Indian Head Rail Trail opens!

Donna Dudley reminded me about the recent completion of the Indian Head Rail Trail in Charles County. The linear park, now stretching 13 miles from Indian Head to White Plains, is build around an abandoned rail bed and has quickly become a Southern Maryland favorite.

Two portions of the trail -- a two-mile segment in White Plains and a 2.7-mile segment in Indian Head -- opened in December.

The Rail Trail is much more than a hiker biker fitness course. It is a neighborhood connector and favorite of artists who enjoy capturing the beauty of the area on canvas or sketchpad.

The news about the trail opening is welcome indeed. Maryland has many deserted train and trolley beds that course through communities and neighborhoods. With the popularity of the North Central (now Torrey Brown) trail in Baltimore County, local governments are seeking state and federal grants to acquire easements and transform these abandoned rightaways into alternative transportation options and fitness facilities with trails.

Rail trails are not just local amenities, they are visitor attractions. Among the most popular are in the mountains of Western Maryland. USA Today featured the Great Allegheny Passage in an article last week. Although most of the story focused on the Pennsylvania segment, the Allegheny Highlands portion is one of the most popular stretches. It connects the terminus of the C&O Canal in Cumberland to the Mason-Dixon line, passing through mountain tunnels with some of the most spectacular scenery you can imagine. When this segment was completed just three years ago, it made cycling possible from Georgetown to just outside Pittsburgh. Its popularity has grown significantly since then.

A few weeks ago, another segment secured funding necessary to convert not just a rail bed, but tunnel and bridge, to connect it to the C&O Canal. This part comes through the efforts of Senator Byrd and the stimulous package. It is a small stretch of Western Maryland track from Carbondale, West Virginia, to Cumberland -- through Knobley Mountain and over the Potomac River.

(Note -- Terry said cyclists love tunnels and bridges. It adds a little je ne sais que to the trip. The Great Allegheny Passage has tunnels and bridges galore.)

In any case, passage through an old railroad tunnel and over the Potomac has to be an amazing feeling. It will be a tremendous asset to the whole Allegheny Highland-Western Maryland Rail Trail experience.

(Hope it doesn't have any hibernating bats. We know how that goes.)

Anyway, with Donna's good news about Indian Head Rail Trail, I'm reminded I need to check some of the other projects pending. Acquiring easements and funding takes years, but the results are a recreational (and tourist attracting) amenity that contribute greatly to our Maryland quality of life.

Thanks for the reminder, Donna, and we'll still get that kayaking adventure in this season.