From the archives: When the W&OD Trail was going to connect to the Appalachian Trail

The W&OD railroad used to run from Alexandria to Bluemont, Virginia; but the trail only runs from the Arlington/Alexandria boundary to Purcellville. At one point in the late 80's-early 90's it looked like the trail might extend along the remaining west end of the ROW all the way to Bluemont and the Appalachian Trail. 

When the trail was "completed" in 1988, the park authority stated that they had "plans to extend the W&OD seven miles farther to Bluemont and the Appalachian Trail." The section from Purcellville to Bluemont was admittedly a bit different from the rest of the railroad, as it had been abandoned in 1938, 30 years before the rest of the line was. Nonetheless, in 1988 they stated that

The park authority plans to extend its W&OD Trail to Bluemont and the Appalachian Trail, which follows the border between Loudoun County and Clarke County.

Two years later, the Park Authority stated that they hoped to have the seven mile extension completed in 3 years. 

Park Authority Executive Director Darrell Winslow said money may not be the biggest hurdle in making the plan a reality. Rather, finding land for the skinny extension -- an eight-foot-wide paved path and room on either side for drainage -- could be the toughest challenge, he said.

The Park Authority began trying to complete the W&OD trail by asking the Loudoun government to amend its Rural Land Management Plan to indicate that the extension might be built from Purcellville to the Clarke County line, west of Bluemont.

That request received unanimous approval from the Planning Commission on Oct. 24 and has been forwarded to the county Board of Supervisors. In addition, the Park Authority must submit detailed plans and receive a commission permit -- similar to a permit issued to a public utility -- along with any other permits required by the Loudoun zoning administrator, county officials said.

Park Authority officials first must decide where they want the trail extension to go. The linear park follows the right of way of the defunct Washington & Old Dominion Railway between Shirlington, near Interstate 395, and Purcellville. But the portion of the train line's old path that is west of Purcellville is privately owned and probably unavailable for the trail extension, park officials said.

The agency said it may try to find a new path through the rolling hills or, more likely, it may try to persuade the Virginia Department of Transportation to let it use part of the right of way along Route 7, which connects Purcellville and Bluemont.

The Park Authority has budgeted about $168,000 to acquire land and has pegged roughly $300,000 to build the extension over several years.

The agency hopes to extend the paved trail from its current terminus in the center of Purcellville through the village of Bluemont and to the top of the Blue Ridge at Route 601. Winslow said a short unpaved footpath would extend from that point to the Appalachian Trail

It's not clear what happened (perhaps Allen Muchnick knows?) but obviously the W&OD was never extended. Still, there is reason to keep hope alive. The extension made it into Loudoun County's 2003 Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan and Virginia's 2007 Outoors Plan was mentioned as recently as 2012 by the County's Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Board (though the typo in the presentation title doesn't instill confidence). 

 

Comments

[Purple Eagle]

It's a cool idea. There is a fairly wide shoulder on route 7 but I would be pretty nervous about the speed of traffic - it's a divided highway that functions like an interstate. Looks like you could take business route 7 west of Purcellville for a few miles, then 719 to 725 to 734 which gets you to Bluemont. If you get to where 601 intersects route 7 there is actually a large parking area with a connector trail to the AT right there.

[Mike]

I'd guess the bigger reason not to worry about making the AT the target of the W&OD is that you can't bike on it. :-D

[DE]

A really industrious person could bike from the DC area out to the AT, backpack along it, then ride back, all without ever using a car. It actually sounds like a really cool trip idea. I'd like to see this trail extended.

[Mike]

@DE: a really industrious person can do that now without the trail ;-) In general I'd like to see broadly useful destinations, and the AT just doesn't seem like one. Now if the plan included improved access all the way down to Sky Meadows, which is a really beautiful park with facilities, etc., I think it would see much higher utilization. Similarly, better access to the C&O via Whites Ferry & Brunswick makes those much higher value connections than the AT.

[DE]

Sky Meadows would be awesome since riding along 17 is right out. But I'm not aware of an old rail ROW there, so it would have to take land (or be put along the road). Not impossible--that's what they did for the Virginia Capital Trail. Not aware of any plans for it though, whereas there have been plans for this.

I've biked out to Bluemont before, doing two-lane roads after the trail ended. I would say that's only for a certain type of cyclist.

There are other reasons to extend it besides the AT. For instance, to make it a full out-and-back century, or to have it extend past current development and be more of a draw.

[Purple Eagle]

If you simply want to bike to the AT, of course the easiest way to do it would be to ride to Harper's Ferry on the towpath.

But I like the idea of extending the W&OD trail to the top of the ridge, even if the primary reason were not for accessing the trail. Most people won't be combining hiking and cycling, at least on a longer trip, since the gear/clothing requirements are somewhat different. I can't see riding significant distance while carrying a large backpacking pack.

One cool way to use a bike in combination with a backpacking trip is if you are doing a one-way hike along a linear trail such as the AT. For example, park a car at the route 7 crossing and leave a bike in Harper's Ferry. Hike the trail section, then use the bike to get back to your car (I have done a variation of this).

[DE]

I was thinking of a bike trailer for the gear, which we've done before for camping elsewhere. I have a large waterproof commuter pack that would also work for light camping. But yeah, it's not anything approaching a sole reason for extending it, just a bit of a bonus.

I've done the bike shuttle as well, for backpacking and for boating.

[Mike]

@DE: well, there isn't a rail ROW anymore past purcellville, either. :) so extending the W&OD needs to be weighed against other projects like the brunswick & whites ferry extensions which are also on the books and presumably would compete for the same money, which is why it's important to consider whether it's making a connection to something that will actually draw a lot of interest.

[washcycle]

The connection to Bluemont would be even more useful as the next step to Winchester or Front Royal.