Walking locations
Frances Lowe
The (Semi) Green (Semi) Circle
Winchester has a Green Circle or part of a green circle that is part green and is partially finished and partially proposed. That is what I have discovered along with my walking buddy, Trish, another Savvy Broad, and our canine companion Tootsie.The circle is intended for bikers, runners, walkers, etc. The literature states it is to connect major destinations for citizens and tourists and areas of historic, recreational, educational, and natural interest.
The seven- to eight-mile circle project began over a decade ago, and progress has been slow and somewhat steady. Recently, a stretch from U.S. 50 through Jubal Early Drive was opened where the new John Kerr Elementary School is located. The trail is wide and nicely landscaped and easy to access from either direction.
Walking east along Jubal Early Drive, there is a section to the right that runs through the Abrams Creek Wetlands Preserve off of Jubal Early Drive that definitely is a green area. This completed one-mile section offers rare Virginia plants and is part of the 25-acre preserve. You can walk this section for some lush greenery and come back to the main trail.
Then it progresses to Millwood Avenue, University Drive, Lowry Drive, Opequon Avenue, and then onto the section that runs along Shawnee Springs to Pall Mall Street. You have to use the map to make the circle that snakes around these streets.
Trying to navigate this curve of this part of the circle takes determination and a willingness to put up with the noise of the traffic, and you must forget this is supposed to be a GREEN circle.
But there is hope --- a green side to the circle is coming up at this section. The Shawnee Springs Preserve provides a walk through the woods and views of the old city water works site. It runs along the completed Town Run Linear Park Phase I that ends at Pall Mall Street.
When you come to Pall Mall Street instead of continuing on the proposed section, Town Run Linear Park Phase II, that has been under construction for more than a year, you must forgo the green landscape for another streetscape. The new section is locked up tight so no one can enter. I have walked it in past months before the lock was put on, and it appeared to be finished.
For some reason, it has not been opened but no answers have been given. Hopefully, it won’t be long before the locked fence is taken down and the public will be allowed to traverse the lovely, green section.
Walkers have to continue on Clifford, Cameron, Cork, Loudoun, Boscawen, and Amherst streets to finish the circle, meeting up with the trail along the busy thoroughfare heading west on Route 50.
It has been a challenge to walk the entire circle, but we did not give up. Anyone who wants to try it should go to winchestergreencircle.com to print out a map to follow the proposed as well as the finished trail.
Walkers have to continue on Clifford, Cameron, Cork, Loudoun, Boscawen, and Amherst streets to finish the circle, meeting up with the trail along the busy thoroughfare heading west on Route 50.
It has been a challenge to walk the entire circle, but we did not give up. Anyone who wants to try it should go to winchestergreencircle.com to print out a map to follow the proposed as well as the finished trail.
Our city would be an ideal setting for a walking trail that takes us all around the town. For health reasons, this would be very helpful for residents to take to the trail and put in a few miles daily or weekly, plus educate the public on what the city has to offer.
Maybe some day Winchester residents and visitors will have a true green circle that winds through lush landscapes and stays away from heavily trafficked areas of the community.
We have been reassured by members of city council that it will be a reality, but no timeline has been given. We can only hope and keep on walking!
New Addition as of November 14, 2914
Sky Meadows State Park on Va. 17 offers several hiking trails and one connects with the Appalachian Trail.
Rangers are on duty and maps are available. Parking fee is $5 a car. Restrooms and gift shop available.
Great views and nice benches along the way. Animals welcome on a leash.
Cool Spring
Cool Spring, owned by Shenandoah University, is a great walking and biking path. The former golf course in Clarke County has a paved walkway that was used for golf carts. After crossing the the Shenandoah River on Va. 7 turn left immediately after the bridge. Follow the road for about a mile and it comes to a parking lot and log visitor center on the left.
Signs give instructions for use of the area. The path that heads north along the river has some very steep climbs while the southern path is fairly level. Each path is about 2.6 miles.
Shenandoah National Park
Maybe some day Winchester residents and visitors will have a true green circle that winds through lush landscapes and stays away from heavily trafficked areas of the community.
We have been reassured by members of city council that it will be a reality, but no timeline has been given. We can only hope and keep on walking!
New Addition as of November 14, 2914
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| Pete on a Sky Meadows trail. |
Sky Meadows State Park on Va. 17 offers several hiking trails and one connects with the Appalachian Trail.
