Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park (W&OD):
Virginia
Trail Map
  • Get Personalized Driving Directions!
  • Find Trail Side Shops with Google Search!
  • See Users’ Geocoded Photos!
  • Get a Print-Friendly Map and Get Outdoors!
Description:
The paved W&OD Trail (as it is commonly known) is one of the region's most popular rail-trails. Used regularly by commuters headed into the Washington area, it serves as a great link between Virginia's rural and historical past and the modern city of Washington, DC.
The Washington & Old Dominion Railroad was built on the eve of the Civil War in 1858. At times both a passenger line and a freight line, the railroad eventually lost out to more efficient modes of transportation and went into disuse in 1968. In 1982, it was purchased by the Northern Virginia Parks Association, which still owns and maintains the trail today.
The trail is exceptionally well-marked, with posts indicating every half mile beginning in Shirlington, Virginia, where the trail starts in the heart of the Washington, DC-metropolitan area. From this urban setting, the trail heads though various suburban neighborhoods. Bleaumont Park (at 3.5 miles), one of many picnic areas and parks within the trail's first 10 miles, is a great rest stop, with both water and restrooms available. At 5.5 miles, the trail provides an access point to Washington's Metrorail system by connecting to the East Falls Church Station.
As you make your way beyond the Interstate 495 beltway, at mile 9, use caution at several roads crossings, especially during rush hour. Now in Fairfax County, the trail continues through the communities of Vienna (at mile 12) and Reston (at mile 18). These suburban neighborhoods thin out a bit and the trail becomes more wooded.
The town of Herndon (at mile 20.5) is home to a wonderful trailside train depot, one of many along the trail that also provides a good rest stop. As the trail continues, it passes through Ashburn (at mile 27.5), Sterling (at mile 28), and Leesburg (at mile 34). The historical town of Leesburg has a colonial feel and is popular spot for lunch and antiquing.
The final 10 miles from Leesburg to Purcellville travel through rolling hills of classic Virginia farmland. Horses graze, corn fields flourish, and trail users can use the trip as a chance to sample Virginia wines at the many vineyards in the region. The last stop on the trail is the Purcellville Train Depot (at mile 44.8). The trail ends on a downhill ride into the town of Purcellville with a view of the Blue Ridge Mountains looming on the western horizon.
... Click to read more
Parking & Trail Access:
To begin at the southern end of the W&OD Trail, take Interstate 395 to the Shirlington exit, bear right to head north, and drive to second stoplight. Turn left here on South Four Mile Run Drive. The W&OD Trail will be on the right, paralleling the road. You can park along the side of the road, but it is not advisable to leave your car overnight here.
To begin at the far northern end in Purcellville, take VA Route 7 west. Exit at VA Route 287 and turn left. Follow Route 287 until VA Business Route 7 and take a right. Turn right again on 21st Street. The Purcellville Train Depot is a quarter mile away on the right. Parking is available at the depot.
... Click to read more
... Click to read more
Reviews: [1 trail ratings]
[View all reviews for this trail]
[register/login to Submit a Review of this Trail]
Great bike trail - except for many inconsiderate, and dangerous bikers
By austin heffernan in September, 2011
Rode the trail from Herndon to the east end of the trail and back Saturday, and the western section between Purcellville and Herndon on Sunday. Magnolias at the Mill restaurant at the Purcellville end is GREAT! There is also a very good, and helpful bike shop right across the street. The only complaint I have is the indifferent, "it's all about me" attitude of some of the weekend Lance Armstrong wannabe's I experienced on the eastern part, as you get closer to D.C. This is a WONDERFUL multi-use trail that goes through lots of residential areas, so there are lots of families with small kids learning to ride their bikes, young couples with babies in strollers out enjoying the outdoors and elderly people out for a brisk walk. Everybody has as much right as the next person to be on this trail, and for the most part everyone is respectful of the different speeds and capabilities of the different users....except for those bikers who think this is their personal high-speed track. Seriously...some of the riders I witnessed need to confine their activities to the streets, where if they lose control or miscalculate the small spaces between the "obstacles" they try to zoom through at full speed, they will hit a car....not someone's child. Someone is really going to get seriously injured soon if these people don't exercise some common sense and self control!
wonderful trail....others users (ah not so wonderful)
By jrutch in October, 2010
trail was great, we got out early sunday & did 30 miles (reston to leesburg and back)....great surface, incredibly great signage, good facilities, well marked/traffic-lighted intersections.....we stayed at the hyatt in reston and walked from hotel to trail which was wonderful (the w&od official website has listings of lots of places to stay within walking distance of the trail)....everything about the trail itself was wonderful......but, nobody knows how to share the trail....bikers and walkers and joggers would be riding and walking two abreast and ignore our bell when we wanted to pass and continue to hog the lane....doesn't anyone know how to share.....and are we the only ones in america who have a bell on our bike to warn others???.....anyhow we had a wonderful time, but people....be considerate of others.....
This trail is great!
By jimtav in August, 2009
This entire trail is paved, relatively flat, and in excellent condition. The only problems would require expensive fixes, like reducing the number of road crossings. The crossings at Walter Reed Drive, George Mason Drive, Columbia Pike, Lee Highway, Gallows Road, Maple Ave, Hunter Mill Road, Wiehle Ave., Sterling Parkway, and Belmont Ridge Road should all eventually be eliminated as they are particularly dangerous and inconvenient. However, those are the ONLY problems with this trail! Many of the major crossings have already been dealt with.

