When do Arlington and Fairfax start clearing the Custis and W&OD trails?

**GP_Slowride** · 01-31-2021, 04:56 PM

I've got Schwalbe Marathon Winters plus motivation and I'd like to commute from DC to Falls Church early tomorrow morning on the trails. Any chance they'll be cleared by then?

**Steve O** · 01-31-2021, 09:42 PM

Maybe. It appears that they pickle juiced them, so if there is not too much snow, it will have melted upon contact.

I say go for it and have an on-street alternative route ready in case you need to bail.

**Boomer2U** · 01-31-2021, 09:51 PM

Arlington County usually does a good job clearing the Custis trail with a large snow brush mounted on the front end of a tractor, from the Intersection of Doom in Rosslyn to Van Buren Street near the East Falls Church Metro Station. From there westward, the W&OD is not cleared nor treated for winter storms.

I rode earlier tonight after sunset along 4-mile Run and the W&OD from mile 0 to mile 8 on my gravel bike with 35mm Schwalbe 1 All Rounders and it was manageable but slow single-tracking on relatively fresh snow, trampled by walkers, and 1 or 2 cyclists who cut tracks that I followed.

All of the bridges were being to freeze over but had a covering of powdered snow that provided sufficient traction (though I dropped my tire pressure 10-15 lbs and had a 20 lb backpack).

East Falls Church Park

WOD mile 6

Citizens Bridge over Rt 7 Leesburg Pike in Falls Church

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**Serdar** · 01-31-2021, 09:57 PM

I wonder if Mount Vernon Trail is safe for riding tomorrow. Did anyone ride on that trail today?

**komorebi** · 01-31-2021, 10:43 PM

Originally Posted by Serdar

I wonder if Mount Vernon Trail is safe for riding tomorrow. Did anyone ride on that trail today?

NPS doesn't pre-treat or clear the Mt. Vernon Trail, so I suspect it's going to be a mess tomorrow unless you have studded tires.

**GP_Slowride** · 02-01-2021, 08:14 AM

Thanks for the input!. With the thick layer of ice this morning and the threat for more, I elected to drive. I may try again tomorrow morning though.

**Judd** · 02-01-2021, 09:31 AM

Originally Posted by komorebi

NPS doesn't pre-treat or clear the Mt. Vernon Trail, so I suspect it's going to be a mess tomorrow unless you have studded tires.

After a day the MVT usually gets tough to ride because the footsteps and tire tracks refreeze and make for a rough and icy surface. My contact indicated that they plan to clear through LBJ Memorial Grove to the 14th St Bridge again this year but not sure if they’ve done it yet.

When the snow does start melting off some of the bridges remain treacherous for a bit. I usually walk them.

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**EasyRider** · 02-02-2021, 10:53 AM

I waved to a Bobcat with a plow (the plow was raised) on the W&OD yesterday afternoon near Glencarlyn Park, before it snowed again. The trail was fairly clear from Columbia Pike to the Custis Trail, but the many small bridges were iced over I'm guessing they can't plow those without damaging the decking.

**mstone** · 02-03-2021, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by Judd

After a day the MVT usually gets tough to ride because the footsteps and tire tracks refreeze and make for a rough and icy surface

In general, this. Even with studded tires a lot of the trails are really hard to ride because you're constantly battling little craters. If it were smooth ice it would be a lot easier.