Rangers are on duty and maps are available. Parking fee is $5 a car. Restrooms and gift shop available.
Great views and nice benches along the way. Animals welcome on a leash.
Cool Spring
Cool Spring, owned by Shenandoah University, is a great walking and biking path. The former golf course in Clarke County has a paved walkway that was used for golf carts. After crossing the the Shenandoah River on Va. 7 turn left immediately after the bridge. Follow the road for about a mile and it comes to a parking lot and log visitor center on the left.
Signs give instructions for use of the area. The path that heads north along the river has some very steep climbs while the southern path is fairly level. Each path is about 2.6 miles.
Shenandoah National Park
The Shenandoah National Park has a treasure trove of walking and hiking trails. Various publications detail directions for each.
Visit goshenandoah.com
Sherando Park Bike/Walking Trail
Walking trail along Warrior Drive in Frederick County
The trail begins near the CVS on Warrior Drive and continues to Sherando Park soccer fields, on the north side of Fairfax Pike. It is about a mile and a half one way. It has paved walkway, a few inclines, and some shade. The most convenient parking seems to be at the soccer fields
Clearbrook Park
This Frederick County park has a level paved well-marked walking path with lots of shade. It takes four times around to equal a mile. It is the same area used for the annual Walking in a Winter Wonderland light show.
Cedar Creek Battlefield & Belle Grove Plantation
Cedar Creek Battlefield, U.S. 11 south of Middletown, has a walking tour. A permit is issued at the visitors center at 8437 Valley Pike. It is a little over a mile and covers part of the battlefield.
Belle Grove Plantation has a short walk around the historic property near the battlefield. The property will some day link up to the walking trail.
Clarke County Fitness Trail
Located in the Chet Hobert Park off Rt. 7 business, West Main Street in Berryville, this attractive Clarke County park features a two-mile fitness trail. The path is crushed gravel, part shade and part sun, and is level with no ups or downs.
Handley High School, Winchester
This is a great focal point for walkers. You can start out from the campus and head out for walks on either side or take advantage of the all-weather track -- 4 times around is a mile.
On the south side of Handley Avenue, head to Jubal Early where the Green Circle extension is a great trail. This is about three miles when you get back to the campus.
To make it a little longer, head down Bellview Avenue, turn left on one of the side streets and head back to Mosby Street. Then either take Valley Avenue to avoid the hills or go up Sheridan or Mosby for a little challenge. This will put you at four miles. Plus, there is a water fountain at the tennis courts beside the school campus.
Jim Barnett Park, Winchester
The fitness trail is a great walk. You can drive to the park or walk from any destination in town. I walk from the Handley campus and hit the park trail. Then on the return, I take the Green Circle Shawnee Trail area to come out on Pall Mall Street. This is about four miles but can be shortened with completing just the park course which is about two miles with a few ups and downs. You can also circle Wilkins Lake to add to the walk.
There's a water fountain in the War Memorial Building at the park.
Green Circle, Winchester
City Councilor Les Veach recently checked on the status of the circle at my request and had this to report:
Plans are progressing for a "permanent segment of the Green Circle Trail along the unbuilt stretch of Meadow Branch Avenue between the CVS at Amherst Street and where the trail will, for now, follow a sidewalk along the west side of existing Meadow Branch Avenue in the Meadow Branch North Subdivision.
A section of walkway crosses Amherst at Wood Avenue and continues in front of the Museum of The Shenandoah Valley into the entrance. A circle around the front of the museum will bring you back to Amherst. The walkway will be continues later when more of the Green Circle is complete.
Parking is available around the small park on Whittier Avenue. That is a good place to begin the walk.
Walking trail along Warrior Drive in Frederick County
The trail begins near the CVS on Warrior Drive and continues to Sherando Park soccer fields, on the north side of Fairfax Pike. It is about a mile and a half one way. It has paved walkway, a few inclines, and some shade. The most convenient parking seems to be at the soccer fields
Clearbrook Park
This Frederick County park has a level paved well-marked walking path with lots of shade. It takes four times around to equal a mile. It is the same area used for the annual Walking in a Winter Wonderland light show.
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| Fields behind Belle Grove Plantation |
Cedar Creek Battlefield, U.S. 11 south of Middletown, has a walking tour. A permit is issued at the visitors center at 8437 Valley Pike. It is a little over a mile and covers part of the battlefield.
