I recently moved to Chantilly, and I'm looking for a jogging track a little more interesting than endless single family homes! It'd be kind of cool to do a loop around the airport but I hear they're pretty tough about security there nowadays. Does anyone know a good place to park and then hit up a jog or a bike ride around the general area?

-Mike

Welcome to the area. The big bike trails in the area are the W&OD trail, the C&O Canal and a number of others ... also there are the trails (jog not bike for the most part) out by the Eleanor Lawrence Park & Cabell's Mill south of 28 from you near Walney. There are also paths in a couple of the county parks that are worth a visit, the battlefield, etc.

In addition, some of the cookie cutter communities have trails as part of their facilities.

btw - there are FT Happy Hours in VA/DC area (sometime MD) - feel free to join us sometime, check CommunityBuzz for the where/when

You might find some interesting routes (or map your own) at:
http://www.walkjogrun.net/
Just enter your zip code. The Dulles zip is 20041.

Go straight north on Rt. 28 past IAD. After you cross under Rt. 725 (Waxpool Rd), you'll see a parking lot for the W&OD trail. It's a paved bike trail with a cinder bridle trail next to it. You can run north into Ashburn and Leesburg or south into Herndon, Reston, and Vienna. Bring your own water, because there are very few drinking fountains over the 42-mile trail.

The Washington Area Bike Association (www.waba.org) has a comprehensive list and maps of many bike/run trails in the DC area.

Just to add to the previous post, the parking lot for the W&OD is on the West side (or attached to the southbound lanes) of 28. I am not sure if you access it if headed north, or must make a u-turn at the next intersection.

The W&OD is a nice trail and I like it much (although I generally use the Leesburg to Purcellville section). Just as an FYI, the trail can be quite overcrowded on weekends so if you want a place where you can truly get in a good bike ride the W&OD may not be it as I've lost track of the number of times I've had to partially dismount as I'm going around (attempting to avoid) kids, dogs, rollerbladers, etc...