Walking the Paths Less Traveled
Today, correspondent Paul Gottschling brings us a view of local trails and expert opinions on where to walk.
The Washington & Old Dominion Trail near Belmont.(Photo by Gottschling)
An average weekday evening at the Gottschling home looks like this: My brother joins the family for dinner, visibly weary from a day of leasing apartments. Meanwhile, I've emerged from a mix of desk-riding, reading, and mostly idle about-the-house pacing. In short, we both need to get out for a walk. We simply mosey around the neighborhood on a relaxing route, though one that hardly brims with natural beauty.
But Loudoun offers more than paved pathways, promising a wide array of short and long walks through scenic woods, historic paths, river views and gardens. Seeking a few gems among the many great diversions, I asked the people most fitting of the title "walking trail expert" -- Loudoun park officials -- about their favorite places to take a casual stroll. Here is what they had to say:
Heather Rosso, the Events Coordinator at Algonkian Park , prefers to run trails in her free time, heading through "a couple of the small hills at Claude Moore," http://www.co.loudoun.va.us/prcs/parks/claude.htm as well as through the park in which she works. She also enjoys the Washington and Old Dominion trail, which as a Lansdowne resident she can access through its Belmont Ridge Rd intersection. "I like the W&OD for the distance that you can just keep going and going and going on it," she said.
Mark Mink, the Assistant Manager of Claude Moore Park likes "walking up the back of the hill in the Guilford Station area, [which has a] great overlook over a lot of Loudoun County. Just tremendous. Great views from up there." Park visitors can reach the overlook from Claude Moore Park's Little Stoney Mountain Trail.
The Scout Trail at Claude Moore (Photo by Gottschling)
Dodie Lewis, also at Claude Moore as the Park Naturalist, like Mink sticks to the offerings of her workplace. "My favorite hike here in this park would be on the blue trail, also called the Scout Trail. ... It's really pretty, and you wouldn't ... realize that you're right in the middle of Sterling." The slight bit of the trail that I sampled promised endless seclusion for anyone opting to complete its 3.5-mile, park-encircling loop, which has no real terminus.
Trails at the Rust Manor House and Nature Sanctuary, which is an oasis hidden near downtown Leesburg. Mark Riddell, spokesman for Northern Virginia Regional Parks, said one great walk with a water view is along Red Rock Wilderness Overlook at the end of River Creek Parkway.
What is your favorite walking spot?
By Tammi Marcoullier |
July 3, 2007; 1:00 PM ET
| Category:
Indoor & Outdoor Stuff
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Posted by: | July 5, 2007 12:32 PM
Tooooo darn hot to walk anywhere! I'm trying to figure out how I can park my car in my living room so I can hop right in from the air conditioning!
Posted by: Boogly Boogly! | July 10, 2007 07:01 AM
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My husband and I enjoyed "discovering" the Red Rock Overlook shortly after moving to Loudoun. I couldn't believe it was so close to the stores and traffic. It's a nice, quick escape.