Con. We have walking trails in our neighborhood, and we wouldn't have bought a house backing up to them, either.

Con. I'd rather be a quick walk than backing right to it.

Wouldn’t you rather bike/walk a few blocks to the trail so you don’t have to deal with the safety issues? We are about a 5 minute walk to the Gulf Branch trail in Arlington. I have friends right on it and they complain about their lack of privacy and safety issues. You have zero control over who uses/is hanging out on a public trail.

Huge pro for me. I love riding my bike both for recreation and transportation. Also love hiking, if that's the kind of trail you're referring to. The house I just bought is a few steps away from the Four Mile Run Trail (but not close to a metro)

Big plus to me.

Huge pro for me. If the trail is too close, I will just build a fence.

This would be a plus for me. We are trying to find a house like this!

Con.

It’s great to be close to a trail, but you don’t want to be the property right next to it, IMO.

Anonymous wrote:Plus- if you have a privacy fence and a hidden gate. Make the gate look like the rest of the fence, but you know there is a gate there so the general public doesn’t realize. My aunt and uncle did this- it was great!

This. It's a plus if you have a fence with a hidden door and motion activated security lights. And, you have easy access to the trail.

Anonymous wrote:A popular trail in Chevy Chase was converted to a light rail line. I think of all the houses that backed up to it. So consider if alternate uses are possible.

There was a train running through there until 1986. In 1988, Montgomery County purchased the land, specifically for a light rail line, after it was abandoned by CSX. Chevy Chase has been opposing its construction since then and finally lost a few years ago.

Sorry, but they are not going to build light rail lines along random wooded trails.

Con. I really value backyard privacy and the peace of mind from knowing hordes of people aren’t passing by, eg, if little kids are playing. We looked at a new build in FCC that backed to the W&OD and passed. I just couldn’t justify the price for the lot.

Anonymous wrote:Con. I looked at a house in Arlington and thought it was great that there was access to a trail right near the house. We started walking along the trail only to happen upon a group of people smoking pot with their pit bulls roaming around off leash and this was right near the house. I changed my mind very quickly.

Yup...and the trails are filled with dog sh$t..,people never pick up on public trail thus becomes a public toilet for dog owners.
BTDT..,never want to live in house next to trail.

Depends on how large the lot is. Pro, generally, for us.

Anonymous wrote:It would be a big plus to me to back onto a park or trail.

It would be a HUGE plus for me

Plus- if you have a privacy fence and a hidden gate. Make the gate look like the rest of the fence, but you know there is a gate there so the general public doesn’t realize. My aunt and uncle did this- it was great!