routes from Annandale to Alexandria

[lordofthemark]

I live in Annandale close to Hummer and Little River Turnpike. Consider me a newbie. Still improving my riding skills, condition, etc. Not comfortable riding in on streets with traffic over 35MPH (and not real comfortable on streets between 25 and 35 MPH).

I have found ways north (Hummer or Lafayette to side streets to park to Fairview office park to 29 (sidepath) to Dunn Loring area and south (Accotink trail) I’m aware of some pretty good ways north east to Falls church and beyond to N arlington. There are ways west (even if means walking the bike over the beltway at Gallows to get to Accotink trail west)

East, seems more of a problem. Ive gone to Lake Barcroft via Annandale Rd to Hockett to the trail in the Holmes Run Valley Park, and then across Sleepy Hollow. Thats long and hilly (esp at L Barcroft) and leaves me too far north. I’ve done the same and gone down Sleepy Hollow to Columbia Pike to Lincolnia to side streets to Dora Kelly. Thats also long, I have issues with the hill up Sleepy Hollow, and Columbia Pike right there presents few good options. I tried to go back a different way, without a map or GPS and ended up on Beauregard to Lincolnia to Braddock to Woodbridge to old Columbia to Whispering Lane to Columbia Pike and back down Col Pike to central annandale. That was not only quite unpleasant, but left me cursing myself when I got home and looked at a map. Anyway, LRT appears undoable, and the back streets seem to give no good alternatives.

Best I can come up with is the way I went to Dora Kelly but using back streets to avoid most of the way on Sleepy Hollow – OR going down the accotink trail to Franconia Springfield parkway and using the MUP along the parkway to go east (which then means going north again)

Or putting my bike on the 29k bus.

Do any of you more experienced folks have ideas that I havent found in my two rides, and my exploration of google maps?

Topic

[ShawnoftheDread]

I live out that way too, but on the other side of the Beltway. I would just ride the service roads on LRT to Lincolnia, then over to Beauregard. You can then pick up the Holmes Run trail and take that to either Taney Ave or all the way down to Eisenhower.

[lordofthemark]

I’m pretty sure there are sections of LRT east of the library where there are no service lanes on either side, and even no sidewalks on either side. That’s the problem.

I am thinking maybe use Alpine from Evergreen to get past the first of those sections? Not sure how bad it is further east, but maybe use Pinecrest Vista to detour around part of LRT if necessary? Not sure if that will be much of an improvement over the alt routes in my OP.

[ShawnoftheDread]

I think if you cross LRT at Evergreen/Hillbrook, there’s either a sidewalk or a service road on the westbound side of LRT until Columbia Rd/Old Columbia Pike. There’s also a wide shoulder on that stretch on the eastbound side of LRT. None of it’s ideal, but it seems ridable.

[JimF22003]

Sounds like we live within a few blocks of one another. I’m not exactly sure where you’re trying to go (too lazy to google map it I guess). The roads I’ve been on that you mentioned were not very pleasant.

When I’m taking the long way home from Tysons I’ll take this route:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/167683622

Not a direct link, but I like riding through the Lake Barcroft area. Only slightly hairy area is crossing Rt 7.

[lordofthemark]

@JimF22003 23207 wrote:

Sounds like we live within a few blocks of one another. I’m not exactly sure where you’re trying to go (too lazy to google map it I guess).

Shirlington. 4MR trail towards MVT. Beverly Hills section of Alexandria. Old Town Alexandria. Holmes Run trail in Alexandria, Cameron Station, Ben Brenman Park.

Or even to Landmark, or the business on LRT east of the library.

Re Lake Barcroft – the time I did that was one of my first rides since getting back into biking, and I was hardly shifting correctly. I still need to improve, but maybe I would find the hills there easier now.

Note also, the only bike I own now is a mountain bike, which on the one hand makes the upgrades harder, but on the other makes the sometimes rough surfaces on the park trails more doable.

[Cangrande]

Here’s another option, which you may have considered, but which will become much easier later this Summer —

Starting from where you come out of the Holmes Run Valley Park onto Sleepy Hollow, cross Sleepy Hollow to Dearborn, proceed .4 mile to the Lakeview Causeway, and take the causeway (walking across the wood section) across the end of Lake Barcroft. From there, Lakeview Drive is not a bad ride to Columbia Pike. Cross the Pike at the light and proceed east down the service road and trail to the left side of Holmes Run, where you join the trail. With a mountain bike, the 5 fair weather crossings won’t be difficult (assuming that it hasn’t rained heavily). This will take you to the Chambliss bridge, which doesn’t exist yet but is scheduled, according to the Alexandria Transportation Planning division, to be built this summer. The route up N. Chambliss and the bike trail through the park is pleasant and the best-graded route up to Seminary. From Seminary, go through NOVA on Dawes and Campus Lane to Beauregard, then along Beuregard and S. Walter Reed (or the adjacent path) down to 4MR.

