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Bles Park (map) - a sleepy Loudoun County park with a playground, soccer fields, and some nature trails - is now part of a grander plan. In conjunction with this weekend's National Trails Day event, volunteers, led by REI and the Potomac Heritage Trail Association, will blaze the newest stretch of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (PHNST) in Bles Park. For those counting, the one mile section will add to the current tally of seven hundred plus walkable PHNST miles.

The new trail will follow Broad Run, upstream of the Broad and Potomac confluence. It winds through meadows and forest, all the while staying within a stone's throw of the river bank. The Bles Park section terminates near Rte. 7. Unfortunately for thru-hikers, there is currently a gap in the PHNST at this point, but rest assured that trail proponents are hard at work devising future enhancements.

Bles Park's PHNST designation is getting the press, but it would be remiss not to mention the park's inherent natural beauty and abundant wildlife. About three quarters of the park is open space and a small network of wide, gravel and grassy trails are cut through the meadow. Birds chirp, deer frolic, and the scent of honeysuckle tickles the senses. Don't forget to bring the kids - Bles Park's playground looks like a great time*.

* Editorial note: The author did not attempt to climb the monkey bars but certainly was tempted.

Park Stats: 124 acres; roughly 2-3 miles of natural surface trails (including the PHNST)Administration: Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Services

Matthew Henson blazed a trail to the North Pole. Montgomery County's new trail bearing his name is not quite as extreme, but worthy, nonetheless.

Give a hearty Trail Voice welcome to the newest thoroughbred in the Montgomery County Parks stable - the Matthew Henson Trail. Eight years in the making, the trail is not without its detractors (best chronicled in the WashCycle blog) and it has flaws (several sketchy road crossings and a limited tree canopy). However, when all is said and done, the completion of this trail represents a crowning achievement for the Montgomery County Department of Parks, its citizens, and trail advocates across the DC area.

The TrailSo what should you expect from the "new guy" in the Montgomery County trail system? How's 4.5 miles of smooth-rolling, stream-flowing, neighborhood-connecting greenway sound? Starting in Winding Creek Park, the Matthew Henson Trail branches east from DC/Maryland's popular Rock Creek Trail. The trail follows Turkey Branch Stream as it winds its way east across Viers Mill Rd. (a detour is in place to cross at Parkland Dr.) and under Connecticut Ave. Tall oaks line the path which is, in most places, no more than thirty yards from the suburban backyards of Wheaton and Silver Spring. After crossing busy Georgia Ave, the trail returns to the greenway where two unique aspects may catch your eye: Tree plantings (and lots of them) line the path. Montgomery Parks planted close to thirty tree species to replace the loss of tree coverage from trail construction.A series of boardwalk paths (0.6 total miles), designed to minimize the environmental impact of the trail, hover above the forest carpet.Meanwhile, the trail continues across Layhill Rd and about a mile beyond it, ending in a "T" at Alderton Rd in Silver Spring.But is that really the end of the Matthew Henson Trail? Proponents envision it to eventually be the elusive Rock Creek/Sligo Creek trail connection, but that's a discussion for another day. For now, let's lay out the welcome mat for Mr. Matthew Henson - Arctic explorer and trailblazer.Trail Stats: 4.5 miles - Winding Creek Park in Wheaton (map) to Alderton Rd, Silver Spring (map)Trail Type: Paved, 8 ft. wide Trail Map: Matthew Henson Trail MapAdministration: Montgomery County Department of Parks

