WASHINGTON & OLD DOMINION TRAIL:

PURCELLVILLE-ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA

-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-

Letterbox Planted:  April 27, 2003

Last Updated:           August 01, 2023

Length:                     W&OD Trail; 45 miles

                                  Four Mile Run Trail; 6.2 miles

Difficulty:                 W&OD Trail; Easy. Flat, paved rail trail. Slight grade.

Directions:

To start from S Four Mile Run Drive parking area/Jennie Dean Park in Arlington; From I-395, take exit 6 to Shirlington Rd and head north. After you cross over Four Mile Run turn left on S Four Mile Run Dr. Parking along your left next to Jennie Dean Park. The W&OD Trail [Southeastern End] begins on your right across the street. The Four Mile Run Trail can be accessed from the southern end of Jennie Dean Park at Shirlington Rd.

To start from the Bluemont Park; Northern parking lot in Arlington; From the junction of Wilson Blvd & N Glebe Rd (Route 120) in Arlington follow Wilson Blvd east for just over a miles. Turn left on N Manchester St. Parking lot is on your left. Both the W&OD Trail & Four Mile Run Trail can be accessed from here. This is also the Northern End of the Four Mile Run Trail.

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 paved W&OD Trail starts from the Shirlington section of Arlington and travels 45 miles northwest to Purcellville in northern Virginia. For more information visit; W&OD TRAIL WASHINGTON BIKE ASSOC. or BIKE WASHINGTON .

In Arlington, the Four Mile Run Trail , which begins near the mouth of the Potomac River, travels east to Jennie Dean Park where it then parallels the W&OD Trail to Bluemont Park alongside Four Mile Run. From the Eastern End of the Four Mile Run Trail you can access the Mount Vernon Trail & Potomac Yard Trail .

Starting from Jennie Dean Park in Shirlington/Arlington [Southeastern End]; The W&OD Trail begins across S Four Mile Run Dr. The Four Mile Run Trail can be accessed from the southern end of Jennie Dean Park at Shirlington Rd.

From Shirlington Road; This is the start of the W&OD Trail. Here you'll find the 0 Mile Marker (located every ½ mile). Informational signs and Map Boards located all along the trail. The trail travels North and parallels Four Mile Run Drive in an urban setting. Cross over S George Mason Dr at 1.2 miles. You pass by the Columbia Pike parking lot and come to Columbia Pike at 1.6 miles. 

Note; A paved trail on your left leads to Four Mile Run Trail.

Cross Columbia Pike and pass by a bench & picnic area with informational signs. You are now in a forested setting traveling alongside the Four Mile Run. Along the opposite side of this stream travels the Four Mile Run Trail, which has hills and curves, unlike the straight and flat rail trail. There are many access spurs over to that trail. After 2 miles you pass by Huffman's Falls before coming to an observation deck overlooking Sparrow Pond

Note; Just after this deck will be a trail down to the Four Mile Run Trail and Glencarlyn Park. For the Letterbox; 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 along the W&OD Trail, you will cross a few bridges over the river before traveling underneath Route 50 after 2.7 miles. Both trails combine briefly here. Come to a junction at 3.3 miles.

Note; A bridge on your left leads to Bluemont Park. On your right is the start of the paved Bluemont Junction Trail

You then pass by Bluemont Station (note the caboose) and come to an intersection at 3.5 miles. 

Note; Left leads to the Bluemont Park; Northern parking lot. This is also the Northern End of the Four Mile Run Trail.

Take the trail right, down underneath Wilson Blvd. After 4.1 miles you pass by the Curtis Trail on your right before traveling underneath Patrick Henry Drive. This is as far as we traveled.

HH

CLICK HERE FOR W&OD TRAIL MAP

 

LETTERBOX LAST VERIFIED ON

FEBRUARY 23, 2013

TO EMAIL A VERIFICATION

bikeitorhikeitcontact@gmail.com

 

BEFORE YOU SET OUT BE SURE TO READ THE

WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER

 

BIKE IT OR HIKE IT

HOME PAGE