Currently, this route isn’t fun, in light of the unpleasant and hilly detour at Chambliss (see the Alexandria bike map). When the bridge is finished, however, I expect to incorporate Holmes Run in my loop rides much more often.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@Cangrande 23232 wrote:

Here’s another option, which you may have considered, but which will become much easier later this Summer —

Starting from where you come out of the Holmes Run Valley Park onto Sleepy Hollow, cross Sleepy Hollow to Dearborn, proceed .4 mile to the Lakeview Causeway, and take the causeway (walking across the wood section) across the end of Lake Barcroft. From there, Lakeview Drive is not a bad ride to Columbia Pike. Cross the Pike at the light and proceed east down the service road and trail to the left side of Holmes Run, where you join the trail. With a mountain bike, the 5 fair weather crossings won’t be difficult (assuming that it hasn’t rained heavily). This will take you to the Chambliss bridge, which doesn’t exist yet but is scheduled, according to the Alexandria Transportation Planning division, to be built this summer. The route up N. Chambliss and the bike trail through the park is pleasant and the best-graded route up to Seminary. From Seminary, go through NOVA on Dawes and Campus Lane to Beauregard, then along Beuregard and S. Walter Reed (or the adjacent path) down to 4MR.

Currently, this route isn’t fun, in light of the unpleasant and hilly detour at Chambliss (see the Alexandria bike map). When the bridge is finished, however, I expect to incorporate Holmes Run in my loop rides much more often.

This looks good, provided you want to head north leaving LRT/Hummer area before going east. Also, I think the Lakeview Causeway is where Dirt recently indicated local residents tried to persuade him he couldn’t ride (though they were wrong on this). Looks like a nice ride, though.

[lordofthemark]

thanks to all for your suggestions. I would like to try Lake B again, and may just try that causeway thing even before the Chambliss bridge is done. Once the bridge is done could be a nice ride.

and yes, I will give LRT east of the library a try.

[lordofthemark]

@ShawnoftheDread 23193 wrote:

I think if you cross LRT at Evergreen/Hillbrook, there’s either a sidewalk or a service road on the westbound side of LRT until Columbia Rd/Old Columbia Pike. There’s also a wide shoulder on that stretch on the eastbound side of LRT. None of it’s ideal, but it seems ridable.

Tried it today. Yes there is a sidewalk on the north side (though I don’t particularly care to ride opposite of traffic on a sidewalk) and that leads to a side road in an adjacent development, which then – ends. The only option at that point is to cross to the south side of LRT – where there is a shoulder, that leads again to subdivision roads parallel to the pike, and then to service lanes/sidewalks/parking lots. West bound (I went back instead of say a loop onto Braddock, as I had left my bike lock at the library) you have to go against traffic on the shoulder. I walked the bike rather than riding, as salmoning on the bike on LRT felt too dangerous.

All in all, unsatisfactory (and its SUCH a short stretch on either side that are problems). I think using Alpine as a bypass might be better. Though slightly longer.

[KLizotte]

Welcome to the forum and kudos to you for trying to find a satisfactory route. Unfortunately I don’t know that area at all so cannot provide any info. This thread does make me mad though since it highlights how difficult it is for cyclists outside of a few key corridors in the DC area to bike safely. 😡

I highly recommend taking one of WABA’s confident cycling classes. They will take you out on different kinds of roads to show you how to bike correctly for the given situation as well as some defensive moves.

Good luck.

[Arlingtonrider]

It’s sad that there aren’t better alternatives for you. That’s why we all should continue to support FABB
(Fairfax Advocates for Better Biking), regardless of where we live. I live in Shirlington, but would love to be able to visit friends in Annandale more easily. Or Fairfax County businesses, for that matter. I hope you can find a route that’s do-able for you.

[ShawnoftheDread]

Braddock is mostly awful. You have to find various neighborhood streets to bypass it, so I wouldn’t bother. I also rode Edsel to Van Dorn last weekend and don’t recommend it. I’ll check out Alpine when I have the chance.

[off2ride]

Here’s a ride that I did a lot last year. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/149410378

[bikeon]

Has there been any updates from folks on routes from Annandale to Old Town Alexandria? I live right off of the Cross County Trail and work off of Duke Street near King Street Metro. I would prefer to bike to work. I cannot seem to be able to find a safe and relatively direct route. I am an experienced rider and even sections of LRT makes me nervous. I was thinking of trying to take the CCT to Holmes Run to Eisenhower. Is this possible? Thanks!

[ShawnoftheDread]

@bikeon 32195 wrote:

Has there been any updates from folks on routes from Annandale to Old Town Alexandria? I live right off of the Cross County Trail and work off of Duke Street near King Street Metro. I would prefer to bike to work. I cannot seem to be able to find a safe and relatively direct route. I am an experienced rider and even sections of LRT makes me nervous. I was thinking of trying to take the CCT to Holmes Run to Eisenhower. Is this possible? Thanks!

The CCT doesn’t connect to Holmes Run. You could take Annandale Rd to Holmes Run to Eisenhower. Or you could take a combination of LRT and Alpine Dr to Chambliss to pick up Holmes Run.

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