Bike the Mount Vernon Trail, Virginia, USA
Follow the Potomac River to the Historic Home of George Washington
Aug 19, 2009
Whether one lives in the Washington, D.C., area or is just visiting, biking the Mount Vernon Trail brings a mix of scenery and history (not to mention a good workout) that ends at the majestic home of the father of our country, President George Washington.
Theodore Roosevelt Island and the Road South
The 18-mile Mount Vernon Trail begins on the shores of the Potomac River in Arlington, Va., across from Theodore Roosevelt Island, where riders can walk across the foot bridge and see a large statue of Teddy Roosevelt before starting their bike ride. The island — managed by the National Park Service — is a memorial to the 26th president of the United States, who is known for promoting conservation and his love of the outdoors. If bicyclists are planning to drive to the start of the trail, they should note that the parking lot gets crowded on weekends, and arrive early (no later than 9 a.m.).
As cyclists begin their ride, they will see the Washington skyline — the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and the dome of the U.S. Capitol — across the river to their left as they bike through the Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove, in a park named for the late president’s wife, Lady Bird Johnson.
Old Town Alexandria
Riders should continue on to Gravelly Point at the north end of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and take a rest long enough to watch the airplanes either take off or land just a short distance right over their heads. Riders will pedal onward to the Old Town section of Alexandria, Va., where the trail ends temporarily and cyclists will ride on the streets for a mile or so. Anyone riding the trail should take some time to explore Old Town and its historic sites, which include the following:
- Christ Church (118 N. Washington Street): As described on the church website, George Washington and General Robert E. Lee worshipped here, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill attended services at the church on New Years Day 1942 for World Day of Prayer for Peace.
- Gadsby’s Tavern (138 N. Royal Street): George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison, and James Monroe all visited this historic tavern.
- Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary War Soldier at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House (321 S. Fairfax Street): Not as well known as the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery, but just as moving.
- The Boyhood Home of Robert E. Lee (607 Oronoco Street): The Confederate General spent most of his childhood years at this residence.
Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens
After leaving Old Town and heading south, riders will rejoin the trail and pass through the Belle Haven neighborhood and the Dyke Marsh, a 240-acre Potomac wetland. The trail starts to get curvier and hillier here, and will be that way until the end. At about the 15-mile mark, riders can look to their left across the Potomac and see Fort Washington, built in the early 1800s with the mission to protect Washington, D.C., from attack by enemies coming up the Potomac.
Three more miles will take cyclists along the trail with great river views and a stretch of woods before arriving at Mount Vernon. Bike racks are available for those who choose to take a tour of the first president’s estate. Mount Vernon offers so much more than just the home itself — visitors will learn about Washington’s life, his presidency, the Revolutionary War, and life in general during the 18th century. Guests will tour the gardens, the blacksmith shop, servants’ quarters, the kitchen, the Coach House, the Donald W. Reynolds Museum (where one learns about the life of George Washington and his presidency through exhibits), the final resting place of George and Martha Washington, and much more.
The Way Home
Following a visit to Mount Vernon, riders can make their way back up the trail to where they started. Old Town offers many places to eat if a cyclist gets hungry on the way home. Once back at Theodore Roosevelt Island, riders can reflect on the scenery and history they experienced all in an 18-mile stretch of trail. For more information on this and other trails, visit Bike Washington.
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