WASHINGTON & OLD DOMINION TRAIL LETTERBOX:

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA

-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-

Planted:                April 27, 2003

Length:                 W & OD Trail; 45 miles

                               Shirligton (mile 0) to Martha Custis Trail; 4 miles

                               Shirlington to Letterbox; 2 ½ miles

                               Columbia Pike parking lot to Letterbox; 1 mile

                               Drive By; Glencarlyn Park

Difficulty:            Easy. Flat, paved rail trail. Slight grade.

Directions:

From I-395, take exit 6 to Shirlington Road and head north. After you cross over Four Mile Run (stream), look to your left to spot the parking lot. The trail starts just after crossing over Four Mile Run Drive. There will be a sign at the beginning of the trail. Because the first 1 ½ miles are parallel to the road, you may wish to start from the Columbia Pike parking lot. Simply turn left up Four Mile Run Drive and take it to the intersection of Columbia Pike (parking lot on your left).

To reach Glencarlyn Park; From Route 50 take the exit for Carlin Springs Road and travel south. Turn left down 3rd Street S and follow to its end. Turn right on S Harrison Street and the parks entrance should be on your left.

The Washington & Old Dominion Trail takes its name from the railroad that ran this line for over 100 years. It was also referred to as the "Virginia Creeper", the name of a pervasive vine that grew along the route (and because of its reputed slow service). This corridor was abandoned in 1968. The trail today is paved for the entire 45 miles, which takes you from Shirlington in Arlington all the way to Purcellville in northern Virginia.  For more information visit; W & O D TRAIL  WASHINGTON BIKE ASSOC.  or  BIKE WASHINGTON  .

Starting from the Shirlington parking lot; Cross over Four Mile Run Drive to the start of the trail. There will be a 0 mile marker (mile markers every ½ mile). The first 1 ½ miles are alongside Four Mile Run Drive in an urban setting. You the reach the Columbia Pike parking lot and cross over Columbia Pike via a cross walk. You are now in a forested setting, with the Four Mile Run (stream) flowing along the trail, as well as the Four Mile Run Trail, which has hills and curves, unlike the straight and flat rail trail. After 2 miles you come to an observation deck overlooking a marsh.

Note; Just after this deck will be a trail down to the Four Mile Run Trail and Glencarlyn Park. Take this trail down and head straight through the parking lot. Note the Glencarlyn Dog Park over a bridge to your left.  After passing through the parking lot, continue down the road past a pavilion and picnic area. Where the road veers right, you turn left and cross over a cement bridge. Veer right at the fork in the trail. There will be a small metal culvert under the trail just before a sewer grate off to the left side of the trail. A large log is just below and to the rear of this grate. Behind this sewer grate is a large Oak tree with a cavity in its trunk on its backside. Inside the cavity, under some rocks and leaves is the W & OD Trail Letterbox. This is 0.2 miles from the W & OD Trail. The Nature Center is another 0.2 miles up the trail. For more information and a map of this park check out; GLENCARLYN PARK .

Continuing back on the W & OD Trail, you will cross over a few more bridges before passing underneath Route 50 after 3 miles.

Note; At 3.3 miles, a bridge to your left leads to Bluemont Park.

You then pass by Bluemont Station (note the caboose) and come to the 3.5 mile sign. Take the trail right, down and under the road. After 4 miles the trail crosses underneath I-66 and continues on towards Purcellville.

Note; This is also where the Martha Custis Trail intersects and takes you into Rosslyn after 4 miles. From there you can access the Mount Vernon Trail or cross over the Key Bridge and access the Capitol Crescent Trail and C & O Canal Trail.

See;  Mount Vernon Trail   ,  Capital Crescent Trail Letterbox  and  C & O Canal   .

HH

CLICK HERE FOR W & OD TRAIL MAP

CLICK HERE FOR MARTHA CUSTIS TRAIL MAP

 

LETTERBOX LAST VERIFIED ON

OCTOBER 12, 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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