Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania
Visited: May 5, 2006
NPS Site Visited: 287 of 353
NPS Website; Local Website;
Another Local Website
The Potomac Heritage NST differs from all the other NPS trail systems in one important and very distinguishable way: its trails do not connect and do not lead to any conscious goal. In fact, there is no published map that shows either the Trail's course or the land it encompasses.
How do you know you are on the Potomac Heritage NST? You might see a sign or you might run into a National Parks Passport Book stamp at a Visitor Center.
During college, Michael biked portions of the trail (the Mount Vernon Trail, the C&O Canal Towpath and he's sure others) nearly every day and never knew it. He cherished those easily accessible recreational opportunities as one of the best parts of living in Washington D.C.
The following is a guide as to what trails are a part of the Potomac Heritage NST, links to our reviews of the Sites they pass through as well as which VC's have a Potomac Heritage NST passport stamp. Enjoy!
Segment 1
The 184.5-mile Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath
Park Sites:
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal NHP (D.C. Area)
Potomac Heritage NST Stamps: Great Falls Tavern; Georgetown, D.C. VC
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal NHP (Maryland and West Virginia)
Potomac Heritage NST Stamps: Cumberland, Md; Williamsport, Md.; C&O Headquarters, Hagerstown, Md.; Hancock, Md; Ferry Hill, Sharpsburg, Md.
Harpers Ferry NHP
Potomac Heritage NST Stamp: Stamp at Harpers Ferry even though the NPS mimeographed pamphlet explicitly states that the Trail does NOT exist in West Virginia.
Antietam NB
No Stamp Here
Segments 2 and 3
The 17-mile Mount Vernon Trail and the 10-mile Potomac Heritage Trail in George Washington Memorial Parkway
Park Sites:
George Washington MEM PKWY
Potomac Heritage NST Stamp: Stamp at Turkey Run Park
LBJ MEM Grove
No Stamp Here
Theodore Roosevelt Island
No Stamp Here
U.S.M.C. Memorial and Netherlands Carillon
No Stamp Here
Great Falls Park
No Stamp Here
Claude Moore Colonial Farm
No Stamp Here
Segments 4 and 5
The 70-mile Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail
and the 150-mile Great Allegheny Passage (connecting Cumberland, Md. and Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Park Sites:
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal NHP (Maryland and West Virginia)
Potomac Heritage NST Stamp: Cumberland, Md.
The Trail runs nearby but not through these two sites:
Friendship Hill NHS
No Stamp Here and
Fort Necessity NB
No Stamp Here
Potomac Heritage NST Stamps can be found at Ohiopyle SP and Laurel Ridge SP
Segment 6
The 21-mile Potomac Heritage Trail On-Road Bicycling Route in Prince Georges County, Md.
Park Sites:
Fort Washington Park
Potomac Heritage NST Stamp: Fort Washington Park VC
Piscataway Park
No Stamp Here
Segment 7
A two-mile route in Nanjemoy Natural Resource Management Area, Charles County, Md.
Park Sites:
This segment is close to but does not encompass:
Thomas Stone NHS
No Stamp Here
Segment 8
A 4.5-mile route in Prince William Forest Park
Park Sites:
Prince William Forest Park
Potomac Heritage NST Stamp: Prince William Forest Park VC
Segment 9
7.7 miles of trails within Riverbend Park, Great Falls Park and Scott's Run Nature Preserve in northern Fairfax County, Va.
Park Site:
Great Falls Park
Potomac Heritage NST Stamp: Great Falls Park VC
Segment 10
A 15-mile linear park system in Loudoun County, Va.
Park Sites:
None, we think
No Stamps Here
Segment 11
The 23-mile Alexandria Heritage Trail in Alexandria, Va.
Park Sites:
None, we think
No Stamps Here
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