Great Hiking in Northern Virginia: Trails Worth the Trek

In addition to being right next door to our nation’s capital, Northern Virginia offers an abundance of its own fun, for all ages. Outdoor fun is what I am featuring here, specifically hiking. Hiking is a passion of mine that seems to grow with every trail I hike. I’ve been getting out and about more often these past few months, and have found some great options for hiking in Northern Virginia. So if you’re looking for some fun trail options, you’re in the right place. Let’s go!

Burke Lake Park

Burke Lake Park is a wonderful outdoor option for the whole family. We chose to walk the entire trail around the lake, which is just shy of a 5 mile loop. It gets quite busy, especially on the weekends, with hikers and bikers alike. Luckily, there is plenty of room for everyone on this trail. The park also features a carousel, mini-golf and concessions!

Trail: Burke Lake Loop
Distance: 4.8 miles

Mason Neck State Park

Mason Neck State Park offers a great variety of trails for every skill level. We trekked a few connected trails, including Eagle Spur and Bayview Trail. I especially enjoyed Bayview Trail, as it has a nice mix of woods, marsh and water views. A great option for kids and dogs.

Trail: Wilson Spring, Kane’s Creek, Bayview
Distance: 3ish miles, interconnected trails could be longer or shorter.

Fort Belvoir Basin Trail

This is a great trail located on Fort Belvoir near Lorton, Virginia. You need to have base access with ID or know someone who does. Because of the restricted access, its a nice option with not a lot of people. Definitely take advantage of it if you can!

Trail: Fort Belvoir Basin Trail
Distance: 3.4 miles

Neabsco Creek Boardwalk Trail

Neabsco Creek Boardwalk Trail is a very popular hike located in Woodbridge Virginia. Parking is easy to find in a spacious lot, although I would get here early to ensure easy access. It seems to be a very popular spot. You can meander over the long boardwalk that goes over a beautiful marsh landscape and then continue on into the woods for a longer hike. Great for all ages and physical abilities!

Trail: Neabsco Creek Boardwalk Trail
Distance: 3.2 miles

Pohick Regional Park

Pohick Regional Park is located in Lorton Virginia and offers a few trail options. We hiked the Red Trail, which is a 4.4 mile loop that has some great bay views. It’s a very comfortable hike, with lots of shade. There are some nice spots along the bay to take a break and enjoy the scenery.

Trail: Pohick Regional Park Red Trail
Distance: 4.4 miles

Occoquan Trail

Occoquan Regional Park is a great park that offers a lot of recreational options. Hiking, boating, picnicking, you name it. We completed a 2.7 mile loop that tours the park, to include the main paved road into the park as well as some terrain through the woods. It’s a nice relaxing hike that is a great option for younger families.

Trail: Occoquan Regional Park Loop
Distance: 2.7 miles

Meadowood Trail

Meadowood is a beautiful woodsy trail that is shared with mountain bikers. Parking is pretty limited, so I would recommend not waiting too late to start your adventure. There are some interesting boardwalk sections through the park and overall the woods are very lush and healthy. Be very mindful of the bikers on the trail, we did run into a rather aggressive biker that clearly thought the trail was only meant for him.

Trail: Meadowood South Branch Loop
Distance: 4.3 miles

See how these trails compare to hiking in Hawaii.

Regardless of your age or ability, there are some great options for hiking in Northern Virginia. I’ve loved exploring some of the trails here and look forward to adding a few more to this list.

Do you have any Northern Virginia trails that you love that are not on my list? If so, I’d love the hear about them in the comments below. Happy hiking!