Beach Drive Tutorial

Beach drive has closures in DC (Rock Creek Park) from 7am Saturday through 7pm Sunday and holidays. Mostly from the DC-MD border to Broad Branch (I think) with a couple of breaks in there – some longer than others, but only to allow either cross traffic or access to picnic areas. It is fairly car free. North of Rock Creek Park, it is still frequented by cyclists. The Rock Creek Park Trail runs along side parts of it. At times when the trail has been in bad shape (flooded, muddy, full of pedestrians), I have taken sections of the road (I prefer trail to road riding).

A common loop I like to take is Rock Creek Park (RCP) – Capital Crescent Trail (CCT). When I lived in downtown Silver Spring this was great and I made it something like a 25mi loop by adding in some MVT between Memorial and Key Bridges. Now that I am in VA, and cycling more, I make it part of a 36-40mi (or longer) loop as I add in more bits (Hains Point, loop(s), continuing to Fals Church, etc.). There are a few options, depending on the kind of riding you are looking for – road or trail, paved or not. Two general ways I do it – Chain Bridge to the canal (south) and at Fletchers Cove getting on the CCT heading north. That runs into the RCP trail (either take a left at Jones Mill and then a right and a right at the end of the road onto the trail access, or cross Jones Mill and go over a great old railroad bridge and follow some signs (it has been a while since I did that). Or, I suppose, you can take a right on Jones Mill and that becomes Beach Drive). The RCP is on Beach drive for the closed bits and on trails otherwise – but you can remain on the roads if you prefer. You end up in Georgetown by the boathouse/Kennedy Center area. Then pick a bridge to return to VA and, for the closer to 40mile ride, head south on MVT and continue on an Arlington Loop, or for a shorter ride, head back up the Custis or whatever route takes you home again. Most bike maps show these trails.

Note that the stretch of CCT from Bethesda to RCP (also called the Georgetown Branch Trail) is unpaved, but I find it to be in generally better condition than the canal. Only muddy area is when it goes under East-West highway, otherwise I rarely see mud and puddles unless it is actually raining.

The CCT-Beach Drive loop is great, but keep in mind that the CCT between the Dalecarlia Tunnel and downtown Bethesda will be pretty crowded on weekends, pretty much all day long.

@dasgeh 141204 wrote:

You know, (north) North Arlington, while VERY HILLY, has some really lovely, quiet streets (e.g. the northern part of George Mason). If you’re looking for a nice ride, with shade, low traffic streets, I think there could be a nice loop in North Arlington. Has anyone plotted one?

I do N. Arlington loops all the time, but have never plotted one. George Mason > Yorktown/Little Falls > Powhattan > Neighborhood roads > Westmoreland > Neighborhood roads > Great Falls > Neighborhood roads > Chesterbrook > Birch > Williamsburg > Glebe > Military > 31st (steep!) > Yorktown is a common one, although I always vary it some and doubt I’ve ever done the same route twice. If I ever get a smartphone…

The benefits are that I don’t have to drive anywhere to ride, and I don’t get the crowds on the CCT or MVT. I still do the Rock Creek loop or Mount Vernon and back, but only on very hot days when the crowds are lower.

Just remembered I had an old MapMyRide account, so put this approximate route on there: http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/1107803776

So it all depends on your comfort level and strength as a rider. Take the Custis/Mt Vernon trails to one of the Bridges–Key, Roosevelt, Memorial, or 14th. Cross over and pick up trail on other side. Get on K street under the Whitehurst Freeway. Go to end and pick up CC trail–its the paved one. the gravel one is the canal path and that takes you to Cumberland MD which is a bit out of your way. Note there are lots of crowds and an enforced speed limit on the CCT, better to go uphill rather than down. Take trail through Bethesda and pick up dirt version on other side of Wisconsin Ave. At the intersection of Beach Drive–if you cross the trestle you’v e gone too far–you have a four choices.
1) go left on beach drive/jones mill road and follow it out to Viers Mill and come back
2) go right on beach drive and take it into town through the blocked off segments –closed 7 am saturday to 7 pm sunday and holidays. Once you hit Broad Branch Rd/Pierce Mill another choice a) if you are a strong aggressive rider stay on beach drive/rock creek parkway back to Georgetown. b) if you are conservative slow rider get on the crappy trail that they will NEVER fix and dodge walkers, runners, etc all the way to Georgetown–avoid going through tunnel at zoo take bypass trail to the right.
3) go left on crappy trail just beyond Beach Drive to Viers Mill and back.
4) go right on crappy trail to where road is block off pick up beach drive to pierce mill and pick up crappy trail to Georgetown.

Note Beach Drive North of Pierce Mill is either blocked from car use or drivers are so used to the plethora of weekend cyclists on the road that it is pretty safe. Only use the trail if you are a very slow/cautious bicyclist. South of Pierce Mill Drivers are less used to and forgiving of cyclists on the road so unless you are a confident cyclist you should stick to the crappy, busy trail segment. this is a short part of your overall trip so it is a tolerable distraction.

@dasgeh 141204 wrote:

You know, (north) North Arlington, while VERY HILLY, has some really lovely, quiet streets (e.g. the northern part of George Mason). If you’re looking for a nice ride, with shade, low traffic streets, I think there could be a nice loop in North Arlington. Has anyone plotted one?

They have. It’s a fun and chipper little ride that you can find on Ridewithgps.com by searching on the term KILLBILL. Don’t let the name fool you. It is cuddly.

@hozn 141236 wrote:

Aren’t cyclists actually not allowed on Rock Creek Parkway?

The NPS website says that all the roads in Rock Creek Park are open to bicycles.