Mount Vernon Trail Named 2026 Hall of Fame Trail

Photo by Kevin Harber

Rails to Trails Conservancy, the United States’ largest trail advocacy organization, awarded the Mount Vernon Trail its top honor this year. The trail, which stretches more than 18 miles from Mount Vernon to Theodore Roosevelt Island, is now part of the Rails to Trails Conservancy’s Hall of Fame.

The Mount Vernon Trail was created in 1972 by Ellen Pickering and Barbara Lynch, dozens of volunteers, and the National Park Service, who spent months laying 4,200 tons of gravel on a trail that stretched from Belle Haven Park to Memorial Bridge, according to the Friends of Mount Vernon Trail. More than 50 years on and the trail serves as a conduit for one million annual users, including runners, cyclists, and nature lovers.

"At a moment when we are taking stock of RTC's impact over the past 40 years, and we reflect on America's 250th birthday, the Mount Vernon Trail brings to life both the story of the country's founding and the community organizing and volunteerism at the heart of the trails movement. It is a symbol of what is possible for communities nationwide," Ryan Chao, RTC's president said in announcing the Hall of Fame news.

Today, the Mount Vernon Trail is a key segment in the developing Capital Trails Network, which will connect more than 1,000 miles of trails across D.C., Maryland and Virginia, making it safer and easier for residents across the region to navigate their communities and be active. To date, nearly 53% of the network is completed.

"The Hall of Fame designation is a testament to the impact individuals have when they show up for trails. The Mount Vernon Trail exists because of the efforts of countless community members and volunteers who built the first segment of trail and advocated for continued expansion and investment," said Judd Isbell, president of the Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail. "The Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail is honored to continue that legacy of trail stewardship with weekly Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail volunteer events and donors supporting continuous upgrades to trail amenities."