Custis Trail

Living right by the Custis Trail definitely motivates me to be more active and go out for a few runs a week. I usually run on this trail in the evening after work and once or twice in the morning. The evening is a great time to be on the trail. There are some people running/​walking. The sun isn’t too bright and there’s plenty of shade on the way. The morning is more crowded. Bikers are common so be aware. I always try to stay to the right because I have my headphones on. Haven’t experienced any rude remarks, but I think as long as we all respect the unspoken rules then we should all be pretty happy with what the trail has to offer. Just stay alert and look back once in a while.
And like most people mention, Custis trail is not an easy trail (if you’re heading west). There are a lot of hills and ups and downs along the way. Challenging but definitely gets me going and a great workout! It’s also a great trail to walk to Georgetown/​DC.

If I had to use any word besides «scenic» to describe the Custis Trail, it would be «hilly». I am by no means out of shape, but wow, was I struggling through some parts of this trail on my bike! The trail, while only four miles, is filled with seemingly never ending climbs and winding turns. The trail gets crowded at times, and as I experienced, sight lines can be an issue. We took the Custis Trail as a connector between the Mt. Vernon Trail and the W&OD Trail, picking up the Custis Trail in Rosslyn, after walking around Theodore Roosevelt Island for a bit. Besides the numerous steep climbs, the trail, although it parallels I-​66 is quite scenic and there are several parks along the trail if you need to stop off and take a breather. Be mindful that there are bikers, runners, and walkers — all of varying skill levels– on this trail so keep that in mind depending on what your purpose for the use of the trail is on any given day.

Living a few streets from the Custis Trail gives me no excuse to be out of shape. This paved and clearly-​marked trail takes you alongside Interstate 66. On weekends, I like to take it east to Rosslyn at which point I either hop onto the bridge to Theodore Roosevelt Island (beautiful and full of glorious water fountains and bathrooms!), walk across the Key Bridge into Georgetown, switch to the Mount Vernon Trail, head toward the Rosslyn metro station, or turn around and run back.
On the trail you’ll find seasoned bikers, runners of all abilities and the occasional walker. If it’s your first time, beware of the hills! The trail is full of rolling hills — including one that Garmin has identified as the «Custis Climb.» I appreciate the hills as they constantly challenge me and make other notoriously grueling hills — including «Cat Hill» in Central Park and the hills in Prospect Park — seem puny in comparison.
My major gripe about the Custis Trail pertains to the lack of water fountains. There is only one that I know of. In the hot months I get thirsty often, even when carrying a water bottle. The trail does bring you to the back of the Lyon Village shopping center in Arlington where you can hop off and grab a drink at CVS, Giant or Starbucks. But… a few more water fountains would be MUCH appreciated by this Unilocaler.

One word: hills!
If you’re looking for a flat trail to walk, ride, or run, this is *not* for you. Custis Trail is full of rolling hills meaning huge dips and steep inclines. If you’re training for a race, you can get in great hill work to improve your endurance. Several running groups use this trail for training in the Arlington area. Its well paved, clear of debris, and tons of runners. Not as many cyclists as you would see on the flat trails so you will not feel like you’re going to get hit.
Also, it runs parallel to 66, connects to the W&OD trail heading west. You can get on the C&O Towpath heading east once you head over Key Bridge, or link up to the Mt. Vernon Trail at the bottom of the trail in Rosslyn.
From time to time you will see rabbits and once I even saw a fox. One of my favorite trails for walking/​running.

This is a great trail! Plenty of hills to get a good workout on, lots of off-​ramps for urban commuting, plenty of greenery and smooth curves. I can understand that this trail can be a pain for some beginners, the hills sure are tough, but it’s a wonderful wooded trail with tons of fast straight-​aways, hills, and wild honeysuckle. Maybe not the route that you would want to take for a leisurely tourist ride, but if you’re a solid biker, you’ll enjoy this route.

This is a useful and popular trail for commuters on their way to and from work in DC. Because the trail largely parallels 66, it’s not great in terms of scenery, but it does connect a lot of parks in Arlington and Falls Church.
I agree that heading west on the trail from Rosslyn has some difficult hills, even for relatively experienced cyclists.

Today was my first time biking on this trail. Smooth, curvy and hilly. One of the best trails I have every riden. Not the most scenic but who cares. If you love biking I suggest you try this trail out! You never can have too many trail options! At some point along the ride we ended up on the Mount Vernon Trail. Sweet!

