The Best Trail Running Routes in Virginia

The Mount Vernon Trail is a lengthy paved greenway trail running through the Washington DC metro area. This trail is extremely popular with road cyclists (both recreationally and for commuting), but walkers/hikers, runners, skaters, and more all use this trail....

The High Bridge Trail is a long-distance rails-to-trails route located between Lynchburg and Richmond, Virginia—although it doesn't reach either city. (The trail does run through the smaller town of Farmville.) This trail is popular with cyclists, but walkers/hikers, runners, and equestrians all use this trail....

If you are looking for a short but memorable run near Afton, Virginia, you might want to check out the Blue Ridge Tunnel Trail. This 4.6-mile out-and-back trail takes you through a 4,700-foot tunnel that was bored through the Blue Ridge Mountains in the 1850s....

Cole Mountain is arguably one of the most underrated spots on the AT in Virginia. As the 2,200-mile long Appalachian Trail leaves the comfort of the Blue Ridge Parkway, it spirals around Lynchburg Reservoir, crosses the Lexington Turnpike, then begins a demanding climb into remote high country....

The Humpback Rocks Loop is a short, moderate trail run along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Runners have the option for a shorter 2-mile out-and-back jog to the overlook or this 4-mile loop paired with a small portion of the 2,200-mile long Appalachian Trail....

Maryland Heights above Harper's Ferry is an extremely popular sightseeing hike and trail run as it affords spectacular views of the town below and the Potomac River stretching away into the distance....

Whether you are looking for a short run or an overnight trip, the views atop Mount Pleasant are well worth the trip. Combined with the nearby Appalachian Trail, this area is one of the most underrated trail running areas in Virginia....

The Massanutten Mountain Trail, sometimes listed as the Massanutten "Ring" or "Loop," is a 71-mile circuit touring many of Virginia's finest ridgelines between Front Royal and Luray. The "trail," which the locals simply nicknamed "The Ring," "is hard, rocky, and slow," and though portions of the loop "have been around for centuries," the circuit was not officially completed until 2002....

If you are looking for a long and scenic trail run along a historic river, the Bull Run Occoquan Trail is a great option. This lengthy trail follows the course of Bull Run from Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville to Fountainhead Regional Park in Fairfax Station....

The Catawba Loop, sometimes labeled as the "Catawba Runaround" or "Virginia Triple Crown," is **the** most epic trail in the area. Just over 50k in length, this circuit tours three highlights on the Appalachian Trail: Dragon's Tooth, Tinker Cliffs, and the most photographed spot on the AT: McAfee Knob....

Just shy of 13 miles, this is an epic route for a seasoned trail running. Located less than an hour from Charlottesville, this loop quickly sends you up into remote backcountry that is only visited by experienced adventurers looking for a challenge....

Founded in 1979, the Old Dominion 100 is venerated as one of the oldest 100-mile trail races in the country. Located in the Massanutten Mountains of Virginia, the course itself is historic, beginning in the town of Woodstock that dates back 1761....