Fairfax County's Rocky Run Stream Valley Trail meanders along its namesake stream for 3.4 miles. Sandwiched in the middle of the bustling "Chantilly triangle" (Route 50 and I-66 as the north/south borders, respectively), this multi-use double-track trail offers a welcoming wooded respite from suburbia. Trail users enjoy a generous oak canopy, but that canopy is at-risk from a sunlight-hoarding, water-hogging, invasive plant species known as garlic mustard. Luckily, the Fairfax County Park Authority Invasive Management Area (IMA) Volunteer Program is on the scene. With consistent volunteer help and special events like Invasive Plant Removal Day, garlic mustard is trembling in its roots.From the western edge of the trail in Ellanor C. Lawrence Park on Walney Rd., the trail enters the woods and never looks back (except to cross a few streets). For the two miles, from Walney Rd. to Stringfellow Rd., rocks, boulders, and fallen trees line the stream bank. East of Stringfellow, backyards converge to narrow the greenway, but Rocky Run manages to keep its wooded groove. As the rough gravel trail climbs the slope back to reality (i.e. Fairfax County Parkway - its eastern terminus), you'll be sad to see it go.Trail Stats: 3.4 miles from Ellanor C. Lawrence Park (map) to Fairfax County Parkway (west to east)Trail Type: Mostly coarse gravel and paved in partsAdministration: Fairfax County Park Authority

The grand opening of the I-395 underpass section of the Four Mile Run Trail, originally scheduled for May 2nd but now pushed back to May 30th, marks the beginning of a new era for Arlington County's Four Mile Run Trail. The goal of this two-year, $4.5 million project was to create a safe and direct connection from the South Shirlington Road intersection (which is where the W&OD trail terminates) to the path along S. Glebe Road About 3000 feet of new trail development later, trail "regulars" like Colin Dixon of Phoenix Bikes will tell you: mission accomplished. Bicycle commuters can enjoy the (potentially) ten minutes of extra rest in the morning and families can finally feel safe taking the kids for a ride into DC. We can thank local government and bicycle/pedestrian advocacy groups for their hard work and dedication in making this happen.As for the remaining section of the trail between the underpass (mile marker 5.5) and the trail terminus (7.5), it may not be gorgeous (except in a post-modern, industrial kind of way), but it gets the job done. The trail parallels the north side of Four Mile Run, which at this point is a broad river developed with flood-control measures and multi-purposed as an electricity power line corridor. After a series of bridge underpasses, the trail merges into the Mt. Vernon Trail near the south end of Reagan National Airport. If DC is your final destination, head just a little over two miles north to the 14th St. bridge trail.Trail Stats: About two miles from S. Shirlington Rd. (map) to the terminusTrail Type: Paved, multi-useAdministration: Arlington County Department of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources

George Washington and his Pawtomack Company buddies came up with the idea for a canal along the Potomac River. However, hikers and bikers actually have the ill-fated Chesapeake and Ohio Company to thank for the canal towpath trail. GW built his version of the canal on the Virginia side of the river - you can visit Great Falls Park in Virginia to see the remains. As for the Chesapeake and Ohio Company, their early 19th century business venture on the Maryland side of the Potomac failed, but the company's unintended contribution to society was the C&O Canal National Historical Park (NHP).

The Trail

The canal and its accompanying towpath trail extend 184.5 miles from Georgetown to Cumberland, MD. Perhaps the most popular section of the park, and rightfully so, is the four miles between Angler's Inn (mile marker 12.6) and Swain's Lock (16.6). The highlights are numerous: Great Falls Overlook (14.0), Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center (14.3), Billy Goat Trail Section A access points (12.9 and 13.8), and last but not least, seven canal locks (locks 15 through 21). The towpath trail itself is hard-packed dirt and generally wide enough for users to walk side-by-side (cyclists however should ride single-file when passing). If you visit this Saturday (April 18th), say hello to the 250+ volunteers participating in the Great Falls kick-off to C&O Canal Pride Days hosted by the C&O Canal Trust. Or better yet, join them!

