This month I'd like to review one of the busiest weekend-warrior trails in the area, Maryland's Billy Goat Trail. If you are familiar with the trail you know that it is broken up into three sections; one at Little Falls, one near Carderock, and one just below Great Falls Park, all three of which begin and end on the C&O Canal towpath. Each trail is unique, but this time we will focus on the westernmost stretch near Great Falls. It's a rocky rollercoaster of a trail that bends around the horn of Mather Gorge and winds its way up through the Potomac forest before ending in the bottom corner of the park.

My run started out at Old Angler's Inn on MacArthur Boulevard, THE place for the "outdoor set" to be seen and show off all their new gear. My shoes are particularly old and grungy, so I parked well back off the road and snuck around most of the crowds, which can get pretty out of control on the weekends. Since the route begins with about half a mile on the canal towpath-this bites, I know--you can probably start anywhere between Georgetown and Lock 13 if you want to, and just follow the towpath to the trailhead. The sign for the trail came into view just in time, right as the canal started to widen into a lake, so I turned left and headed into the woods.

The trail basically follows the river along a ridge for about two miles, keeping you up and away from most of the muddy stuff (though for a nice "edge of the water" run, I recommend the Billy Goat section nearer to DC.) It's rocky, there's no getting around it, and rough on the feet. I'd recommend tough shoes and a good eye; the trail here is out to get you. One minute it's tripping you with roots, the next it's poking you with branches, and did I mention the rocks? Overall, though, I was pretty happy with my choice of running destinations and I think it is generally a good trail.

The good news: it is a challenging, interesting, and scenic trail within half an hour of the city. It's very clearly marked, well maintained, and foot traffic isn't too bad once you get off the towpath. It really is a beautiful trail, and the views of the river are fantastic. Parking and access are generally OK, but, as I mentioned, Angler's can get REALLY crowded on sunny days, especially during paddling season, so plan accordingly. There are three established parking lots and a hundred yards of "parkable" road shoulder to accommodate everyone, but it still overflows sometimes. Just be sure not to park at the restaurant across the street.

The downside is the distance. The stretch I ran was about four miles round trip; not a bad run in the grand scheme of things, but I was hoping for more. There are plenty of side trails to pick up extra mileage, and the hills give a great workout, but this will never be a 20+ mile long-run type of trail. I put together a nice "exploratory" route and managed to squeeze out a few extra miles, but for some runners this just won't be enough. I also found myself walking up, over, and around particularly dicey sections a lot, something that slowed me down considerably.

Should beginners try this one? In a word: no. It's a risky trail for runners, I'll admit it, and there are some sections that just scream "ankle sprain" and "emergency evacuation." You need to watch out for yourself. This is a rough area in any weather, and although the views generally make up for the hardship, it can still be a barn burner if you don't know what you're getting yourself into.

Getting to Old Angler's is easy; just take Canal Road west out of the city until it turns into the Clara Barton Parkway. Get off on Macarthur Boulevard about ten miles later and turn left. Parking starts about a mile down the road on the left shoulder. The lots will be off to your left. Once on foot, follow the trail down to the water and head off to the right on the towpath.

Overall, I'd say the Billy Goat Trail would make for a great leisurely weekend run when you have some time to spare and aren't too worried about mileage. It's rocky, yes, and definitely challenging, but I think it pays off in the end. I'm giving it three Muddy Shoes out of five.

Tim Sprinkle has been running the trails of Northern Virginia from his home in Arlington for the last four years. In that time, he has only cleaned his shoes once.