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
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