Virginia Bike Trails
This page is about off-road bike trails, bike paths, greenways, and rail-trails. For on-road bike routes, see our Virginia Bike Routes page.
Maintaining a comprehensive listing of bike trails throughout Virginia would be a monumental task. Many local and regional directories are fairly complete and regularly updated, with useful maps, descriptions, driving directions, etc. So we’re compiling a listing of these, along with some individual trails.
We’re still working on this page. Please send information, suggestions, links, etc. to webmaster@vabike.org
Statewide Trail Directories
The Rails to Trails Conservancy maintains a regularly updated, comprehensive listing of rail-trails at their Traillink site. If your local trails are not listed, you can help RTC map them.
Northern Virginia
The very popular Washington and Old Dominion Trail is a 45 mile, 100′ wide park connecting much of Northern Virginia, from Shirlington at the eastern end to Purcellville at the western, running through Vienna, Reston, Herndon, and Leesburg.
For information about trails close to the DC area, Arlington County has a trail directory at CommuterPage.com
Though it hasn’t been updated in awhile, Bike Washington’s trail directory is comprehensive and informative, with nice maps.
Southwest Virginia
Since the mid-1990s, Dan Casey’s Blue Ridge Biking Archive has been one of the best general guides to biking in southwest Virginia, on-road or off.
The Huckleberry Trail runs for about 6 miles from downtown Blacksburg to the New River Valley Mall in Christiansburg. It’s popular for both commuting and recreation. Soon to be extended from the mall to the Christiansburg Rec Center; and at the other end to Pandapas Pond, a popular mountain biking and hiking area.
The New River Trail runs 57 miles along the New River from Pulaski to Galax. The recently dedicated New River Trail Extension completes the connection with downtown Pulaski.
The Virginia Creeper Trail is known all over the US and beyond, for its scenic beauty and unique all-downhill possiblities. A must-do for all cyclists, from the newest novice to the most seasoned pedaler.
Southeast Virginia — Hampton Roads
The Virginia Capital Trail will connect the past and present Virginia capitals of Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Richmond, along the Scenic Route 5 corridor. As of spring 2008, 38 out of 55 miles are either completed, under construction, or in development. Governor Kaine hopes to have the trail completed by 2010. VDOT also maintains a guide to the Capital Trail.
