Checking out walking trails is probably one of my favorite pasttimes. I feel I’ve done some pretty lengthy workouts while exploring walking trails, aiming to go a minimum of 2 hours total back and forth. So 1 hour each way. A trail I find that unleashes great vibes for a combo workout of high and low intensity cardio is the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Trail.
This interstate trail originates from either the Oxon Hill, MD, side or Alexandria, VA, connecting both states via Washington DC. A really neat feature of the trail is that its decorated with a lot of historical fact markers from the Maryland Border, over the bridge and onto the Virginia border. You can read the history about how the Addison Family got Addison Road named after them or how the Oxon Hill area derived its name.
Leading up to the bridge is where I like to engage in low intensity cardio walking in place as I read the history facts. To cross the Woodrow Wilson Bridge roundtrip took me less than 2 hours. I believe it might have been 1 hour and almost 50 minutes. Once I crossed over the bridge, I encountered Washington Street, which is also known as the George Washington Memorial Parkway. From that point, to my left is where the connection of the Mt Vernon Trail begins that could lead me to George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate. If I make a sharper left turn, it leads me to go under the bridge where I could get to various points in Old Town Alexandria, VA.
To my surprise under the bridge is not empty as it offers a basketball court, restrooms and water fountains. I can also access from that site Jones Point House, Ford’s Landing Community, and the Alexandria Waterfront.
I first noticed Woodrow Wilson bridge had a trail after I would see several couples and families jogging across it. Crossing the bridge can be quite noisy, with a lot of vibrations felt if going on foot, as it spans across the Potomac with a highway of cars. That’s the part of the trail when I get the vibes to do a high intensity cardio jog, cause once I hear the roaring cars I get a bit of a thrill, stamina boost, and almost rocket-like energy trying to race alongside the traffic crossing that VA finish line.
When visiting the trail, I prefer to park on the Oxon Hill side as I feel it’s easier to access with ample parking then on the Alexandria side. Plus parking on the MD side, there’s a sign welcoming you to the Woodrow Trail and you’re surrounded by shopping outlets, so if you need to use amenties or get something before hand, resoures may be available.
You can get an up close in-person view to walk by the MGM Grand Casino and take a cut away stroll towards National Harbor and its iconic ferris wheel. Children certainly enjoy the Merry-go-round. I would categorize the Woodrow Wilson Bridge as one of the best trails for beginner hikers and for short to medium- term walkers from teens to senior citizens.
There’s so much to do and so much to see when making the trip. What can beat walking on the Potmac river.
For more information about the Woodrow Wison Trail, National Harbor of Maryland and Alexandria, VA Waterfront, please see the links below: https://www.pgparks.com/parks_trails/woodrow-wilson-bridge-trail#:~:text=Overview,including%20the%20Mount%20Vernon%20Trail. and https://visitalexandria.com/things-to-do/waterfront-activities/ and https://www.nationalharbor.com/
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