We just moved to Arlington and this trail has become a favorite of ours to run on every weekend. There are lots of runners, walkers and bicyclists on the trail and the scenery is nice too. Once you hit Lynn street you can either go left and cross the Key bridge to georgetown, or go straight to join the mt Vernon trail.

Every time I bike to work, I take this trail.
Too many unnecessary hills. Going east into DC ain’t too bad. Going West to Falls Church is a B-​atch!!!
I need to correct myself. I’ve always walked this trail… that is… I’ve «walked» my bike up the hills!!! The key is to pedal hard and gain speed on the downhill to get you up most of the next hill.

I like the Custis Trail. It’s very scenic and conveniently located which is why I take it to and from work every day. One issue I have is with the stick fort/​dump by the part of the trail closest to the Key Bridge. Apparently at least one homeless person had the drive and determination to build a pretty elaborate fortress and furnish it with solar shower, water cooler, dinning room set and various other garbage. I haven’t inspected it too closely but I assume unwelcome intruders would catch a stick through the foot at least. I’ve read about at least one rape at knife point happening there on ARLnow. What’s it going to take to get police or park service to remove this dangerous eyesore from the trail? Second question — can I claim part of the trail to build a rival fort of my own?

I’m from Philadelphia, so when I first started running this trail around last August I was immediately obsessed and really excited about it. After running this hilly trail, I would go back home and EASILY run Philly’s Kelly Drive. For me, it’s a great workout. The bikers respect space for the most part. Today a guy yelled, «left» ridiculously loud. I guess he thought I had music playing in the earphones that were wrapped around my neck.
The scenery doesn’t bother me at all. I think it’s nice. I did see a rabbit that sped me up because I thought it was going to attack (yes, I’m afraid of all wildlife. I can only deal with pigeons and sometimes squirrels). If a deer shows up I’ll be over the fence and running on 66.
Now that I live here and close to Custis, I’m looking forward to making it a part of my regular routine.

Was it the Beatles or Gomer Pyle’s Sgt. Carter who said «Love, love, love»? In any case, I love, love, love this trail.
Whenever I’m in Arlington visiting my bffc*, I always run this trail. Sometimes I run towards DC, other times I run down to the Washington & Old Dominion Trail.
I have always found the trail to be clean and well-​maintained. It’s easy to access and very lovely to run, although sometimes having the large wall between the trail and 66 makes it a little dull.
Thanks to the people who make this trail possible. Greenways like this are good for everyone.
_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​
*best friend from college

Custis Trail – 4 miles – A nice trail from Shreve Road where the Long John Silvers is in Falls Church by the West Falls Church Metro Station is where I would take it. This is an pretty good nicely paved ride into Rossyln and then over the Key Bridge into Georgetown. You can take this one into the Mount Vernon trail too.

I cycle the rail trails in NOVA. I connect near Bluemont and travel from near the Falls Church Metro to DC.
I especially like hilly, circuitous trails. The Custis is that. Following Rt. 66, it takes you to DC through older areas of Arlington. Some sections are long down hill East bound where hitting top speed is easy. The return trip requires a bit of effort, but is rewarding.
Caution: tree roots. East bound: There are some sections where a noise wall separates the trail from 66. In the Glebe crossing area, there are some blind turns with big roots that can rip the bars from a loose grip.
See DC and NOVA by bike — see what you’ve been missing and be healthier.
NOTE: like most rail trails, early mornings are crowded with walkers, runners and other cyclist, so a quick brake may be needed.

This is my favorite trail because it’s so close to my parents’ house and offers much hillier terrain than the W&OD, Four Mile Run or Capital Crescent Trails. It’s not beautiful scenery (Growing up, I took my pink & purple neon bike out here for short rides to Bluemont Park and back. In high school, when my friend Caroline convinced me to join the track team, I ran here when trying to work my way past the 1-​mile barrier. I trained for my first marathon here during summer 2005, sweating my way from Bluemont to Rosslyn and back. Starting at Harrison St, the hills are reasonable, but they start to kick in once you pass St. Ann’s Church and roll, Space Mountain Coaster-​style, all the way to Rosslyn. Beware the hill that starts when you pick up the trail going west from the Spout Run shopping center. Your quads will burn.
I like the shade the trees provide, but wish that water fountains were present along the way. I think there’s one by Bluemont Park but haven’t seen any from miles 0.5 to 5.5. Take your own water, try not to wear a loudly blaring iPod so you can stay aware of cyclists zooming past, and enjoy those hills!