Trail Stats: 184.5 miles - Georgetown to Cumberland, MDTrail Type: Hard-pack natural surface, bicyclists permitted Administration: National Park Service - C&O Canal NHP Palisades District

About eight meandering miles upriver of Hains Point - the geographic convergence of the Anacostia River and the Potomac River - sits a small recreational oasis known as Bladensburg Waterfront Park. On Saturday, April 18th, the park will see a flurry of activity as a cleanup and celebration site for the Anacostia River Earth Day Cleanup & Celebration sponsored by the Anacostia Watershed Society. On an average day, this Prince George's County park serves as host to children enjoying the playground, fishermen casting their lines, and families out for a Sunday stroll. Outdoor recreation enthusiasts, however, flock to the park for a different reason - its strategic location as the gateway to the Anacostia Tributary Trail System (ATTS). From the park, cross the pedestrian bridge to the west side of the river and point your legs (or tires) north for some serious trail mileage. The paved multi-use orange-blazed Anacostia River Trail follows the flow of its namesake river for a little more than a half mile, at which point you reach a fork in the road: To the left - the Northwest Branch Trail: Stroll through Hyattsville (metro-accessible!) and venture into Montgomery County on the connecting Sligo Creek Trail. To the right - the (equally creatively named) Northeast Branch Trail: College Park and Lake Artemesia are just a short three miles away.

Wait, did you think this article was over? The tale of Bladensburg Waterfront Park (and in turn, the ATTS), is about to get a bit more interesting. Bladensburg Waterfront Park is destined to be the northern terminus of the planned Anacostia Riverwalk Trail, which is a major component of the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative. This story will continue to unfold so be sure to check back!

The Potomac Heritage Trail - a true gem of a hiking trail in Northern Virginia - is the subject of some confusion. The ten mile stretch of off-road trail in Virginia extending from Theodore Roosevelt Island to the I-495 American Legion Bridge (and passing Chain Bridge) is just one component of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. The ten mile trail pre-dates the creation of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, which was established by a 1983 act of Congress. The Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail is designed to be a continuous, 174 mile trail along the Potomac - starting (or ending) at the Chesapeake Bay. However, this trail does not exist yet and that, my friends, is a story for another day.

Trail Information

With that said, let's get back to the subject at hand - the Potomac Heritage Trail. If you're up for it, hike all ten miles (but don't forget that you're car is parked on the other end). However, for an easily-accessible, historically-charged, and geographically-diverse outing, Trail Voice recommends setting up base camp near the Chain Bridge in Arlington (map - mile marker 4.1). It's a fascinating stretch of trail - from the Civil War cannons of Ft. Marcy (mile marker 4.9) to the decaying remains of the Pimmit Run grist mill (hiding place of the Declaration of Independence during the Burning of Washington).  Less than a mile downstream of Chain Bridge and Pimmit Run, Gulf Branch cascades into the Potomac parallel to a short connecting trail leading to the much-maligned Gulf Branch Nature Center. If you're a hiker, you can find all sorts of reasons to love this section of the PHT. So why not show your love?

Administration: National Park Service with maintenance assistance by the Potomac Appalachian Trail ClubTrail Stats: Ten miles - extending from the north end of the Theodore Roosevelt Island parking lot to the north side of I-495

Monuments in the moonlight - need we say more? Full moon hikes are on for May (Sierra Club PRO) and June (MD.DC.VA Hiking Meetup Group).

The Cherry Blossom Festival welcomes nearly a million people to "our nation's front yard" - the National Mall & Memorial Parks (map). What more really can be said about this iconic national park that has not already been expressed by Presidents and Statesmen? It's a symbol of our country, a mecca of free speech, and a darn good place to go for a jog. D.C. locals and tourists alike enjoy miles of trails and acres of urban open-space in this park. There is really no one way to experience the outdoor recreation opportunities of the National Mall & Memorial Parks, but Trail Voice recommends two feet or two wheels. National Mall Park Rangers seem to agree - check out the schedule of events for Ranger-led walks and bike tours (which start up again this weekend after a winter hibernation). If you're visiting at some point during the next few weeks, you might also want to see what that cherry blossom fuss is all about.

Park Stats: 146 acres encompassing the National Mall (U.S. Capitol to Washington Monument), West Potomac Park (south of the Reflecting Pool including the Tidal Basin), and Constitution Gardens (north of the Reflecting Pool up to Constitution Ave.)Trail Stats: No official mileage. Multiple connections to other Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia trails.Administration: National Park Service - National Mall & Memorial Parks