WB&A Trail

Central Maryland's WB&A Trail occupies an abandoned Washington, Baltimore & Annapolis Electric Railway corridor—hence its name—for its entire route. The railroad operated electric commuter trains between its three namesake cities from 1908 to 1935. Since its closure, portions of the original corridor have been converted to roads, light-rail lines and rail-trails (as in this case).

The WB&A Trail is currently open in two discontinuous segments. The northern section of the trail in Anne Arundel County runs for 3.8 miles between downtown Odenton and the rural intersection of Conway Road and Bragers Road. The trail begins by traveling through the suburban backyards of Odenton and Piney Orchard. From Strawberry Lake Way to Bragers Road farther south, the trail's route is mostly wooded.

In Prince George's County, the WB&A Trail stretches between State Route 450 in Glenn Dale and the Patuxent River in Patuxent River Park. The trail links the suburbs with the park and—like the southern portion of the Anne Arundel segment—passes through a heavily-wooded corridor. This part of the trail features five bridge crossings, two tunnels and two at-grade intersections. Along the way, you will find rest areas with bike racks and benches.

There are plans to fill in the 1.4-mile gap in the trail between Bragers Road and the Patuxent River, but local property disputes must first be worked out before a bridge spanning the river can be designed and constructed.

Parking for the northern portion of the WB&A Trail in Anne Arundel County can be found at Odenton Recreation Area on Strawberry Lake Way. There is a paved path along the suburban road that will take you to the trail; head west from the recreation area for about 0.6 mile. Limited parking may also be available off Bragers Road.

To access the Prince George's County section of the trail, park near Patuxent River Park off Race Track Road (not far from Bowie State University). Alternatively, park at the Glenn Dale Community Center near where the trail meets State Route 193/Glenn Dale Boulevard. A small dedicated parking lot for the trail can also be found off Electric Avenue just west of State Route 953/Glenn Dale Road.