Belle Grove Plantation has a short walk around the historic property near the battlefield. The property will some day link up to the walking trail.
Clarke County Fitness Trail
Located in the Chet Hobert Park off Rt. 7 business, West Main Street in Berryville, this attractive Clarke County park features a two-mile fitness trail. The path is crushed gravel, part shade and part sun, and is level with no ups or downs.
Handley High School, Winchester
This is a great focal point for walkers. You can start out from the campus and head out for walks on either side or take advantage of the all-weather track -- 4 times around is a mile.
On the south side of Handley Avenue, head to Jubal Early where the Green Circle extension is a great trail. This is about three miles when you get back to the campus.
To make it a little longer, head down Bellview Avenue, turn left on one of the side streets and head back to Mosby Street. Then either take Valley Avenue to avoid the hills or go up Sheridan or Mosby for a little challenge. This will put you at four miles. Plus, there is a water fountain at the tennis courts beside the school campus.
The fitness trail is a great walk. You can drive to the park or walk from any destination in town. I walk from the Handley campus and hit the park trail. Then on the return, I take the Green Circle Shawnee Trail area to come out on Pall Mall Street. This is about four miles but can be shortened with completing just the park course which is about two miles with a few ups and downs. You can also circle Wilkins Lake to add to the walk.
There's a water fountain in the War Memorial Building at the park.
Green Circle, Winchester
A walking and biking trail following Town Run and Abrams Creek and encircling the City. The project strives to provide safe bike and pedestrian facilities for the entire community while connecting parks, neighborhoods, schools and tourist attractions, according to winchestergreencircle.com.
City Councilor Les Veach recently checked on the status of the circle at my request and had this to report:
Plans are progressing for a "permanent segment of the Green Circle Trail along the unbuilt stretch of Meadow Branch Avenue between the CVS at Amherst Street and where the trail will, for now, follow a sidewalk along the west side of existing Meadow Branch Avenue in the Meadow Branch North Subdivision.
"Staff has been eagerly awaiting VDOT’s authorization to advertise the Town Run Linear Park, Phase 2 GCT project for construction this summer. This is the stretch that follows the Town Run canyon between South Kent Street and the Moose Lodge. It got hung up in Environmental Review at the state level. They have also been working with property owners like the developers of the Jubal Square Apartments Project to get other gaps in the trail network completed. They also just learned that another small VDOT enhancement grant was awarded to the City for the missing section of trail coming down the hill on Jubal Early Dr near Malloy Ford. Of course, the City is working closely with S.U. to get the GCT positioned along new University Drive and defined road crossings of Millwood Avenue at University Drive and at East Jubal Early Drive between Hampton Inn and Walgreens."
This farm which is part of the University of Virginia and home of the State Arboretum of Virginia has numerous well marked trails with nice shady areas. It is free and open to the public.
Blandy Experimental Farm, Clarke County
This farm which is part of the University of Virginia and home of the State Arboretum of Virginia has numerous well marked trails with nice shady areas. It is free and open to the public.
Third Winchester, Frederick County
This preserved battlefield is a mecca of walking trails. Signs denote the area and it is a pleasant walk with plenty of parking off Red Bud Road.
This preserved battlefield is a mecca of walking trails. Signs denote the area and it is a pleasant walk with plenty of parking off Red Bud Road.
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| Blue Trail sign |
Sherando Park, Frederick County
Several trails are available at Sherando Park in Stephens City. The blue trail is a little over a mile and has some ups and downs, gravel, and dirt paths. Walking sticks would be helpful.
Whittier Acres, MSV & Hawthorne Drive, Winchester
This walk can be three to four miles depending on what you want to cover. Hawthorne Drive is a circular walk that averages about a mile. Whittier Acres can be two to three miles following the streets through the development. Both of these are off Amherst Street.A section of walkway crosses Amherst at Wood Avenue and continues in front of the Museum of The Shenandoah Valley into the entrance. A circle around the front of the museum will bring you back to Amherst. The walkway will be continues later when more of the Green Circle is complete.
Parking is available around the small park on Whittier Avenue. That is a good place to begin the walk.
Please add any other trails suitable for walking.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your information! Another place to walk is at the hospital. There is a nice path around the lake in the back of the campus.
ReplyDelete