Lace up your hiking boots. We’ve compiled a curated hiking guide for Northern Virginia with 19 trails and routes to help you plan your next adventure.

Note: Before heading out, we recommend checking park websites for further info, current trail conditions, and safest practices for the area.

Key: Easy = 🥾| Moderate = 🥾🥾 | Hard = 🥾🥾🥾

The Mather Gorge is a beautiful sight while hiking at Great Falls Park. | Photo via NPS

Do go chasing waterfalls

Quantico Cascades Trail, Parking Lot E, Manassas

Difficulty: 🥾
Length: 1.4 miles out-and-back
Wheelchair accessible: No
Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash

Ok, so you may not see huge cascading waterfalls on this hike at Prince William Forest, but you will end up at a small rapid on the creek where hikers can splash around or enjoy a picnic.

White Oak Canyon Trail, Whiteoak Canyon Parking on Skyline Drive, Luray

Difficulty: 🥾🥾🥾
Length: 9.8 miles out-and-back
Wheelchair accessible: No
Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash

During the summer, hikers can stop along the trail to swim in small pools and check out the waterfalls. Pro tip: If you’re looking for less of a hike, start at the lower trailhead, where you’ll have to walk less to reach the bigger swimming holes.

The River Trail, 9194 Old Dominion Dr., McLean

Difficulty: 🥾🥾
Length: 3 miles out-and-back
Wheelchair accessible: No
Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash

Located in Great Falls Park, be prepared to hike near the edge of a cliff and see magnificent views of the Potomac and Mather Gorge. Once you’ve mastered this hike, check out other trails in the park.

Winkler Botanical Preserve White, Red, and Green Trail Loop, 5400 Roanoke Ave., Alexandria

Difficulty: 🥾
Length: 0.5-mile loop
Wheelchair accessible: No
Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash

Enjoy a stroll throughout this nature preserve, where you can see streams, a lake, and a waterfall.

Picture-perfect views

Burke Lake Trail, 7315 Ox Rd., Fairfax Station

Difficulty: 🥾
Length: 4.8-mile loop
Wheelchair accessible: Portions; the trail surface is pavement, gravel, and dirt + typically at least 4 ft wide
Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash

This relatively flat route circles the entirety of Burke Lake and makes a great hike for families thanks to the various benches positioned along the trail for breaks. Once you finish, make it worth the trip by checking out the park's merry-go-round or boat rentals.

Turkey Run Loop Trail, XR7W+PP, McLean

Difficulty: 🥾
Length: 0.75-mile loop
Wheelchair accessible: No
Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash

Head to Parking Area C-1 at Turkey Run Park to find this trailhead. If you feel like hiking some more after completing the loop, set out on the one-mile Woods Trail that starts at the same parking lot.

Ira Gabrielson Trail, 3J67+P3, Sterling

Difficulty: 🥾🥾
Length: 12 miles point-to-point
Wheelchair accessible: No
Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash

A segment of the Potomac Heritage Trail, this hike at Algonkian Regional Park will take you through Lowe’s Island, along the Seneca Breaks (one of the Potomac's five famous falls), past remnants of old rock formations, through Nichols Run, and beyond — making for a hike full of unique views.

Old Rag Mountain Loop, 2923 Nethers Rd., Sperryville

Difficulty: 🥾🥾🥾
Length: 9.3-mile loop
Wheelchair accessible: No
Pet-friendly: No

If you are on the hunt for a more intense hike, this is the one for you. It’s one of the more famous hikes in Northern Virginia, providing wonderful views along with a great workout.

Leopold’s Preserve Loop, 16290 Thoroughfare Rd., Broad Run

Difficulty: 🥾
Length: 3.9-mile loop
Wheelchair accessible: No
Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash

This loop winds around 380 acres of protected land within this preserve in Haymarket.

Wolf Trap Loop Trail, 1551 Trap Rd., Vienna

Difficulty: 🥾
Length: 1.8-mile loop
Wheelchair accessible: No
Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash

This popular concert venue in Northern Virginia also features scenic trails and abundant natural surroundings to explore and enjoy.

