Welcome back to the Hilltop, Hoyas! While you’re probably anxious to start off the new year on a good foot, here at 4E, we’re here to get you off on good wheels – with some help from GUSA, that is. As you might have already heard, we have a brand new Georgetown bike share program coming in the spring, and what a better way to begin the school year than planning a nice bike ride along one of DC’s many beautiful trails. We thought it would be a nice idea to share with you three of our favorite DC biking locations so you could get in some cardio and get excited for this new development!

Mount Vernon Trail – 18 miles

This trail is truly one of the District’s Gems. Start off from the front gates and cross the Key Bridge as if you were heading to Teddy Roosevelt Island. Instead of crossing the footbridge, continue following the bike path along the Potomac. This beautiful route passes through some breathtaking locations – Old Town Alexandria (be wary, you might hit some traffic), Arlington National Cemetery, Reagan International Airport (be sure to get some photos of planes flying overhead) and George Washington’s Estate at Mount Vernon. Our best advice for this trail: take your friends and go! There are lots of areas to picnic, and the sights are out of this world.

Capital Crescent Trail (13 miles) and Chesapeake & Ohio Towpath (184 miles) –

Though we wouldn’t recommend following the C & O Towpath Trail for its entirety (could you imagine that rental price?), we definitely would recommend the local parts! Start off from the front gates and head down to M street and cut across the canal to these trails. (Our recommendation is to cross over by the Ukrainian Embassy). Both of these trails run parallel to one another near Georgetown, but as they continue towards Maryland, the Capital Crescent Trail leads you through some of the District’s more affluent neighborhoods and eventually into Silver Spring, MD, while the C & O Towpath follows along the canal. Some words to the wise: the Capital Crescent Trail is only paved until Bethesda, so if you don’t like riding on crushed limestone, that might be a great turn-around location. Also, be sure to check out Harpers Ferry if you’re riding the C & O!

Odds and Ends around Georgetown –

When Georgetown spring weather hits, it’s almost a disgrace to not be outside as much as possible, so feel free to ride around and stay local. Ride up Wisconsin to the National Cathedral, or follow 37th up to Naval Observatory. Ride to Safeway or Trader Joe’s and pick up some groceries, or just ride down to the Waterfront and take in the view.

What do you think of our biking choices? What’s your favorite trail in the area? Hit us up in the comments below and ride like the wind, Hoyas!