The Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park is a lengthy park in Northern Virginia, featuring the Washington and Old Dominion Railway Trail - a broad asphalt-surfaced path which runs through both urban and rural communities. The trail, which is around 100 feet wide, is suitable for a variety of activities like walking, running, cycling and roller skating.
NOVA Parks (formerly known as the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority) administers and maintains the park, along with a bridle path which is situated on the western 33 miles of the railway trail - it is perfect for horseback riding and mountain biking. In the southwestern corner of Ashburn, Smith's Switch Road lies adjacent to the trails of the park. For the convenience of visitors, the headquarters office of the park can be found here, and there is also a handy rest stop in vicinity. With its inviting atmosphere, this area provides a pleasant respite for travelers seeking a moment of tranquility.
The trail begins in the Nauck neighborhood near the Shirlington section of Arlington County and ends in Purcellville in western Loudoun County. It closely follows the routes of the Potomac River and Virginia State Route 7 (VA 7). For those travelling to the start of the trail, it is located close to the boundary between Arlington County and the City of Alexandria, and is accessible from the Shirlington exit (Exit 6) of Interstate 395 (I-395).
The W&OD Trail and the Four Mile Run Trail traverse in tandem along Arlington, although the trails diverge in some places. In general, the two trails diverge on either side of the Run, never completely crossing paths. Nevertheless, it is possible to experience both trails in a single outing, as the routes eventually intertwine in certain areas. Unfortunately, the W&OD Trail has no restrooms or water fountains but the Four Mile Run Trail has restrooms and additional water fountains near its ball fields and picnic areas.
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The W&OD Trail marks its start at the intersection of South Shirlington Road and South Four Mile Run Drive, otherwise known as its "trailhead" (Mile 0). This is situated in the Atlantic Coastal Plain, and the elevation at this point is 72 feet above sea level - the lowest on the entire trail. It's a fascinating journey that awaits the intrepid explorer, and the trail itself is sure to provide an unforgettable experience.
Reaching an impressive elevation of 489 feet (149 m) as it crosses I-66 in Fairfax County, the trail has climbed a total of 417 feet (127 m) over 8.4 miles (13.5 km). As it continues northwest, the trail descends through Vienna, eventually reaching Mile 14 with an elevation of 242 feet (74 m) - only 170 feet (52 m) higher than its starting point.
The trail then crosses Difficult Run (Mile 14.3) and ascends and descends between several streams, including Sugarland Run, Broad Run, Beaverdam Run, Goose Creek, Sycolin Creek and Tuscarora Creek, as it passes through Reston, Herndon, Sterling, Ashburn, and Leesburg. Notably, the trail passes over Wiehle Avenue (VA 828) in Reston, 0.3 miles (0.5 km) away from the Wiehle–Reston East station on Washington Metro's Silver Line.
Ascending Tuscarora Creek in Leesburg, the trail's altitude reaches 315 feet (96 m) - a mere 2 feet (0.61 m) higher than its high point of 313 feet (95 m) in Arlington. This offers a small but noticeable elevation gain, affording hikers a greater appreciation of the landscape.
After this stream, the trail climbs northwest for 6.0 miles (9.7 km) to its highest point of 606 feet (185 m) while traveling on a bridge carrying VA 9 (Charles Town Pike) over VA 7 near the saddle point of Clarke's Gap in Catoctin Mountain. Just before this crossing, the trail passes under an old stone arch that once carried VA 7 over the W&OD Railroad.
The trail then turns west, descending through Paeonian Springs to Hamilton Station before climbing again to reach Purcellville, where it eventually terminates at an elevation of 513 feet (156 m) above sea level.
