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Tidewater Potomac Heritage Route |
HISTORY AND NATURAL WONDERS
This loop route lies within a portion of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail corridor. The route begins in Washington, D.C., and
traverses both sides of the Potomac River in Maryland and Virginia until it reaches the Chesapeake Bay. To complete the loop, cruise ships
cross the Bay to Smith Island, where connections can be made to reach Point Lookout in Maryland or Smith Point in Virginia.
The lower Potomac River region has considerably warm weather and humidity during the summer months, which is when this route needs to be
ridden to complete the loop. Only privately owned cruise ship companies cross the Chesapeake Bay, so working within their schedule is a
must. Occasionally delays can occur due to inclement weather, so be prepared.
Character of the Route's Regions
This loop route begins and ends at Union Station in Washington, D.C. A spur route within the city is also shown to connecting to the
eastern terminus of the C & O Canal Towpath for those cyclists who may want to continue up the Potomac River. The route crosses the Potomac
and heads into Virginia along the Mt. Vernon Trail. You'll have to pedal approximately forty miles before leaving the suburbs behind and
getting into the rural countryside. The route skirts the Quantico Marine Corps Reservation on its way to Fredericksburg. This town has its
share of museums and historic sites, so plan to spend a day sightseeing.
Leaving Fredericksburg, you'll head eastward into the peninsula known as the Northern Neck. Traffic decreases the farther east you go, and
it's pleasant riding on smaller back roads. Stratford Hall Plantation, the birthplace of Robert E. Lee, is located on the Potomac River,
and there are several museums to visit in the small towns along the route. If you want to explore further, there's a 25-mile spur to the
Rappahannock River bridge.
The two cruise ships on Chesapeake Bay are an important link for this route. One ship takes you to Ewell on Smith Island, and the other
takes you to the continuation of the route in Maryland. Both of these cruise ships make one trip a day between Smith Island and their
respective states, so plan carefully when approaching this area. Ewell does not have overnight accommodations. If you do miss the ship,
there are multiple opportunities to catch a boat to Crisfield, Maryland, which has full services.
You need to make one-way reservations for the two different cruise ships to get between Virginia and Maryland. The cruise ship from Smith
Point, Virginia, to Smith Island operates from May 15 through October 15 (though if business is slow they will be closed early and/or late
in the season). The other cruise ship from Smith Island--to Point Lookout State Park, Maryland--sails from June through August, and on
weekends in September. It operates five days a week on Wednesday through Sunday. One-way reservations are required for you and your
bicycle, which is considered freight.
The route in Maryland meanders along smaller roads through fields and woods. There are many points of interest, museums, and state parks to
visit along the way, so plan your days accordingly. Nearby towns offer full services. Automobile traffic increases the closer you get to
the Washington area. You will need city-riding skills as you share the road with traffic entering the District of Columbia.
Terrain
The District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland have flat to rolling topography. A few short hills will be encountered. Rivers and bays
create fingers of land called "necks," and the route dips down into the necks, allowing easy access to points along the Potomac River.
Services
SERVICES
All services and bike shops can be found in Washington and in the cities and suburbs nearby. Fredericksburg also has bike shops. When you
leave the suburbs and ride into more rural areas, services will be less plentiful, though small towns with the basic convenience stores
appear frequently.
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