The Mount Vernon Trail is a very popular multi-use trail shared by bicyclists, runners, walkers, and rollerbladers. There are up to 80,000 visitors per month along the trail and it can get congested. Here are some guidelines to follow to ensure your safety while visiting the park.

• On the trail - be alert and be courteous
• Use caution when entering and crossing the trail
• Keep right and move off the trail when stopped
• Slow down before intersections and in congested areas
• Watch for children on the trail and parents be attentive to your child's activities
• Pet owners must leash pets with a maximum 6-foot long leash
• Bicyclists: ride single file, signal before passing, yield to slower users, and obey the speed limit 15 mph
• Bicyclists: When passing, pass on the left, scan ahead and behind before passing, signal with bell or voice, allow at least two bike lengths room before moving back to the right, do not pass when visibility ahead is limited

  In an emergency, call 911 or U.S. Park Police 202-610-7500

If you would like to contact the park about any hazards or concerns along the trail please e-mail us

Videos about the Mount Vernon Trail

• Trail Talk
  A ranger and a trail patroller talk about things to do along the trail.
• Rush hour on the trail
  A bike commuter on the Mount Vernon Trail talks about the trail rush hour during the week.

NPS

Congestion on the trail

Trail Counting

There are a number of trail counts conducted on the Mount Vernon Trail, through video footage, tube counts of bicyclists, automated counters, and manual trail counts. These counts gather information about congestion on the trail and demographics of trail users and are important in planning and managment, to make the trail a safer place. Here are some of the data and graphs from 2009 trail counts. Trail Count Graphs