Trailside Park, Herndon

Trailside Park, Herndon

Herndon is not the little rail stop it used to be. Like many of the smaller towns around Washington, D.C. Herndon has grown and changed. It even installed it=s own little beltway, the Herndon Parkway, which makes a complete loop inside the designated town limits. Herndon contrasts with nearby Reston primarily by being older and more conventional. It has small downtown area that evolved over time near Herndon station on the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad, now a paved trail; the Washington and Old Dominion Trail (W&OD). The station still stands and is 20.0 miles from Shirlington/24.7 miles from Purcellville. Several small parks dot Herndon=s town limits. Trailside Park is located next to the W&OD and is also just off the Herndon Parkway. Cedar trees keep the park cool in summertime.

Getting There

From the Capital Beltway, I-495

Take Exit 12, for the Washington Dulles Access and Toll Road, Rte. 267, west. When getting on to the expressway, stay to the outer (right) lanes. The inner (left) lanes are only for access to Washington Dulles International Airport. Exit after 10.7 miles at Exit 10. Turn right onto Eldon St. going into Herndon (Centerville Rd, Rte. 657 is to left at this intersection). After just under 1 mile, turn left on Sterling Blvd. Less than half a mile later, turn right on Crestview Dr. Cross the Herndon Pkwy., and turn right into Trailside Park. The trail head is straight ahead from the lot.

Area Routes

Herndon Parkway (5.4, 9.15 or 5.1 miles, IV, VIII, or IV)

Heading out east on the W&OD Trail, cross over the Herndon Pkwy, pass the golf course and make your way into the Herndon downtown area. Pass Herndon Station, and take your time crossing Eldon St. After a little downhill and crossing some smaller roads, you=ll cross over the Herndon Parkway again. The basic route turns left from here on a bluestone trail in the woods along Sugarland Run. For an extension, go to Reston, turning right on the Fairfax County Parkway Trail, following Sunrise Valley Drive through office parks to Reston Ave., then take the W&OD Trail back. The extension goes along some busy roads at some points (see Smilax Branch in the Reston section of the guide for a description). If it=s wet, a way to avoid the trail along Sugarland Run is to just go up the Herndon Parkway=s sidewalk. From the trail along Sugarland Run you can see the old stone arch bridge that was used by the W&OD railroad to get over the creek. The trail ends at Eldon St. Cross it again, now on the sidewalk of the Herndon Pkwy. Restrooms and water are available at Runnymede Park. Note that there are some unpaved trails in Runnymede Park but they don=t easily loop back well (Perhaps one-day there will be trail all the way to Algonkian Park where Sugarland Run empties into the Potomac River). After Runnymede Park the sidewalk gets a little narrow as you climb a hill up to Drainesville Rd. Go down later crossing Spring Branch at Stanton Park. A gradual climb from there brings you back to Trailside Park.

Claude Moore Park (8.7 miles, VIII)

Taking the W&OD Trail into Loudoun County, the trail passes through suburbs. It=s a little bit downhill going out and there are some dips in the trail. Cross over Sterling Blvd. carefully. There is no traffic light. Next cross Church Rd. and turn right on Ruritan Circle. It takes you back to Church Rd. only further north where there is a short paved trail for while. Endure the busy roadside for two tenths on mile on the grass shoulder, then turn left, up the Cascades Pkwy on a sidewalk. From there, you can enter Claude Moore Park. The park has some historical features such as Vestal=s Gap Road, a Civil War era transportation route. The park is primarily wooded however many ballfields are being made. To run the trails in the park, see the description for Scout Trail, under the Washington and Old Dominion Park, Sterling section of this guide. Stay on the road for this route however, and exit the park near Park View High School. For the trip back use the sidewalks on Sterling Blvd. Shoulders keep the traffic at bay, but there is a long grade to climb. Return on the W&OD Trail and take Crestview Dr. back to Trailside Park.

Nearby and Connecting Zones

What to do Afterward

Food and Drink

Tortilla Factory - 703 471-1156

China King - 703 450-7773

Chaopraya Thai - 703 713-0103

Hard Times Café - chili - 703 318-8941

Luau Garden Restaurant - 703 904-0064

Pho 75 - 703 471-4145

Entertainment and Edification

Dranesville Tavern - 703 938-8835

Riverbend Park Nature Center - 703 759-9018

Algonkian Regional Park - 703 450-4655

Wolf Trap Barns - indoor music and performance arts - 703 938-3405

Wolf Trap Farm Park - outdoor music and performance arts - 703 255-1820

5.4 Mile Route

0.0 paved trail from the parking lot

0.05 trail X on R to Herndon Pkwy

L 0.1 at T; golf cart road

R 0.15 at T; W&OD to bridge over pkwy

0.4 Ferndale Ave; (restrooms at community center)

0.8 bridge over Center St

0.95 Herndon Station

1.0 Eldon St (!)

1.25 Van Buren St

1.9 cross bridge over Herndon Pkwy

UL 1.95 ramp toward Herndon Pkwy

<**

UR 2.0 trail to Sugarland Run (unmarked)

2.1 trail X on R to W&OD after bridge

>**

2.35 trail X on R to houses

L/R 2.75 L at T on Eldon St; R for Herndon Pkwy

3.15 Runnymede Park (water, portable toilet, phone)

4.15 Drainseville Rd

5.25 underpass W&OD

R/L 5.35 paved trail on R to Trailside Park & W&OD

5.4 parking lot

*9.15 Mile Route

R 2.05 Fairfax County Pkwy Trail

2.2 begin Sunset Hills Dr overpass

2.5 begin overpass of Rte 267; Toll Road

L 2.9 Sunrise Valley Dr; asphalt trail

3.05 Glade Dr on R

3.45 Mercator Dr on R (USGS)

L 4.05 Reston Pkwy; asphalt trail

4.5 begin overpass of Rte 267; Toll Road

4.7 Sunset Hills Dr

4.85 overpass W&OD Trail

L 4.85 trail X on L toward Reston Town Center

4.95 trail X on R to Reston Town Center

R 5.2 at T; W&OD Trail

BR 5.3 after bridge over Town Center Pkwy onto the horse trail

R 5.8 onto bluestone trail before creek (pickup cues at mile 3.15 of 5.4 mile route)

Claude Moore Park

Distance: 8.7 miles

Rating: VIII; paved trails, park roads, and sidewalks; mostly sunny; long grades returning

0.0 paved trail from the parking lot

0.05 trail X on R to Herndon Pkwy

L 0.1 at T; golf cart road

L 0.15 at T; W&OD Trail

0.3 Crestview Dr (!)

1.7 Sterling Blvd (!)

1.95 pipeline trail on R

2.7 Church Rd (!)

R 2.75 Ruritan Circle

L 2.9 at Church Rd on paved trail

3.1 paved trail ends; use shoulder

CL 3.3 Cascades Pkwy

R 3.8 Lanesmore Rd; Claude More Park

4.0 Scout Trail/Little Stoney Mountain Trail (blue/white blazes)

BR 4.05 main road goes R at Rd X

4.15 trail X on R

4.45 baseball fields & parking R & L

S 4.65 at end of road & parking onto gravel road; Scout Trail (blue blazes)

S 4.85 through gate; Scout Trail bears L

R 5.2 N Sterling Blvd

L 7.15 W&OD Trail (!)

R 8.6 Crestview Dr; use shoulder

L 8.65 into Trailside Park (!)

8.7 trail head at parking