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Belle Haven Park, Virginia
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,263 Google reviews · Running trail in Alexandria, Virginia · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Belle Haven Park, Virginia's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Riverside park with shaded nature trails, a small boardwalk & places to rent kayaks & canoes.
What runners say about Belle Haven Park, Virginia
“Beautiful riverside park, quiet, clean, and great for relaxing.”
“The park also features a beautiful riverside trail, great for hiking and biking, and is full of wildlife.”
“The only downside is its proximity to the George Washington Parkway—so while it’s scenic and peaceful in nature, the sound of traffic is a constant background presence.”
“Definitely would recommend to anyone wanting to get outside and have an easy walk.”
It has been 4 years since I have been here. I only have 1 pup then and have 2 now. I parked 2 parking lots north of this park, because the first lot was full when I got here. There were several large group gatherings. From the 2nd parking lot, the walk to the end if the boardwalk is about 2.4 miles.
When we lived in Alexandria, my husband and I exercised here every morning. We'd walk from Belle Haven to Maryland on the Wilson Bridge. It's awesome, esp in the summer when the sun is shining so bright. I used to pretend I was in San Francisco.
Belle Haven Park is a must-visit for birdwatchers—especially if you’re hoping to spot a bald eagle. That was the main reason for our visit, and we were thrilled to actually see one in the wild! Watching a bald eagle soar above the treetops was an unforgettable experience.
Great public Park next to river and on the border of Maryland and Virginia. Great views, nice clean and very well maintained park. Folks can enjoy picnic a d parties, walking, fishing, Running and biking. Nice clean washrooms and water fountains. Great views of river, bridge and landscape. Good parking spaces.
Trail conditions & character
“The park also features a beautiful riverside trail, great for hiking and biking, and is full of wildlife.”
“I parked 2 parking lots north of this park, because the first lot was full when I got here.”
“There's both a paved and dirt trail to walk on, the latter leading to a small boardwalk.”
“The only downside is its proximity to the George Washington Parkway—so while it’s scenic and peaceful in nature, the sound of traffic is a constant background presence.”
“There's both a paved and dirt trail to walk on, the latter leading to a small boardwalk.”
“Beautiful park, places to sit, places to do fishing and it has bathrooms too.”
Plan your run at Belle Haven Park, Virginia
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websitenps.gov
- Phone(703) 746-5414
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–7 PM |
| Tuesday | 6 AM–7 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–7 PM |
| Thursday | 6 AM–7 PM |
| Friday | 6 AM–7 PM |
| Saturday | 6 AM–7 PM |
| Sunday | 6 AM–7 PM |
Running trails near Alexandria
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
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