NPS
Willows along the Mount Vernon Trail
In 1973, the National Park Service constructed the Mount Vernon Trail along the Potomac River, paralleling the George Washington Memorial Parkway.
With the river as your companion, you can run, ride, or walk along this 18-mile multi-use trail stretching from Mount Vernon Estate to Theodore Roosevelt Island. Along the trail, enjoy the views of the Potomac River, picnic at Riverside Park or Belle Haven Park, visit the fortifications at Fort Hunt Park, or take a short walk into Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve.
The trail continues through Old Town Alexandria along the waterfront. North of Alexandria, Gravelly Point offers a scenic place for watching planes take off from Reagan National Airport. Consider a side trip to Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove. At the northern terminus is Theodore Roosevelt Island which offers easy nature walks, the presidential monument and views of the river and Washington, D.C.
