The best road cycling routes around Bailey'S Crossroads

This small park is tucked into a wooded stream valley, just steps away from the urban bustle. Roll in on shaded trails, listen to the burbling creek, and pause on a bench for a calm moment away from traffic. You’ll find water fountains, playgrounds, picnic areas, and a small garden—perfect for a quick reset mid-ride.

West End Park sits right off the W&OD—an easy spot to roll in, catch some shade, and take a quick break. The path has a few root bumps, so slow down and enjoy the greenery. There’s also a water fountain where you can refill before getting back on the trail.

Once a working gristmill in the 1800s, Pierce Mill offers a glimpse into early Washington industry amid the woodland calm of Rock Creek Park. Today, its restored stone walls and waterwheel stand as a quiet counterpoint to the city just beyond the trees.

The Bluemont Caboose, now housed on a specially built rail bed behind the Bluemont Community Center, is a historical bit of the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad's (W&OD) legacy. Once a key transportation corridor in Northern Virginia, the W&OD connected Alexandria to Bluemont at the Blue Ridge Mountains' base. The railway provided a boost in regional development, agriculture, and tourism from 1859 until its closure in 1968. After the railroad tracks were removed, much of the route was transformed into rail trails. The Bluemont Citizens Association, in collaboration with the county Department of Parks and Recreation, restored the caboose into a museum showcasing railroad memorabilia and community history.

Gravelly Point Park is overseen by the Nation Park Service as it lies within the George Washington Memorial Parkway. This unique location gives visitors an amazing opportunity to see planes taking off and landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. There is also an excellent view of the Washington Monument on the other side of the Potomac.

This is the meeting of the Washington & Old Dominion rail trail with the Bluemont Junction Trail, which cuts off through the park. Both of these trails are paved so, when paired with a bit of road riding, you can easily manage a complete loop here.

The Mount Vernon Trail is an 18-mile scenic path in Virginia that runs along the Potomac River, connecting Gateway Park in Rosslyn to George Washington’s Mount Vernon old estate. The trail has great views of the Washington D.C. monuments, the Kennedy Center, and passes through parks, wetlands, and historic sites like Old Town Alexandria. Popular for biking, walking, and running, it also links with other regional trails, including the Custis, Four Mile Run, and Woodrow Wilson Bridge Trails. Developed by the National Park Service with local volunteers, it now attracts approximately a million users annually.

From this spot on the Rock Creek Trail you can see the historic Mount Zion Cemetery. This historically significant burial ground is adjacent to the Female Union Band Society Cemetery, which both cover about three and a half acres, and were added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 6, 1975. Mount Zion Cemetery, founded in 1808 as The Old Methodist Burial Ground, initially served both White and Black individuals but became predominantly African American after 1849. The Female Union Band Society Cemetery, established in 1842, was created by freed Black women for their community. Together, these cemeteries reflect the rich African American history of Georgetown.