Railroad Ford Trail:
Virginia
Trail Map
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Description:
The Railroad Ford Trail is located in beautiful Lake Anna State Park in Spotsylvania County between Washington, DC, and Richmond, Virginia. The park boasts 2463 acres with 11 trails, swimming, boating, fishing, horseback riding, and camping. The park is open daily from 8 am to dusk.
This loop trail (which is rough but wheelchair-accessible) is a section of the original 17.5-mile rail corridor that was established in 1917 to support the war effort in Europe. The railroad was used to transport ore from Holladay Mine, 5 miles north, to Allah Cooper Mine, 7 miles down the track. Lead and zinc were extracted from the ore and transported 10 miles to Mineral, Virginia, where they were then shipped on the C&O Railroad to northern factories to make bullets and shell cartridges.
Today, visitors will find a beautiful walking trail, sun-dappled by a tree canopy. To find the trailhead, follow the sidewalk past the visitor center and boat-rental area. The trail begins at the marker where the sidewalk ends. From the trail marker, bear right to begin your walk along this loop. The 0.75 miles takes you along a packed dirt path that runs parallel to the lake.
Take in the rich lake views and try out the many short paths to reach the water's edge, where you can access one of the many benches along this stretch. When the trail bears left after less than a mile, it becomes wider, elevated, and flat. It's easy to imagine the route of the original railroad corridor here, and, indeed, a historical railroad sign is also posted along this section. As you conclude your walk, the trail intersects with the Glenora Trail, a wide equestrian trail. Turn left at this intersection for a short stretch that completes the loop.
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Parking & Trail Access:
From Washington, DC, or Richmond, Virginia, take Interstate 95 to the Thornburg exit (exit 118). Go west on VA Route 208 and follow signs to Lake Anna State Park. Drive approximately 11 miles on Route 208. After passing a high school on your left, the road takes a sharp left turn. You will see a pretty white farm house on the corner and a sign for the state park indicating you should follow Route 208 and bear left. Go approximately 7 more miles and turn right onto VA Route 601. Travel 3.3 miles and turn left into Lake Anna State Park. Shortly after the park entrance, you will have to pay a park entrance fee of $3 on weekdays and $4 on weekends. Continue following the main entrance road until it ends at the beach and main parking area. At the back of the parking lot, you will see the Lake Anna State Park Visitor Center (open Memorial Day to Labor Day). Follow the sidewalk past the visitor center and boat-rental area to the trailhead.
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