Connect with History on the Mount Vernon Trail

Joggers on the Mount Vernon Trail.

Saki

Many bike trails take cyclists through peaceful, wooded places with serene natural views.  In contrast, the Mount Vernon Trail leads through urban areas, in close proximity to the busy George Washington Memorial Parkway which it parallels for most of its 18-mile stretch.  Situated in northern Virginia just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., this trail is a local oasis for folks wanting to stretch their legs and discover something interesting along the way.

To access the southern trail terminus, the start of my ride, you can park for free in the east lot of George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate.  Slightly south, past some public restrooms, visitors can pay for entry to the historic grounds and receive a guided tour of Washington’s Mansion, built in 1734. The trail is dotted with benches, a few fitness stations, pet-friendly drinking fountains, many parking options and several restrooms; the latter two of which are shown on the Mount Vernon Trail Map.  Just note that many of the restrooms are closed and the fountains are turned off in the colder months. 

One stop along the trail is Fort Hunt Park (mile 3.3), where batteries defended the Potomac River during the Spanish American War.  Riding through the park, You can stop at Battery Sater, a concrete emplacement built in 1904 which once housed three 3-inch, 15-pound, rapid-fire guns capable of hitting targets up to 4.5 miles away.  Three other batteries can also be found at the park: Battery Mount Vernon, Battery Robinson, and Battery Porter. Between mile 5.7 and mile 5.9, the Mount Vernon Trail merges with the road in a residential area.  Signs will direct cyclists where to turn to stay on the trail. At mile 8, you can make short detour to visit Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve.  Bicycles are not permitted here but you can lock yours up at the trailhead and do a woodland walk on a 0.75-mile-long old dirt mining road called the Haul Road Trail.  The Preserve is a popular birding hotspot -over 270 species of birds have been spotted there in recent years. 

At mile 9.3, the Mount Vernon Trail passes under the Washington, D.C. beltway (Highway 495).  Plentiful parking and access to Jones Point Park make this an ideal location for those who don’t mind beginning their ride near the midpoint. The 2.3-mile stretch through Old Town Alexandria (mile 9.3-11.6), can be a bit confusing, merging as it does with the road in a quaint historic district full of shops, restaurants, an art center, and a few bike shops.  There were painted bicycle symbols on the road and some signs to help direct cyclists through town. At mile 14.7 (this could vary depending on the route you take through Old Town Alexandria), you’ll arrive at Gravelly Point, a popular park with plenty to offer: a boat ramp, bicycle rental stations and an open field for sports.  This destination is also considered one of the best spots in the country for plane watching, due to being just a few hundred feet from the north end of runway 1/19 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. At mile 15.7, you arrive at Lady Bird Johnson Park, formerly known as Columbia Island, where you’ll see the Navy and Marine Memorial, then ride through the Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ) Memorial Grove on the Potomac. Here there is a “living” memorial comprised of natural elements and landscaping.  A stone monolith was erected to mark the place where LBJ and the First Lady came to enjoy their favorite view of our nation’s capital. 

The Mount Vernon Trail is a multi-use trail so in addition to bicyclists, expect to see pedestrians and skaters.  With the exception of motorized wheelchairs, motorized vehicles are not permitted. 

At mile 17.5, you’ll arrive at the pedestrian bridge leading to Theodore Roosevelt Island. The trail ends at mile 18.

After riding the Mount Vernon Trail, you’ll conclude that its real beauty lies not in the trail itself, but what it connects.  If you just bike from Mount Vernon Estate to Theodore Roosevelt Island without spending time at any of the sites along the way, then you’re truly missing out, because the trail is more than just a nine-foot-wide paved path – it is a connector to American History.

This is an abridged article originally written by Saki.