Cameron Station Linear Park is the quintessential neighborhood trail. Located in Alexandria, a suburb of Washington, D.C., it offers a pleasant paved pathway frequented by joggers, dog walkers, families and bikers out for a leisurely ride. At either end is a popular park with a playground, restrooms, and picnic tables: Ben Brenman Park on its east end and Armistead Boothe Park on its west end. Near the latter is also Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School.
The route is dotted with trees; between them you can catch glimpses of Backlick Run. On the other side of the trail, houses line the pathway, many of which have lovely gardens, sculptures, bird feeders and bird baths.
Those wanting to take a longer trip can traverse Ben Brenman Park, crossing a bridge over Holmes Run on the park’s east side, and connect to the Holmes Run Trail, which parallels the waterway for more than five miles.
Parking can be found in Ben Brenman Park (4800 Brenman Park Drive) on the trail’s east end and Armistead Boothe Park (520 Cameron Station Boulevard) on its west end.
Quiet trail for walking and biking with lots of beautiful trees and birds. Runs parallel to the Cameron Station housing development and alongside Backlick Run. Partial shade and mostly flat with only slight elevation changes in a couple of spots. Short and sweet!
...and I didn't even know it existed until I finally rode part of the Holmes Run Trail.
This is a pleasant, flat trail that runs along Backlick Run. On the south side,
trees, small ones, border the run; on the north side, the trail abuts townhouses' back "yards" - more like back strip of grass for the majority of the trail. No shade. Someone offers a water bowl for dogs on their strip of grass.
On a Friday afternoon, I passed very few people: a few at the Ben Breman parking lot, one person on the actual trail, and no one at the park at the other end.
I give this 3 stars for its pleasantness and quiet.
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