See update below…
There's a trail plan underway that would enable bicyclists to visit dozens of Colonial and Civil War-era historic sites from a single off-road trail.
Advocates and history buffs are working to link 11 bicycle trails in the mid-Atlantic states to create a 185-mile circular historical bike route.
Called the Grand History Trail, the project would fill in the gaps between trails in Maryland, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia.
Along the way, it would connect the historic cities of Annapolis, Baltimore, Frederick, Gettysburg, Washington and York and points in between, such as Colonial-era settlements and Civil War battlefields.
Missing links
The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is organizing the efforts to fill those missing links in the route. It envisions a trail with as much tourism draw as the Great Allegheny Passage and Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath bicycle route between Washington DC and Pittsburgh.
Writes RTC's trail development manager, Kelly Pack:
“The Grand History Trail has enormous potential to connect densely populated, metropolitan areas to numerous existing heritage sites of national significance, such as the Gettysburg National Military Park, Chesapeake & Ohio National Historical Park, and Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail.
“The Grand History Trail will offer non-motorized travelers a unique way to visit this heart of America’s history, combining physical activity with learning and exploration.”
Map key
The map describes the types of trails that currently comprise the loop:
Dark green: Completed off-road trail
Light green: Planned off-road trail
Pink: Temporary (on- or off-road until interim trails are complete)
Red: On-streets routes, or gaps where there's no off-road trail
The completed and proposed trails comprising the loop are:
Heritage Rail-Trail County Park (PA)
Torrey C. Brown Rail-Trail (MD)
BWI Trail (MD)
Baltimore and Annapolis Trail (MD)
Washington, Baltimore & Annapolis Trail (MD)
Capital Crescent Trail (MD, DC)
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park (DC, MD)
Metropolitan Branch Trail (DC)
H&F Trolley Trail (MD)
Hanover to Gettysburg Trail (MD, PA)
Hanover Trolley Trail (PA)
Along the way, it would extend bicycling opportunities by connecting with the longer East Coast Greenway, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Towpath, and the Great Allegheny Passage trails.
Update: Jan. 12, 2009 — I contacted Kelly Pack, RTC's trail development manager, to see if there was a timeline to finish the project. Apparently there is no timeline. It sounds like what's needed is a group to take this beyond the planning phase:
“I'm with you, I think the Grand History Trail is a great idea! The genesis of this project started when some trail advocates with the York Heritage Trail saw the potential for a connected network of trails along what is now being identified as the Grand History Trail route. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources was also interested in determining a set route for the trail and contracted our office and the National Park Service's Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program to explore the potential.
We've worked with dozens of state and local agencies and local trail advocates to determine a preferred route. At the end of the process (sometime early summer), we'll complete a report that will include an inventory of historic sites along the routes, recommendations for implementation (based on input from our partners), and a set of GIS data for city, county, and state agencies to use in their planning efforts.
“What's missing is a group to continue the work beyond this planning phase of the project. Most of the gaps within the system are on local bike/ped or comprehensive master plans, but are only designated as potential on- or off-road bike facilities. Ideally, an existing trail group or a state agency would take this project on as a priority. During these last few months of work, we hope to equip all the partners with the resources needed to advocate for this trail system and include it in planning documents. Who knows, maybe a local cycling group would want to shepherd this through to completion. In the mean time, we're trying to let people know about the potential for an amazing regional trail system that is not only unique because of all the historically significant places it connects, but also for its ability to connected other existing and planned trail networks like the Great Allegheny Passage and the East Coast Greenway.
“So, to answer your question, there is no set timeline for this project. We hope that our work will provide trail advocates and planning departments (sometimes one and the same!) the tools needed to encourage commitment from local leaders to place priority on the Grand History Trail.”
Thanks to Kelly for getting back about the future of the trail. It gives me some appreciation of the work that has to go into these projects.
More about Grand History Trail at Baltimore Spokes and Rails to Trails Conservancy. Also, see the Grand History Trail interactive Google map.
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