Potomac Heritage Trail facts for kids

The Potomac Heritage Trail, also known as the PHT, is a special long-distance trail in the United States. It connects many different trails and historic places. You can find it in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and District of Columbia.

This trail network is about 710 miles (1,140 km) long. It includes both trails that already exist and ones that are still being planned. The PHT follows the Potomac River and other important waterways. It lets you explore amazing natural spots, historical sites, and cultural landmarks. The National Park Service helps manage this trail.

Unlike some other long trails, like the Appalachian Trail, the Potomac Heritage Trail is more like a big network. It has many side trails and different paths you can take. Some parts of the trail run side-by-side on both sides of a river. Right now, many of these sections are separate. You might need to use roads to connect between them. There are guidebooks like Potomac Heritage Trail: A Hiker's Guide that can help you explore the different parts of the PHT.

The PHT even crosses another famous trail, the Appalachian Trail, near Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. A part of the PHT also shares its path with the American Discovery Trail. This shared section is along the C&O Canal Towpath, from Oldtown, Maryland, to Washington, D.C.

Starting Sections of the PHT

The Potomac Heritage Trail officially became a National Scenic Trail in 1983. At that time, three main parts of the trail were already in place. These sections helped form the core of the PHT.

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath

This section is 184.5 miles (296.9 km) long. It runs along the Maryland and D.C. side of the Potomac River. You can start in Georgetown in Washington, D.C., and go all the way to Cumberland, Maryland. This path is mostly gravel.

Mount Vernon Trail

The Mount Vernon Trail is in Virginia. It stretches for 18 miles (29 km). This paved trail goes from Rosslyn in Arlington to Mount Vernon. It stays close to the Potomac River.

Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail

This trail is in Pennsylvania and is 70 miles (110 km) long. It runs through Laurel Ridge State Park. The trail starts near Ohiopyle State Park and ends near Johnstown. This section has natural surfaces.

These first trails show how different the PHT is. Some parts are gravel, some are paved with asphalt, and others are natural paths. This variety makes the PHT unique compared to other long trails.

Exploring Completed and Planned Sections

The Potomac Heritage Trail is made up of many different sections. Some are already finished, and others are still being developed. Here are some of the key parts of this large trail network:

• The 70-mile (110 km) Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail in Laurel Ridge State Park, Pennsylvania.
• The 150-mile (240 km) Great Allegheny Passage. This trail connects Cumberland, Maryland, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It's a system of seven trails.
• The 184.5-mile (296.9 km) Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath. This path is part of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. It goes through several counties in Maryland and into Washington, D.C..
• A 15-mile (24 km) park system in Loudoun County, Virginia.
• 7.7 miles (12.4 km) of trails in Riverbend Park, Great Falls Park, and Scott's Run Nature Preserve in northern Fairfax County, Virginia.
• Two routes in the District of Columbia. These include the 23-mile (37 km) Fort Circle Parks Trail and a multi-use route along the Anacostia River.
• The paved 18.5-mile (29.8 km) Mount Vernon Trail. This trail is in Arlington County, Alexandria, and Fairfax County, Virginia. It follows the Potomac River between Mount Vernon and Rosslyn.
• An unpaved 9.6-mile (15.4 km) Potomac Heritage Trail section in Arlington County and Fairfax County, Virginia. It runs along the Potomac River between Rosslyn and the American Legion Memorial Bridge.
• A 27-mile (43 km) Potomac Heritage Trail On-Road Bicycling Route in Prince George's County, Maryland.
• A 1-mile (1.6 km) trail along the north shore of Piscataway Creek in Piscataway Park in Prince George's County, Maryland.
• A 2-mile (3.2 km) route within the Nanjemoy Natural Resource Management Area, in Charles County, Maryland.
• The Southern Maryland Potomac Heritage Trail Bicycling Route in Charles and St. Mary's counties in Maryland.
• Two 4.5-mile (7.2 km) routes in Prince William Forest Park. Also, a partially finished 8-mile (13 km) route between Leesylvania State Park and Belmont Bay, in Prince William County, Virginia.
• The 23-mile (37 km) Alexandria Heritage Trail in Alexandria, Virginia.
• The Government Island Trail, the planned 5-mile (8.0 km) Historic Falmouth-Ferry Farm Trail, and the Aquia Creek Water Trail, all in Stafford County, Virginia.
• The Northern Neck Heritage Trail Bicycling Route Network in Westmoreland, Northumberland, Lancaster, and Richmond counties, all in Virginia.

Potomac Heritage Trail Association

The Potomac Heritage Trail Association (PHTA) is a group of people who care about the trail. They work to help build, protect, and share information about the PHT. This group works with local, state, and federal government officials. They also partner with park authorities to create new sections of the trail.

The PHTA often teams up with other trail groups. They organize work trips to build and maintain the natural parts of the trail. Some of their partners include the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, the Sierra Club, REI, Inc., and the Appalachian Mountain Club.

The PHTA shares updates on the trail's progress and challenges. You can find more information on their website and Facebook page.