A GREAT RUNNING TRAIL IN ALEXANDRIA VA.

 BY PAUL D. MALEY

The Mount Vernon Trail is an 18-mile paved multi-use trail that goes from George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate to Theodore Roosevelt Island. It connects with regional trails, including the Rock Creek, Four Mile Run, Potomac Heritage and Woodrow Wilson Bridge Trails.

One section runs south of Reagan Airport (DCA) to the Marina Towers complex. This area is ideal for running and has a lot of cool views.  The surface is asphalt and can be used jointly by joggers, walkers and bikers.  The following are some of the sights that can be seen along the way from just the stretch between mile 11 to mile 13.

SECTION OF MOUNT VERNON TRAIL IN FRONT OF MARINA TOWERS COMPLEX

RESIDENT FAUNA

JULY 4TH FIREWORKS

GIANT DUCKS THREATENING TO MARCH ON THE CAPITOL

KAYAKERS AND SCULLERS

THE TRANQUILITY OF DAINGERFIELD ISLAND

DUCK PARADES DAILY

 

SMALL BOATS AT ANCHOR WITH THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT IN THE BACKGROUND

SIGNPOSTS TO GUIDE YOU

SCENIC BRIDGE OVER MARSH LAND

TRANQUIL WATER

A CONTINUOUS RUNNING PATH

SHADE TREES WITH UNUSUAL SHAPES

CAT TAILS ALONG THE MARSH

FALLEN TREES

GENTLE STREAMS

 

MUSHROOMS AND FUNGI

CYCLING PATH

PLACES TO SIT

 

 

AND SEE THE DUCKS UP CLOSE

YOU CAN RUN EASILY EVEN WHEN THE GW PARKWAY IS NOT FAR AWAY

SPOT THE ROBINS ON THE GROUND

BIRDS IN THE TREES

OR PLANES TAKING OFF FROM REAGAN AIRPORT

OR A BOAT WAKE IN THE POTOMAC JUST AFTER SUNRISE

OR THE SUNRISE ITSELF FROM MARINA TOWERS

THERE ARE SECTIONS WELL SHADED FROM THE SUN

PLACES WHERE ANIMALS AND PEOPLE CAN RUN TOGETHER

A WIDE VARIETY OF FOLIAGE INCLUDING MIMOSA

TREES A HUNDRED FEET TALL

TREES THAT SPREAD

FLOWERING BUSHES THAT THRIVE ALONG THE RIVER

PLACES THAT APPEAR LIKE CAPTURED MEADOWS

ILLUMINATION BY THE EARLY MORNING SUN

HELICOPTERS FLYING OVER THE POTOMAC

SAILBOATS DRIFTING BY

JOGGING ALONG THE RIVER BANK

MORE THAN AN OCCASIONAL SQUIRREL

 

WATERFOWL

DAY LILLIES

PROTECTED SECTIONS OF TRAIL

STICK FIGURES IN DEADWOOD

STATELY TREES

BOATS THROUGH THE FOLIAGE

VIEWS OF DENSE FOREST

UPGRADES