Description
Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park Trail Guide (2004) 62pp.
This full-color guide on coated paper provides maps to the 45-mile-long Washington and Old Dominion Trail, a "rails to trails" project. Originally, the W&OD was a railroad established in 1859 that ran trains over the line until 1968. When the railroad closed down, Virginia Electric and Power bought the right-of-way and installed high-tension wires to served the growing populace of Northern Virginia.
In 1977, the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority negotiated an agreement with Virginia Power to purchase the right-of-way in stages. In 1982, the NVRPA bought the last segment (though VA Power still maintains an easement for their lines). The route is paved in asphalt, making it ideal for bike riding, roller blading, and other sports that require a smooth surface.
The NVRPA also added a number of improvements, including interpretive boards, waysides, drinking fountains, and landscaping. While the paved trail can be a little hard on the feet for hiking, it's still an interesting route worthy of exploration, running from Arlington, VA (where it connects to the Mt. Vernon Bike Path) west to Purcellville, VA (12 miles south of Harpers Ferry)
