BWI TRAIL LETTERBOX:

GLEN BURNIE, MARYLAND

-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-

Planted:                April 23, 2003

Length:                 BWI Trail Loop; 11 miles

                               Dixon Observation Area to Letterbox; about 1 mile                                

Difficulty:             Letterbox: Easy. Flat, paved trail.

                               Loop Trail; Moderate. Flat, paved trail but with a slight grade along route.

Directions:

From I-97 southbound, take exit 15 to Aviation Blvd. and turn left (south). Next, turn right at the first light down Dorsey road. The Dixon Observation Area parking lot will be on your left. From I-97 northbound take exit 15B to Dorsey Road (Route 176) west.  The Dixon Observation Area parking lot will be on your left a little ways down.

The BWI Trail completely circles Baltimore-Washington International Airport. Although most of the trail runs alongside roadways, it has its own paved trail. At the Dixon Observation Area, the airplanes come in for a landing almost over your head. Quite a sight. There is a Spur Trail of about a mile that will take you over to the Baltimore & Annapolis Trail. This paved trail is 13 miles long and runs from downtown Glen Burnie to Route 50 in Annapolis . This trail runs along the former rail bed of the Annapolis & Baltimore Short Line that started in 1880. The railroad was abandoned in 1968. See; B & A Trail  . For more information check out; EASTCOAST GREENWAY ,  BIKE WASHINGTON  and  BWI TRAIL  .

Note; The clues are somewhat incomplete, as I lost my notes from this trip.

Starting from the Dixon Observation Area parking lot; Head through the playground and onto the trail. The field below the landing aircraft will be to your left. A ¼ mile takes you into the woods and soon a sharp turn. You will pass a mileage marker that says 24.5 on your right (these markers include mileage from the B & A Trail) and come to an open area with a golf driving range on your left. The trail then enters a wooded area with lots of curves in the trail. After what I recall to be about a mile, there will be a mileage marker on your right with the #25 on it. This is just before a bench up on the left. Count back 20 paces from this marker and a small opening in the woods on the left will lead you to a fallen tree. There are 3 fallen trees in the area I've been told. At the root of this tree will be a rock you will need to move aside. Inside this cavity will be the BWI TRAIL LETTERBOX. Please replace the rock I  put on top of my box to keep animals out. Continuing along the trail, after 1.4 miles, you'll come to Stewart Ave.

Note; Right takes you along the Spur Trail to the B & A Trail.

Turn left and you will cross over Dorsey road. The trail then heads up along Aviation Blvd and crosses over into a wooded area after 3.5 miles. Another ½ mile brings you out along a road again, where you cross over some railroad tracks. You come to Andover Park after 4.5 miles. Watch for the left hand turn away from the road by the horse corrals. You now head down through more corrals and up to Andover Point, where you overlook the airport. Just shy of 6 miles, you'll come to a Y in the trail.

Note; Left takes you over a bridge and into the airport.

Continue right and cross over I-195 via a pedestrian bridge. You cross a wooden bridge over a marsh after 6.6 miles. You head up a ramp to a bridge after 7.5 miles. At the top, turn left (no signs) towards the airport. As you ride alongside Aviation Blvd , keep an eye out overhead. This is the flight path for airplanes taking off overhead. You cross over a long wooden boardwalk after 8.5 miles. You now ride alongside Dorsey road and cross over at 10.8 miles. This trail brings you back to the Dixon Observation Area.

HH

CLICK HERE FOR BWI MAP

CLICK HERE FOR B&A MAP

LETTERBOX LAST VERIFIED ON

AUGUST 9, 2009

TO EMAIL A VERIFICATION

CLICK HERE

BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE SURE TO READ THE

WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER

BIKE IT OR HIKE IT LETTERBOXING

HOME PAGE