POTOMAC HERITAGE TRAILFEST
Saturday, June 28, 2008, 9 am – 4 pm
Host: Fairfax County Park Authority
Sponsors: REI and the Potomac Heritage Trail Association
In celebration of the
Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, the Potomac Heritage Trailfest will
take place at Fairfax County’s Riverbend Park between 9AM and 4PM on
Saturday, June 28, 2008. The trailfest includes an outdoor expo, along with
hiking, biking, horseback riding (on your own horse), and paddling with some
of the most noted outdoor organizations in the Washington D.C.
Trailfest Expo- Location: Riverbend Park is
situated along the shoreline of the Potomac River in Great Falls, Va. see
below for directions to the visitor center and the nature center (and also
to the Great Falls visitor center).
Trailfest Hiking Events
Hike #1: Meet at
9AM at the Riverbend Park nature center for a 6 mile hike on the Potomac
Heritage National Scenic Trail from Riverbend to Great Falls and back.
Leader: Paul Elliott 703/256-6351.
Hike #2: Meet at
2PM at the ramp below the Great Falls Park visitor center for a 6 mile hike
on the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail that includes Great Falls,
Mather Gorge, and a stop at the Expo at Riverbend Park—and then back to
Great Falls. Leader: Glenn Gillis 703/430-0568.
Both hikes are joint
outings of the Sierra Club’s Sierra Potomac Outings entity (formerly MWROP)
and the Appalachian Mountain Club’s D.C. chapter.
For further information
check the websites
www.sierrapotomac.org and
www.amc-dc.org
Directions:
To reach Riverbend Park from the direction of the Capital Beltway (I-495),
take Georgetown Pike (VA 193) west to Riverbend Road. Turn right on
Riverbend Road (first right after stoplight at the entrance to Great Falls
Park). Proceed 2.1 miles and bear right on Jeffery Road . Travel 1.4 miles
to the Riverbend Park entrance, and turn right on Potomac Hills Road.
Proceed downhill to the parking lots near the park visitor center.
Additional parking is available at the Riverbend nature center, which is
reached by remaining on Jeffery Road (go past the main park entrance) until
the road dead ends at the nature center parking lot. To reach Riverbend Park
from the west, take Georgetown Pike (Route 193) and make a left on Riverbend
Road. Follow the same directions as above.
Telephone:
The telephone number for Riverbend Park is 703/759-9018.
Refreshments:
Although Riverbend Park does have limited drinks and snacks, it’s
recommended that visitors bring their own food and beverage. Picnic tables
are available near the visitor center. A large snack bar is available at
nearby Great Falls Park.
Sponsors
Potomac Heritage
Trail Association: The Potomac
Heritage Trail Association is one of the leaders in building and promoting
the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. The PHTA will have an
information booth about the trail at the Expo near the Riverbend Park
visitor center.
Recreational
Equipment Inc (REI): One of the
nation’s largest outdoor retailers with an excellent community outreach
program will be holding a low impact camping and hiking demonstration
table—and also have a Leave No Trace obstacle course—at the Expo near the
Riverbend Park visitor center. REI will also sponsor a service project
within Riverbend Park. Check
www.REI.com/stores/84 for detailed information.
Information on Other Trailfest Organizations
Appalachian Mountain
Club: The nation’s oldest hiking
organization will be running a hike from Riverbend Park to Great Falls Park
and back with the Sierra Club. Leader: Paul Elliott 703/256-6351. Meet at
9AM at the Riverbend nature center parking lot. Check the AMC website at
www.amc-dc.org for further information.
Great Falls Horse
Network: An online community for
horse owners and riders in the Great Falls Va area. Our goal is to keep
Great Falls horse-friendly by promoting trails and public equestrian
facilities at Turner Farm. Group website at
www.greatfallshorsenetwork.com
Great Falls
Trailblazers: Great Falls
Trailblazers is a hiking and equestrian group promoting multi-purpose trails
throughout the Great Falls community. Check the group website at
www.geocities.com/greatfallstrails
Mid -Atlantic Off-
Road Riding Enthusiasts (MORE):
The mid-Atlantic region’s largest mountain bike club will be offering a
beginners mountain bike ride in the two parks. Check http://www.more-mtb.org
for additional information.
Piedmont
Environmental Council: The
Piedmont Environmental Council is a major conservation organization that
protects the Virginia Piedmont. The PEC will have an information booth at
the Expo near the Riverbend Park visitor center. Check
www.pecva.org for more information.
Potomac Appalachian
Trail Club: The PATC has been the
leader in trail work and other programs for the Washington D.C. area for the
last 75 years. The PATC will have a booth at the Expo near the Riverbend
Park visitor center. Check the PATC website at
www.potomacappalachian.org for more information.
Potomac Conservancy:
The Potomac Conservancy is
dedicated to the environmental protection of the Potomac River watershed.
The Potomac Conservancy will have an environmental expo at the Expo near the
Riverbend Park visitor center. Check
www.potomac.org for additional information.
Potomac Pedalers
Touring Club: The nation’s second
largest cycling club will be having a club ride that will stop at the
Potomac Heritage Trailfest. Check the PPTC ride schedule for June 28 at
www.bikepptc.org for details.
Riverbend Park:
Riverbend Park is Fairfax County Park Authority’s only riverfront park.
Spanning 400 acres and boasting spectacular river views, wildflowers, birds
as well as many multi-use trails. Website at
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/riverbend
Sierra Club Potomac
Region Outings (formerly MWROP):
Sierra Club PRO will have an information table at the Expo site near the
Riverbend Park visitor center, as well as conducting two hikes in Great
Falls and Riverbend Parks with the Appalachian Mountain Club’s DC Chapter.
For further information check the Sierra Club website at
www.sierrapotomac.org.
Great Falls National
Park: Although Great Falls Park is
not officially part of the Potomac Heritage Trailfest, the National Park
Service will be holding its own interpretive program throughout the day in
celebrating the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. Check at the Great
Falls Park visitor center for details. The public can also park there
($5/vehicle entrance fee or NPS pass required), and then hike to Riverbend
Park to enjoy the Trailfest at Riverbend Park.
