The chain bridge to CCT

[birddog]

I finally made it across this morning: http://app.strava.com/activities/87731728

BUT I made a super-dangerous move turning left onto canal rd at the end of the yellow light coming off the bridge INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I think in the future, I’ll just go straight into the embankment if there are no cars coming from the right (I don’t think there will be since it’s one-way right?). THEN I’ll walk over to the worn path.

The path isn’t bad, it’s just getting to it walking on the east side of the road over uncut grass, rocks, limbs, etc. I only had to put one or two steps onto the road before I got to the path, put on my cleat covers, and walked up. The path itself is walkable while carrying my bike, but there is one section where the recent rain has washed it into a slope – just step on the rocks haha.

Before I tried this, I found this video that was a HUGE help: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrfDqoILHjw

And I looked at the street view: http://goo.gl/maps/A8S8a

This wasn’t well documented before – I just wanted to put this on here so if someone else wanted to try it they could.

PS: It’s much safer to take the tow path if you can. It meets up with the CCT about a mile south of there. On the weekends I bet you could just take Canal Rd all the way to gtown, but I wouldn’t do that on a weekday!

Topic

[OutsideTheLaw]

As an Arlington commuter, I only do this when I’m going to Bethesda and want to avoid the “south on canal and back again” concept. If I’m heading to the city, I just take the canal down to Fletcher’s and get the CCT there.

[DismalScientist]

There is also a rough trail connection between the towpath and CCT at the CCT bridge over the canal. You can take this if you want to avoid the gravel on the towpath between that bridge and Fletcher’s.

[KLizotte]

@DismalScientist 66186 wrote:

There is also a rough trail connection between the towpath and CCT at the CCT bridge over the canal. You can take this if you want to avoid the gravel on the towpath between that bridge and Fletcher’s.

I do this though you need to be wearing mtb shoes or something with a tread since the trail is short but steep.

[Author]

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