Hikers at Dyke Marsh have spotted wildlife like egret, osprey, and gulls. | Photo via NPS

Wildlife walks

Haul Road Trail/Dyke Marsh Trail, Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve, Alexandria

Difficulty: 🥾
Length: 1.9 miles out-and-back
Wheelchair accessible: No
Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash

This is a popular trail for birders and is the perfect spot to spy a unique variety of wildlife. If you'd like to hike with a group, join the Friends of Dyke Marsh's Sunday Bird Walks at 8 a.m.

Potomac Heritage Trail, 8700 Potomic Hills St., Great Falls

Difficulty: 🥾
Length: 2.5 miles out-and-back
Wheelchair accessible: No
Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash

While the entirety of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail spans 700+ miles and multiple states, this 2.5-mile section within Riverbend Park is perfect for a weekend hike. Bonus: This trail connects to Great Falls Park.

Cedar Trail, Deer Trail, and Heron Trail Loop, 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria

Difficulty: 🥾
Length: 1.8-mile loop
Wheelchair accessible: Portions
Pet-friendly: Portions (dogs not allowed on the boardwalk)

Combine the three trails at Huntley Meadows to create an under two-mile loop — parts of which take place on a boardwalk over the freshwater wetland. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife ranging from wild turkey to yellow-billed cuckoo.

High Point Trail, JRR2+XM, Lorton

Difficulty: 🥾
Length: 2.94 miles point-to-point
Wheelchair accessible: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash

This multi-use trail at Mason Neck State Park — also part of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail — is a perfect option for those wanting a quiet and peaceful walk. You’re far less likely to run into groups of hikers here than you might at Great Falls Park.

Kane's Creek and Eagle Spur Trail, 7301 High Point Rd., Lorton

Difficulty: 🥾
Length: 3.6-mile out and back
Wheelchair accessible: No
Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash

This popular trail in Mason Neck State Park offers a rewarding hike, ending at a scenic lookout that’s a great spot for eagle watching.

Ni River Trail, 8110 River Stone Dr., Fredericksburg

Difficulty: 🥾
Length: 2.7-mile loop
Wheelchair accessible: No
Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash

If you’re looking for a spot to go bird watching, this is one you should check out. There’s much nature to explore along this almost three-mile loop.

Rocky Run Stream Valley Trail, 12826 Mt Royal Ln., Fairfax

Difficulty: 🥾
Length: 7 miles out and back
Wheelchair accessible: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash

You can access this trail from multiple points along its route. It’s partially paved, making it very accessible for folks.

A portion of Bull Run Occoquan Trail is also open to mountain biking. | Photo via NOVA Parks

Hikes with history

Bull Run Occoquan Trail, 10875 Hampton Rd., Fairfax Station

Difficulty: 🥾🥾
Length: 19.7 miles point-to-point
Wheelchair accessible: No
Pet-friendly: Yes, with leash

Explore more than 5,000 acres of woodland while trekking through NOVA Parks’ longest natural surface trail. Along the trail, you’ll find historic sights like battle points from the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.

Downtown Heritage Trail, 7th St. and Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, DC

Difficulty: 🥾
Length: Three 1-mile loops
Wheelchair accessible: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes

Looking for a way to pass time while you’re in The District? The Downtown DC Neighborhood Heritage Trail — comprising three ~1-mile loops — features 21 markers along the path that dive into the history of where you’re walking. Follow along with the PDF, then explore the other 16 heritage trails.

Get the right gear

Get the most out of your trip with comfortable, handy, and helpful hiking gear:

For the best footwear, check out Nordstrom Rack’s sneaker edit for hiking.
If your trail demands a proper hiking boot, we like Columbia’s collection on Amazon.
Travel light (but still have room for snacks) with lululemon’s Everywhere Belt Bag.
Get a good bulk deal on Perfect Bars, Clif Bars, or Kind Bars at a warehouse store like Sam’s Club.
Don’t forget to bring a compact, portable phone charger (you’ll thank us later).
We like this Teton hiking backpack.
We like this lightweight water bottle.

Psst — to be ultra-prepared, here are the 10 items you should never enter a national park without, according to the National Park Service.