The Potomac Heritage Trail, also known as the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, is a designated National Scenic Trail corridor in the United States that will connect various trails and historic sites through the states of Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia. When completed, the proposed 704-mile (1,133 km) trail will trace the outstanding natural and cultural features of the Potomac River Basin.
[edit] Completed Sections
Some sections of the trail were in existence when the PHNST officially became a National Scenic Trail in 1983. One is the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath, which runs 184.5 miles from Georgetown in Washington, DC, to Cumberland, MD. Another is the Mount Vernon Trail, which runs 18 miles from Rosslyn, VA to Mt. Vernon, VA, close to the shore of the Potomac. A third is the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail, 70 miles from Ohiopyle State Park, PA, to Conemaugh Gorge near Johnstown. These trails have different surfaces: gravel, asphalt, and natural surface, respectively--a fact that illustrates the general heterogeneity of the PHNST, compared to other National Scenic Trails.
The PHNST crosses another National Scenic Trail, the Appalachian Trail, at Harper's Ferry, WV. It coincides with the American Discovery Trail along the C&O Canal Towpath, from Oldtown, Maryland to Washington, DC.
Other sections have been added since 1983. The longest is the Great Allegheny Passage, from Cumberland, MD to McKeesport, PA (soon to be extended to Point State Park in Pittsburgh, PA), 150 miles, with a 52-mile side branch to Pittsburgh International Airport.
In Northern Virginia, additional completed sections (north to south) include:
- 2(?) miles, Loudoun Heights Trail (a former section of the Appalachian Trail)
- 3? miles at Balls Bluff Battlefield, Loudoun Co.
- 5 miles from Lansdowne, Virginia to Bles Park along Broad Run, Loudoun Co.
-12 miles from Algonkian Regional Park to Great Falls Park, Virginia
- 2 miles in Scotts Run Park, Mclean, VA
-10 miles from the American Legion Bridge to Roosevelt Island (connects with Mount Vernon Trail). This section is known as the Potomac Heritage Trail and predates the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail.
- 1 mile at Noman Cole (Old Colchester Rd to Route 1 @ Armistad Dr.)
- 6(?) miles at Laurel Hill Greenway (from Pohick Road to Occoquan Regional Park, Fairfax Co.)
- 2(?) miles at Belmont Bay, Prince William Co.
- 3(?) miles at Leesylvania Park, Prince William Co.
- 5(?) miles at Prince William Forest Park, Prince William Co.
In Southern Maryland, additional completed sections (north to south) include:
- Piscataway Trail
- Fort Foote Park / Trail
- Nanjemoy Peninsula Trail
[edit] Potomac Heritage Trail Association
The Potomac Heritage Trail Association (PHTA) is a membership-based organization dedicated to the development, construction, preservation, and interpretation of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail.
The group, in cooperation with other trail advocacy groups, sponsors worktrips to construct and maintain natural surface portions of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. These organizations include the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, the Sierra Club's Potomac Regional Outings Program, REI, Inc., Great Falls Trail Blazers, Appalachian Mountain Club, and Fairfax Trails and Streams, Southern Prince George's Trails Coalition, and Oxon Hill Bicycle Club.
The PHTA publishes a quarterly newsletter, the Potomac Heritage Trail News, featuring progress and challenges in building the trail.
The group works with local, state and federal government officials and park authorities to promote and develop new sections of trail along the PHNST corridor.
[edit] External links
GROUPS
- National Park Service site
- Potomac Heritage Trail Association
- C&O Canal Association
- Allegheny Trail Alliance
- Oxon Hill Bicycle and Trail Club
- Southern Prince George's Trail Coalition
- Great Falls Trail Blazers
- Fairfax Trails and Streams
- Potomac Appalachian Trail Club
- Friends of Dahlgren Heritage Rail Trail, King George Co, VA
TRAILS/PARKS of PHNST
- Great Allegheny Passage
- C&O Canal Bicycling Guide
- Mt. Vernon Trail, Arlington/Alexandria/Mt Vernon, VA
- Great Falls Park, MD/VA
- Riverbend Park, Great Falls, VA
- Algonkian Park, VA
- Red Rock Wilderness Regional Park, VA
- Balls Bluff Regional Park, VA
- Occoquan Regional Park, VA
- Laurel Hill Greenway, Lorton, VA
- Prince William Forest Park, VA
- Leesylvania State Park, VA
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