Since that post in 2005, the Section between Bluemont Park and Carling Springs Road have been realigned, dodging the Four Mile Run trail that was in poor repair. This is one of the best, if not THE best, urban trails in the country! There are numerous services available along the way, such as water, food, and bike shops. At the southern terminus, there is a new connector under I-395 which will take you right to the Mount Vernon Trail, crossing NO roads past Shirlington Road.

The section in Arlington is heavily used, but there are few road crossing and, except where it parallels I66, very pleasant. The Falls Church stretch has many small road crossings: be careful! From Rt. 7, the trail climbs slowly where it crosses I66, then I495. The Dunn Loring area is a long, straight stretch, but with a few crossings, the worst at Gallows Road. Vienna makes a good stopping point. The trail runs 3 miles non-stop, and downhill through the Hunter Valley, then climbs into Reston, where there are a number of minor and major road crossings. Many of the biggest roads in Reston have happily been bypassed using under and overpasses, although this creates a few 'artificial" hills. The trail passes right through downtown old town Herdon, where there is a pleasant park and an interesting museum about the railroad. Past this lies Sterling, where there are few roads, lots of trees, but two big "dips". (If you've ridden this part, you know what I mean!) The trail passes over busy Route 28, and into "the straightaway": a long, straight, flat stretch with almost no road crossings. Stop at Smith's Switch Station for water and gatorade. At Ashburn Road, you come to a b-b-q resturant and furniture store alongside the trail. The "straighaway" continues until the trail curves toward Belmont Ridge Road: be VERY careful at this intersection! The trail passes a quarry, over Goose Creek, and through a meadow as it approaches Leesburg. Leesburg itself has a number of road crossings, but also some nice parks. Past Leesburg, one has a beautiful, wooded trail where you can find some peace and seclusion as you climb towards Clarks Gap, then wander past Paenonian Springs to Purcellville. Finally, the trail comes to an end at 44.77 miles.
One of many bridges that crosses the 4 mile run river
Trail Facts
Trail End Points: Arlington (Four Mile Run Drive) to Purcellville (21st Street)
Counties: Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun
Trail Length: 45 miles
Trail Category: Rail-Trail
Trail Surfaces: Asphalt, Concrete
Trail Activities: Bike, Inline Skating, Fishing, Wheelchair Accessible, Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking, Walking, Cross Country Skiing
TrailLink ID: 6017236

Related Links
Guidebook: Learn more about other Mid-Atlantic rail-trails in RTC's Mid-Atlantic Guidebook.
Trail of the Month: December 2008