I thought I knew where all the local rail trail opportunities were, but it turns out I was wrong.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has been awarded a $1 million federal grant to preserve 220 acres of the Popes Creek watershed as part of a county project establishing a new rail trail along the abandoned Popes Creek rail bed.
Here's a map of where this rail bed is, and here's how the article describes it.
Still in the “embryonic stage,” the trail would follow the old rail line, which runs about two miles from the Potomac River to U.S. 301 in Faulkner, incorporate a trestle that spans Popes Creek and highlight the waterway’s biodiversity, Robinson said.
It's pretty hard to see from satellite photos, since it appears the rail was pulled out years ago. Anyway,
Though the grant is primarily for conservation of the wetland, “the real jewel is the ability to use these funds to create a new rail trail,” Charles County Commissioner Ken Robinson (D) said. “Having hiked the trail once, this is very special.”
The county has been interested in turning the Popes Creek rail bed into a hiker-biker trail for 14 years, Roland said. The Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit headquartered in Washington, D.C., assembled the grant and has partnered with the county in negotiating the land purchase.
The county is hoping to complete land acquisition by the end of summer, he said.
Once the land is purchased, it will not be accessible to the public until the trail is completed, which “will probably take a couple years,” Roland said.
The county hopes to duplicate the success of the Indian Head Rail Trail, which has attracted more than 100,000 visitors annually since opening in 2009, Roland said.
While this project is good, it will probably never be as successful as the Indian Head Rail Trail. It's farther from DC and, at only 2 miles long, it's not really worth going there to ride it. Still it will be a nice amenity and might make for a good place to run or walk. The stone surface, as oppossed to blacktop, won't help attract cyclists either (not that that is the end of the world).
“Because of the success of the Indian Head Rail Trail, we know what a magnet hiker-biker trails are for attracting not only county residents but visitors from all over the region,” he said. “We’re hoping we can attract folks from the other side of the bridge in King George County, Va., as well as providing another recreation area for our citizens.”
But wait, there's more
The project also could include the purchase and renovation of the old Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative power plant at Popes Creek, which sits near the railroad’s terminus on the Potomac River and along the same stretch as Captain Billy’s and Gilligan’s Pier restaurants.
Built in 1938 and shut down 15 years later, the building is noteworthy as the first generating station to serve Southern Maryland, and for its flat-roofed, brick structure and arched windows.
“Architecturally, it’s gorgeous,” Robinson said, adding that the building could be converted into a mixed-use visitors center and rest stop for hikers and bikers.
Some of the trail’s amenities ultimately could be funded as capital improvement projects or using leftover funding from the Indian Head trail, Robinson said.
Leftover funding? Rail trail comes in under budget!
fascinating.
a huge step forward for bikes in the region.
and by all means with go crushed stone. the success of rail trails have nothing to do with whether theyre paved or not...
Posted by: John Smith | February 02, 2014 at 09:51 AM
Crushed stone is no good for serious road cyclists, but it does work for people who have mountain bikes or hybrids. Trails like this are great for people who don't bike a lot and would like to do more but don't like biking on roads.
Normally I'd prefer to road bike or mountain bike, but when we got our dog, we wanted to try pulling him in a trailer but didn't want to do this on a road or crowded trail. A great rail trail in Nelson County, VA, called the Blue Ridge Rail Trail was the ticket. It was beautiful, following the Piney River, and it wasn't crowded. It's only about 15 miles out and back though.
http://www.virginia.org/Listings/OutdoorsAndSports/VirginiaBlueRidgeRailTrail/
There's a longer one near Farmville, I think called the High Bridge Trail. It gets more traffic. Once again, crushed gravel.
Posted by: DE | February 03, 2014 at 09:14 AM
Crushed gravel may be cheaper up front but it has to be maintained more, otherwise ruts and deep pits will form.
Posted by: Crickey7 | February 03, 2014 at 10:16 AM
The Popes Creek Rail Trail will actually be closer to three miles in length and will have access to shoreline of Potomac River.
Crushed stone was selected (as opposed to asphalt) as the preferred surface since the land acquisition is also a wetland protection initiative (a boardwalk section is also planned).
PCRT might not be very long, but it is another significant rails-to-trails success story for So. MD!
Posted by: T.Roland | February 08, 2014 at 02:24 PM
Update: Popes Creek Rail Trail Property Acquired
This past week, Charles County acquired the abandoned Popes Creek Railroad corridor in Faulkner, MD (and several adjacent properties).This exciting purchase will allow for the future development of the County's second rail trail.
Eventually, the "Popes Creek Rail Trail" will extend from Rte.301 down to the shoreline of the Potomac River. This old railroad property passes-through stunning landscapes, including old growth forest and scenic tidal marsh areas. Probably will be several years before trail will be constructed and opened for public access.
This project was a partnership between Charles County Government, the Trust for Public Land, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Chesapeake Bay Field Office and the Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources (Program Open Space).
Posted by: T. Roland | December 04, 2014 at 01:05 PM