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
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
BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE SURE TO READ THE
WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER
BIKE IT OR HIKE IT LETTERBOXING