Tis the season to be busy. The hectic holiday season leaves little time for long drives or getting lost. You need quick and easy trail runs that leave plenty of time for friends, family, and shopping during the holidays.

This busy winter, try the Cabin John Trail in southern Montgomery County and Greenbelt National Park in northern Prince George's County. Both parks are little pockets of wilderness sure to satisfy your cravings for solitude and nature, but they are only 15 minutes from downtown Washington, DC. So, you can get your trail running fix in a flash. Plus, both trails are clearly blazed and well marked, making them a great choice for snowy weekends.

Follow the Sky-Blue: The Cabin John Trail
Hop on the sky-blue blazes of the Cabin John Trail for twisting single-track, stream crossings, and plenty of mud in the spring. Located near the I-270/I-495 junction, the Cabin John Trail travels 8.8 miles north-south along the tranquil Cabin Branch stream. Every quarter-mile or so, the path climbs about 50 feet to the ridge-top above, providing interesting topology and a more intense workout.

The trail is generally well maintained, except for the 0.6-mile section along River Road, which is extremely muddy in the winter and overgrown in the summer. Along this section, stay on River Road heading east (when coming from the north); turn right at Seven Locks Road; and pick up the trail again on your left.

Also be aware of the minor trails branching off from all parts of the Cabin John. At each junction, look ahead 10-20 yards. Only one route will have a light-blue blaze on a tree showing you the way. Don't worry if you do take a wrong turn--these minor paths quickly dead-end or connect back to the main route.

The full 8.8 miles of the Cabin John Trail is great if you can arrange a caravan on the weekends. Otherwise, the Muddy Shoe Review recommends these shorter out-and-back courses:

Goya Drive to Democracy Boulevard (3.8 or 6.8 miles out-and- back): Start this run at the end of Goya Avenue in Potomac, MD. Take I-270 to Montrose Road west. Turn left at Seven Locks Road and then again at Goya Drive. The first mile of the trail is excellent single-track through dense forest. At the junction with a gravel road, turn right and follow it to Tuckerman Lane. Look for the brown sign marking the "Cabin John Trail" across the busy street. Here the trail will climb 100 feet to a grassy, open area with power lines. For a 3.8-mile run, turn around at the power lines. Or, for a 6.8-mile run, continue to the next busy road (Democracy Boulevard).

River Road to Seven Locks Road at Democracy Boulevard: (5.2 miles out-and-back): This section of the trail has the best views of the Cabin John stream. It can be quite muddy in the spring, so plan your footwear accordingly. Start the run on the southern end at River Road, where there is a small parking area. From the Beltway, take River Road west for approximately 0.6 miles. The trail will be on your left. Head north on the trail toward Bradley Avenue. Continue following the light-blue blazes until you reach the second major road. This is Seven Locks and your turn-around point for a total of 5.2 miles.

MacArthur Boulevard to Seven Locks Road (2.8 miles out-and- back): With rocky terrain and a 150-foot climb, this section of the Cabin John is the most rugged and the least crowded. Start the run at the Cabin John Local Park. Take Clara Barton Parkway to the MacArthur Boulevard exit. Turn right onto MacArthur Boulevard and the recreation area will be immediately on your left. The trail begins behind the playground.

Around the Greenbelt
Tucked inside the northeast corner of the Beltway, Greenbelt National Park is two square miles of young forest that is home to deer, foxes, and more than 300 bird species. The main trail is a 5.5-mile perimeter circuit with markers approximately every two-tenths of a mile. There are three shorter trails branching off, providing a longer 8.3-mile option. The trail surface is primarily sandy stones and gravel that never gets very muddy, even in the wet spring.

Although you are never completely out of earshot of a busy road in Greenbelt Park, the trails are never crowded and the fragrant pine forest provides a quick escape from the hectic city. Plus, there is no entrance fee for the Greenbelt--a rarity these days for national parks.

Greenbelt Park is about 13 miles from downtown DC. Take Route 50 west to I-295 north. After about 6.5 miles, exit at Greenbelt, MD onto Route 193 west. The park entrance is about one mile on the left. From the inner loop, take exit 23 toward Greenbelt. Stay right at the fork to continue on Route 201 south. Turn left at Route 193, and the park entrance is about three-tenths of a mile ahead.

Once in the park, follow the signs to the Sweetgum picnic area, where you will find parking, restrooms, and a trail map. The easy 1.2-mile Azalea Trail (blazed-white) starts at the entrance to the parking lot and loops around the picnic area. This trail also has a short fitness course that is great for warming up or cooling down after circling the park on the 5.5- mile Perimeter Trail.

To access the Perimeter Trail, exit the parking area and head back toward Route 193 on the paved road. The yellow-blazed trail will be on your right immediately after the park headquarters building. At first, you will be running parallel with Route 193, but after one-half mile, the trail turns west into the quiet pine forest and the rumble of cars fades into peaceful solitude. Continue following the wooden "Perimeter Trail" signs and the yellow blazes as the trail gently rolls up and down 50-foot hills. The largest hill occurs at mile 2.0, where you drop about 200 feet to the edge of Deep Creek. Beware of an unmarked junction at approximately mile 3.0; the road continues left, but the trail turns right along the western side of the park.

After passing a few roads that lead to the campground area, the Blueberry and the Dogwood Trails will come up on your right at miles 3.8 and 4.7, respectively. The map says that the blue- blazed Blueberry Trail is a 1.0-mile circuit looping back to the Perimeter Trail, but it is actually only 0.6 mile and slightly difficult to follow. In contrast, the red-blazed Dogwood Trail is well marked and offers both "longer" (1.4 miles) and "shorter" (1.0 mile) circuits that both return to the Perimeter Trail.