The 16-mile Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail follows the route of the old Dahlgren Branch line, stretching across Virginia’s King George County just south of the Potomac River. The trail is open for walking, running, cycling and other recreational non-motorized uses while preserving 240 acres of wildlife and natural beauty. The Dahlgren Trail has been designated a National Recreation Trail and a part of the developing Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail network, which stretches from the mouth of the Potomac River at the Chesapeake Bay to the Allegheny highlands of Pennsylvania.
The trail’s natural surface varies from leveled sections with stone dust to uneven dirt sections with roots. Consult the trail map for more details on trail conditions and parking/access information.
The trail opened in 2006 as a privately owned recreational facility accessible by permit. Approximately 2,700 users and their families have received free trail use permits to date, although permits are no longer required. In 2018 the trail's owner, David Brickley, and Friends of the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail, a nonprofit organization dedicated to maintaining and advocating for the trail, signed an agreement that makes the trail part of King George County’s park system while still owned by Brickley and maintained by the Friends of DRHT. The agreement moved the trail a few steps closer to the goal of becoming part of Caledon State Park, which abuts the trail.
