Rappahannock Canal Trail & University of Mary Washington Campus

For a nice 5-miler, we recommend combining the Rappahannock Canal Trail with a loop of the University of Mary Washington Campus. The paved Rappahannock Canal Trail runs for 1.5 miles along the narrow canal from Princess Anne St. to Fast Hill Ave. (where it connects with the Embrey Dam Trail). Run the trail, then double back for 1 mile, using the small connector path to Madison St., which is the best way to pop over to the University of Mary Washington.

The University of Mary Washington has pleasant pedestrian paths. A loop is ~1.2 miles. From the southern end of campus, we recommend running 0.5 miles south along College Ave. to reach the running track at the UMW Track & Field Facility. For the return, use the same connector to return to the Canal Trail. Alternative: from the running track, run east along Hanover St. for 1 mile to Sophia St., then run downtown through Riverfront Park back to the start.

Add-Ons: Use the Canal Trail as part of our Embrey Dam Trail &  Rappahannock River Heritage Trail loop. Also, just east of the UMW Track & Field Facility is the Sunken Road Walking Trail section of the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park.