You don't need to be training for a marathon to appreciate a good walking path.
Fairfax County has more than 600 miles of walking, hiking and biking trails and paths, ranging from paved shared-use paths to natural-surface trails.
Arlington adds nearly 49 miles of paved, multi-use trails, plus additional hiking trails.
W&OD Trail
For a longer, flatter outing, the W&OD is the obvious starting point. Its paved surface makes it useful for walking, running and cycling.
Custis Trail
The Custis Trail runs about 5.1 miles through Arlington, connecting Rosslyn toward the W&OD near Falls Church. It's paved but hillier than the W&OD.
Bluemont Junction Trail
At about 1.3 miles, Bluemont Junction Trail is an easy option for a shorter outing and connects Bluemont Park with the W&OD and Four Mile Run Trail.
NOVA Loop
For the ambitious walker or cyclist, Fairfax County's NOVA Loop connects roughly 70 miles of trails across Northern Virginia, including portions of the W&OD, Fairfax County Parkway Trail and other regional paths.
That's one of the quiet advantages of living around Fairfax and Arlington: getting outside doesn't necessarily require getting in the car first.
