails and cross a creek, etc.

https://goo.gl/maps/f1QaYaVQPm37wSs56

This looks really cool! How long does it go? Seem like it goes all the way to Palisades Recreation Center & Playground?

It crosses through the rec center grounds and continues basically until the Washington Aquaduct. The grass median island on Sherier Place NW is the remnants of the old trolley line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not telling a soul. I like them quiet.

Let me guess, you live in those exclusive neighborhoods? I like the ideas of this thread and hope more people will share -- after all, these are public lands and should be used / shared more.

Just a regular neighborhood but frankly the main trails have been overrun and ruined by too many people, mountain bikes that turn the trail into a muddy mess. I'll keep my silent wood trails to myself. If you are really interested do some exploring, don't wait for people to hand things to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is not at all hidden but I didn’t know about the Rachel Carson greenway/NW branch trail until covid.

I love the Copperhead Trail on the other side of 29!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is not at all hidden but I didn’t know about the Rachel Carson greenway/NW branch trail until covid.

I love the Copperhead Trail on the other side of 29!

Where?
Google is leading me to a whole bunch of other copperhead trails.

I also followed the Rachel Carson Greenway south during covid for the first time and found the back entrance to the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens south of Bladensburg. There are signs, so it's also not hidden, per se, just new to me.

[Anonymous]

I have trails that are fabulous amidst beautiful cedar trees in my neighborhood that connects two big parks but I don't live in Northern VA anymore so probably no one wants it lol. If you come to Harrisonburg city- I've got trails for you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not telling a soul. I like them quiet.

Let me guess, you live in those exclusive neighborhoods? I like the ideas of this thread and hope more people will share -- after all, these are public lands and should be used / shared more.

Just a regular neighborhood but frankly the main trails have been overrun and ruined by too many people, mountain bikes that turn the trail into a muddy mess. I'll keep my silent wood trails to myself. If you are really interested do some exploring, don't wait for people to hand things to you.

That's the point of the thread.. hoping to learn more where should I explore and I did learn from a few other friendly posters here. I don't think trails will get ruined by people posting here in dcurbanmom's Travel forum -- the traffic here is relatively mellow.

[Anonymous]

Fairfax’s Cross County trail is fun to do. DH and I did it 4 years ago in 4 mile increments. It goes through many neighborhoods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is not at all hidden but I didn’t know about the Rachel Carson greenway/NW branch trail until covid.

this is one of our favorite trails. My kid likes the side with the boulders. I have dogs do like that they both have shade and water access.