East of East Falls Church on the W&OD you come to a fork where you can feel free to indulge in Robert Frost reveries. I meanwhile will take the left fork not for its solitude or beauty, but because it will dump me right at the Key Bridge, rather than in Shirlington, which would have been the alternative had I not made the fateful decision at the convergence.
Mostly paralleling 66, this route is not going to cause you to whip out the iphone for spontaneous trailside picture taking, but it will get you to the city fast. There are a few buckled places, but overall a good surface. Quite a few hills that may make you envious of the level surface of I-​66 off to your side, but nothing agonizing unless you’re just beginning to bike. The walking and jogging set seem to be more tuned in to the presence of cyclists and wave as you pass.
The whole route from East Falls is maybe 5.5 miles to its terminus in front of the Rosslyn Marriott.
I have nothing funny to say about this handy trail.

I have a love/​hate relationship with the Custis Trail, but I love it more than I hate it hence the four-​star review.
The trail is very convenient for me when it comes to walking home from work, walking from my place to the store and back, and just for getting exercise period. But being a pedestrian walking at a normal pace on that trail is a pain in the behind. It’s not really a relaxing experience because joggers and cyclists are constantly whizzing by, some loudly (more loud than necessary) yelling «LEFT! LEEEEEEEEEEEEEEFFFFFFFFFFFT!» or jingling their bike bells loudly to the point of causing deafness. Then you’ve got the other rude ones who don’t say a thing and just whiz by, nearly knocking me over. Which is the lesser of two evils? Then again, I guess it’s better than dealing with the snooty popped-​collar male and prissy stiletto heel-​wearing female sidewalk hogs on Wilson and Clarendon Blvds.
Also, parts of it can get really hilly. Today I used it to get from my place to a location Glebe Road, and those uphill spots (the worst ones start after Spout Run) are killer. By the time I arrived at my destination I was a sweaty mess. I went to the Thai Healing Institute to get a massage (see my review on that) and to get rid of some of my tension, but walking that trail on the way back basically undid the good work the masseuse did. Dag!
So as much as those hills and those fast cyclists and joggers bug me, this trail is such a convenience to me that I can’t give it up. I wish there were separate lanes for joggers, cyclists and pedestrians, but what are ya gonna do? (shrug)

Okay, I’m kind of a wimp. I hopped on the Custis in Rosslyn and ran it down to about Harrison St. At that point, the hills got to me, and rather than finishing the last mile of my planned run, I turned myself right around and ran back.
The hills are definitely tougher heading westbound – my return trip back east didn’t feel nearly as deadly. The trail is clear, nicely paved, and well-​lit, which I appreciate. And it *is* nice not to have to stop at lights, dodge slow-​walkers, etc.
But those hills. I’ll be thinking twice next time I’m running in Rosslyn.

This trail is incredibly convenient for people who live off Lee Highway or are trying to hook up with Mount Vernon, WO&D or pretty much any Arlington trail. It’s safe, well lit and has tons of exits/​entrances to make your commute the best possible; however, it also has tons and tons of artificial hills. The trail goes up and down whereas the street stays one consistent level. If you want to be challenged it’s great, but it sucks if you just want to be home. And I take this trail home so generally I fall into the latter category.
As much as I dislike the hills of the Custis Trail, it’s about 75 times better than taking the metro.

The Custis Trail runs from approximately Mile 4 of the W&OD trail to Roslyn. From it you can hit up the George Washington Trail or take the Key Bridge up into Georgetown. It’s right behind my house so it holds a multitude of great uses for me.
I have mixed feelings about the trail which I will now explain in Pro & Con form:
Pro’s:
Crosses right by my house (doesn’t apply to everyone, but this is not everyone’s list)
Gives you an easier pedestrian way to Georgetown
Connects to the W&OD (a much more major trail)
Hilly (could be seen as a con, but I like the challenge)
Paved
Lighted
Con’s:
Some of it is a little bumpy on a bike
Bikers going to fast and brushing up the runners
Runners not following trail rules and keeping far right (I both run and bike the trail so I try to respect both parties)
Overall a great trail that will get you to DC/​Georgetown very conveniently. With so many cons you may be asking why 4 stars? But a trail is a trail, and the pro’s are so much more significant than the cons.