Andrew Leitch Park and Neabsco Greenway Loop

You can park directly at Andrew Leitch Park, which serves as a northwestern trailhead for the Neabsco Greenway. The park offers convenient access to the loop.

The loop features a diverse mix of surfaces. Within Andrew Leitch Park, you'll find natural surface and stonedust trails, as well as crushed gravel double-wide trails and some singletrack. A significant portion of the route includes the Neabsco Greenway, which has asphalt trailheads and the notable Neabsco Creek Boardwalk. Some non-boardwalk sections may become uneven after rain.

Given the mixed surfaces—paved, gravel, stonedust, natural, and boardwalk—a hybrid or gravel bike would be most suitable for touring this loop. These bikes handle the varied terrain well.

Yes, the Andrew Leitch Park and Neabsco Greenway Loop is generally considered easy to intermediate. The Neabsco Creek Boardwalk section is notably level and ADA-compliant, making it accessible and kid-friendly with minimal elevation change. The 1.3 km looped trail within Andrew Leitch Park is also graded as easy, and the singletrack trails are suitable for novice beginners.

You'll experience picturesque wooded scenery within Andrew Leitch Park. The Neabsco Greenway, especially the Neabsco Creek Boardwalk, traverses verdant wetlands where the Potomac River flows into Neabsco Creek. This area is a rich habitat for migratory birds such as great blue herons, snowy egrets, red-winged blackbirds, and wood ducks, as well as beavers and turtles. You'll also see metal art prints depicting native wildlife along the boardwalk.

Yes, the Neabsco Creek Boardwalk offers impressive views of the Potomac waterfront. There are observation decks available for enjoying panoramic vistas across Neabsco Creek and the surrounding wetlands.

The trail can be enjoyed year-round, but spring and fall often offer the most pleasant temperatures and vibrant scenery, especially for wildlife viewing. Be aware that some non-boardwalk sections might be uneven after heavy rain.

Yes, the trail is multi-use and welcomes dogs. Please ensure your dog is kept on a leash as per park regulations.

Based on available information, there are no specific fees or permits required to access Andrew Leitch Park or to use the Neabsco Greenway Loop for recreational purposes.

Yes, this trail system is a significant part of the larger Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. The route also passes through sections of the Neabsco Greenway, which is a developing system planned to connect various parks and recreation centers. Future plans aim to connect the Neabsco Greenway with the Occoquan Greenway, eventually creating over 15 miles of interconnected trails.

The full loop, which is approximately 5.9 kilometers (3.7 miles) long, typically takes around 28 minutes to complete by touring bicycle, depending on your pace and how often you stop to enjoy the scenery.