Jan 2025 – road/trail conditions – what trails get salted?
Our Community › Forums › Road and Trail Conditions › Jan 2025 – road/trail conditions – what trails get salted?
- This topic has 26 replies, 15 voices, and was last updated 2 weeks, 3 days ago by
Rootchopper.
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January 23, 2025 at 10:32 am #1136345
ShawnoftheDread
ParticipantThe Custis is clear with the exception of some clear ice on the east end of the Spout Run bridge. Better riders will probably just ride right over it; I flintstoned it for about 10 feet.
The downstream path of the Key Bridge is also clear, with a narrow clear path on the brick sidewalk at the Georgetown end.
January 26, 2025 at 7:58 am #1136439Char Miller
ParticipantHow does the W&OD look west of Falls Church?
January 29, 2025 at 10:41 am #1136568DrP
ParticipantAs of about 8 am this morning, the Washington Blvd trail from Rt 50 to Towers Park was nearly completely clear (a few short places with narrowed trail). The trails through Lyon Park looked like they might not be bad, although there is still a big snow block at the north end (so I took N Fillmore). I will take it home and if bad, I will send an update.
Any word on Mount Vernon Trail? I would think that much has melted from Roosevelt Island to the airport.
January 29, 2025 at 11:53 am #1136571Rob Lowe
ParticipantCap Cresent Trail – Only really bad spot as of morning of 29-Jan-2025 is the area behind the Water Treatment plant where snowmelt runoff had re-frozen overnight leaving 6-8 icy patches. Probably melt fully during the day but if temps get low could re-freeze again.
C&O Canal looks like a scene from Frozen 3 in many areas right now that I saw.
January 29, 2025 at 9:00 pm #1136583DrP
ParticipantThis evening I rode the Washington Bvld trail from Towers Part to rt50 and it was essentially clear (still a few narrowly clear areas, but better than this morning). I then tried the trails through Lyon Park. From the Rt50 end they started out good, but then there were large areas of frozen foot stomped packed snow in each of the three sections (hard to get up the hill from the first one it was so slick). In some cases there was snow free ground to the side, but it was very muddy and walking the bike through was the best course.
Any word on the Mount Vernon Trail?
January 29, 2025 at 10:59 pm #1136595Rootchopper
ParticipantToday I rode the MVT from Slaters Lane to DC. All clear but for a couple of small snowy patches. Still very icy on the river route near Slaters and the power plant. All clear from the power plant to Jones Point Park. About 150 yards of bumpy nasty ice in the shadow of the Wilson Bridge in Jones Point Park. Take Royal Street. From the beltway to Tulane is ridable. There are a couple of spots you might prefer to walk but these are very short. From Tulane to Northdown Road is a mess. Even without snow, this area can have black ice so take care. (I use the streets from Tulane to Alexandria Ave during winter.)
Also, crews are clearing tree debris from Belle Haven Park to Northdown Road.
I didn’t ride the part of south of the stone bridge at Alexandria Avenue but it looks impassible for long stretches to Collingwood Road.
Also the path connecting the Pentagon area to the MVT near the 14th Street Bridge is clear.
January 30, 2025 at 8:24 am #1136601DrP
ParticipantThank you, Rootchopper! Made me decide to take the MVT this morning from Roosevelt Island to path to Pentagon. A few areas are narrowed by frozen stuff, but completely passable, and one short area that you could attempt to go over or just go around on the grass. So nice to have my usual commute back.
January 30, 2025 at 1:35 pm #1136612jrenaut
ParticipantFriends of the MVT posted today that the MVT is closed from 14th St Bridge to Daingerfield Island for the plane crash
January 30, 2025 at 3:24 pm #1136618lordofthemark
ParticipantI heard MVT was closed all the way to Dangerfield Island.
At least for the Arlington piece, I suggest using Eads instead (and the “lagoon” trail to get to the 14th street bridge – that part of the MVT is open, IIUC, and has also been clear of ice and snow for some time) I went that way this AM.
January 30, 2025 at 7:26 pm #1136625Rootchopper
ParticipantAn update on the MVT. The river route near Slaters and the power plant was all clear today. The ice in the shadow of the Wilson Bridge remains but you can get around it pretty easily. (Don’t ride it. It’s nasty.)
Some of the police tape on the MVT north of Dangerfield Island was lowered. The Park Police had a big presence at Daingerfield. I don’t know if the police or the public lowered it but there were photographers and media people peppered here and there along the trail looking out at the river.
When I got to the Crystal City connector the trail was closed northbound by police tape.
January 31, 2025 at 3:43 pm #1136655Steve O
ParticipantFrom WABA today
Heads up: as of yesterday, there are a number of river-adjacent trails that are closed as a result of the plane crash on Tuesday night:
- Mount Vernon Trail between the 14th Street Bridge and Daingerfield Island
- 14th Street Bridge & Hains Point
- Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge (both sides)
Our friends at East Coast Greenway report that the closures are expected to last at least a week.
Unrelated to the crash but important if you use the Anacostia River Trail: the bridge just south of Bladensburg Waterfront Park and the rowing school is being replaced, and will be closed for a week starting next Tuesday. Unfortunately there’s not a good detour around this. If you ride the ART for fun, it’s probably best to head in the other direction. If you rely on the trail for transportation, your best bet is to exit Bladensburg Waterfront Park and to catch the R12 Bus at Upshur Street and Kenilworth Ave and take that to the Deanwood Metro. From there you can take some neighborhood streets back to Deane Ave and pick up the trail again.
And, finally, DC Water’s Potomac River Tunnel Project has already resulted in some potholes and detours at the Georgetown terminus of the Capital Crescent Trail. Things will get a bit more disruptive in the coming weeks as they start to dig some very deep holes next to the Washington Canoe Club boathouse. The trail will remain open but there will be a couple of different detour configurations in the coming months.
January 31, 2025 at 6:56 pm #1136658Rootchopper
ParticipantThe crash-related trail closing near DCA was moved northward about 1/4 mile beyond the Crystal City connector this morning. You can now access the north sidewalk to the airport from the trail. I realize this is a temporary emergency situation but doesn’t the Park Service own any detour signs? Like they do for road closures. Seems like a small ask that will be re-usable for various more normal reasons.
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