2007 Virginia Outdoors Plan - Greenways and Trails

The 2007 Virginia Outdoors Plan came out not too long ago. It has quite a few good recommendations including working with railroads to establish rules for rails-with-trails, developing a uniform signage system and pushing local governments to come up with trail plans outside of the VDOT right of way. While not all of these trails are meant for cyclists, many are. Some of the local trail projects promoted include:

1. Mt Vernon Trail Extension - would complete the existing trail from Roosevelt Island to Interstate 495

2. Accotink Stream Valley Trail / Fairfax Cross County Trail - will connect Great Falls Regional Park to the Accotink Bay, linking to the W&OD Trail and the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. (I think this trail was completed in 2005)

3. W&OD Extension - will connect the 45-mile existing trail to White’s Ferry to the north, the Appalachian Trail to the west, and the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail to the east.

Of course these are but a few of the trails proposed statewide.

Comments

[Purple Eage]

The Cross County Trail might be "finished" but a cyclist would have a difficult time traversing many parts of it, at least with a road bike. It's more like a hiking trail in many places.

[Purple Eagle]

On re-reading your post, maybe you are saying that the Potomac Heritage Trail is finished, which is definately not the case. The parts that are finished are only partially usable by cyclists. The trail route includes the Mt. Vernon Trail and the C&O Canal. But it also includes the rugged Laural Highlands hiking trail, and the surprisingly rugged hiking trail along the Virginia side of the Potomac from Roosevelt Island to the American Legion Bridge. I have found that section too rough even for running. The planned route of the PHT also includes a corridor along the Maryland side of the Potomac heading south all the way down to Point Lookout, the southern-most point in MD. There is also a route planned south of Mt. Vernon in Virginia. You can read more about the route at http://www.potomactrace.org/ and http://www.nps.gov/pohe/planyourvisit/index.htm

[washcycle]

I was referring to the cross county trail.

[OurAmericanParks]

I'm glad they are working on extensions for the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. All those people up around the capital need to spend more time outside clearing their minds and getting in touch with life instead of spending all their time fighting with each other. Strong families, strong communities and strong bodies are all a result of a trail system.