Southeast - Please recommend a good biking trail in NOVA/DC area

I'll be in Woodbridge Virginia for 4 days, starting on Thursday. Please recommend a nice scenic area to ride. I can go on a mini tour too (camping or credit card).

Thanks in advance!

Anyone?

I don't know Woodbridge at all, but I wouldn't think that's particularly close to DC, at least to ride from. Sorry. If you're sticking to trails instead of roads, and you have access to a car, you can always use the good old W&OD trail that runs from Shirlington all the way out to Purcellville. There's probably some good way to ride from Woodbridge Mt. Vernon, but not on just trails I don't think.

Unfortunately Woodbridge isn't all that great for biking, but as Jim said, you can take a short car ride to get to some nicer trails up north. My recommendation would be to hop on Rt 1 and park at Mt. Vernon and take the Mt. Vernon Trail as far as you'd like (it runs for about 18 miles then connects to a number of other trails). It's a very scenic route that runs right along the river into DC. I might also suggest going to Google Maps and clicking on the Bicycling tab to see what else is available in your area.

I got a relative thats willing to drop me off to a start point. Then pick me up later at the same location. So, I'll be doing a round trip.

Thanks folks!

Start here: http://www.bikewashington.org/

Great!
I guess Mt Vernon Trail to WOD Trail it is!

Is there a place to get food along the way? Hills?

I'm excited.

You don't say how long an overall ride you want.

Another option that starts closer to Woodbridge is the Fairfax Cross County Trail (http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/cct/). I've never ridden it and can't comment on its condition, and you can search for it on Google Maps.

As far as hills on the Mt Vernon/4 Mile Run/W&OD trails, there really aren't any significant climbs. The most I would consider a hill is the last mile climb up to the Zero Mile mark on Mt Vernon. There are other fairly gentle rolling hills, and you can get a steep, but very short (about 50 yards), 25% grade on 4 Mile Run at Glencarlyn Park.

For food, the Mt Vernon trail goes through Alexandria, lots of options. If you are going out the W&OD, you can connect in two ways, via the 4 Mile Run Trail at about milepost 13, Reagan National airport to Shirlington (lots of food options), or the Custis Trail at what would be milepost 18, just after Roosevelt Island at Rosslyn (lots of food options). The Custis has a mile long climb out of Rosslyn and goes by Lyon Village at Sprout Run about a mile and a half later (lots of food options). The Custis meets the W&OD at Milepost 4 (no food stops, but there is a water fountain). Going out the W&OD, you go through Falls Church (about milepost 7, coincidently crossing Rte 7 with food choices), Reston at about milepost 18 (lots of food choices nearby, but not on the trail) where you can also connect to the Cross County Trail, Herndon at milepost 20 (lots of food choices). I could go on out to the end at Purcellville at milepost 44.5, but I think you get the idea.

Also, from the Mt Vernon trail, you can cross the Potomac to Georgetown via the Key Bridge and pick up the C&O canal path that continues all the way to Cumberland, MD (132 miles?) or the Capital Crescent trail to Bethesda.

Another option that starts closer to Woodbridge is the Fairfax Cross County Trail (http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/cct/). I've never ridden it and can't comment on its condition, and you can search for it on Google Maps.

I tried riding the Cross County Trail and I wouldn't recommend it unless you're on a MTB. It's incredibly hard to follow (especially around Lorton) and it goes over just about every type of surface imaginable from paved to gravel to simply riding through a grass field. For someone who is just visiting the area I'd stick to the paved trails. Also, be aware that the C&O path is gravel as well, but possibly the best scenery of any trail in the area.