BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ TOOT-TOOT CHIRRRRRPPPPP!

A celebration of National Trails Day sponsored by King George County Parks and Recreation and Friends of the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail.

From ants to bumblebees, beavers to caterpillars, eagles to egrets, ladybugs to maples, marshes and moths to tall trees and train tracks, add very vivid violets and waxwings, and wrens to the mix, and you get an amazing 1.5 hours of exploration and adventure!

Jump on a hay wagon and eat your healthy delicious lunch while enjoying the outdoor beauty of the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail.

This will be a FUNtastic, Bugalicious, and BEEutiful day!

Cost: $6 includes a healthy lunch, a tractor-drawn hayride while you dine, a treasure hike and a bugtastic goody bag.
Ages: The event is open to children ages 5 to 12.
Registration: Pre-registration with the King George County Parks and Recreation Department is required; only 20 spots available.

The adventure begins at the DRHT's Rt 605 Trailhead in King George, Virginia located 1.2 miles off of Rt 3 on Bloomsbury Road.

Directions to the Rt 605 trailhead:
The Rt 605 trailhead is located off of Rt 3 in King George County. Heading east on Rt 3, turn left on to Rt 605 (Bloomsbury Road) just past the Ricks & Vans vegetable stand; heading west on Rt 3, turn right on to Rt 605 just past the La Grange horse farm and statue. The trailhead is on Rt 605 abotu 200 yards north of Rt 605's intersection with Birchwood Drive, Rt 665.

For more information, email us at events@friendsdrht.org.

Visit our Photo Gallery to see some photos of the event.

Set at the main trailhead of the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail in King George County amongst the daffodils and pear blossoms, this First Annual Spring Fundraiser Festival of Friends will welcome pets and their owners to the trail and benefit two worthy local organizations - the DRHT and the King George Animal Rescue League.

All activities begin with registration at the DRHT's Rt 605 trailhead (see map).  A $20.00 tax-deductible donation per family or individual goes to benefit the King George Animal Rescue League and the DRHT, and to supply gas for the buses, etc. Great GOODY BAG to all the registered donators. 

All pets must have current vaccinations and be led by a non-retractable leash of no more than 6 feet, please.    Non-social pets will be given a red bandanna.

Hikes & Runs
All hikes and runs are open to anyone who wants to join in, with or without a dog. We'll provide bus transportation for you and your pet to the starting point and all hikes/runs finish at the Rt 605 trailhead. Foster dogs will be available to be walked by a registrant (a KGARL member will walk with them, as well).

• FARC-N-Bark: catch the bus leaving from the Rt 605 trailhead at 12:00pm for this 8 mile hike/run competition
• Fido 5 Miler: catch the bus leaving from the Rt 605 trailhead at 12:30pm for this 5 mile hike
• Hike with your Hound: catch the bus leaving from the Rt 605 trailhead at 1:00pm for this 2 mile hike

People & Pets

• Photo of you and your Pet: Take yours home with you! A 4X6 for $8.00 and/or an 8X10 for $20.00
• Fun games and lighthearted competions will take place all during the Festival Day with plenty of great prizes
• A raffle drawing will be held at 3:30 (winners need not be present) for terrific prizes
• Microchip your pet for $20.00.   Also receive a universal data packet that will help you always find your pet.
• A Foster Parade will feature and show appreciation for folks that have adopted pets
  

Food
Great food and drinks provided by Cajun Creation during the entire event.  Food cost is separate from the donation, but part of their proceeds will be donated back to KGARL and DRHT.

Music
Music at 2:00pm will feature local musician Bob Gramman. As a folk music presenter, Bob Gramann likes songs that say something new or look at something old in a new way - songs that make the listener think, feel, and connect the dots. Over the past 12 years, Gramann has earned respect as a songwriter, presenter, and guitar maker in central Virginia. His Fredericksburg Songwriters' Showcase series, begun in 1993 with Peter Mealy, brings performers to the historic town eight times a year. Bob was voted Fredericksburg's Best Acoustic Act for 1995 in the Free Lance-Star's music poll. For more information, visit his web site at http://www.bobgramann.com.

Directions to the Rt 605 trailhead:
The Rt 605 trailhead is located off of Rt 3 in King George County. Heading east on Rt 3, turn left on to Rt 605 (Bloomsbury Road) just past the Ricks & Vans vegetable stand; heading west on Rt 3, turn right on to Rt 605 just past the La Grange horse farm and statue. The trailhead is on Rt 605 abotu 200 yards north of Rt 605's intersection with Birchwood Drive, Rt 665.

For more information, email us at events@friendsdrht.org.

Join us under the stars around a bonfire as we say farewell to 2007 and welcome 2008! Come any time after 4pm and stay as long as you like.

Bring anything you want to eat, drink or share (food can be heated by the fire). Park at the Rt 610 trailhead and stroll east to the camp area. There will be hot spiced wine and cider to greet you as you arrive.

This is a great way to see the trail and meet the people who've made it happen.

Call Paula VanAlstine with any questions: 540-644-1300.

Show your support and help us increase awareness for the rail trail in King George County by joining Friends of the DRHT in the King George Fall Festival parade! We'll carry our banner and bike, walk, run, stroller through downtown King George, just as we do out on the trail.

RSVP if at all possible so we know who and how many to expect. Meet at the Smoot L:ibrary at 9:30am on the day of the parade

We'll also be hosting an information table at the BBQ lunch and Festival Fair being held at King George High School. Information, brochures and sign up sheets will be available and Friends of the DRHT will be on hand to answer questions. Come by and see us!

For more information, email contact@friendsdrht.org.

Two dozen of the Friends of the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail (DRHT) and the Northern Virginia Shooting Facility (NVSF) met on a beautiful, cool July morning to work together to build a bridge over a small creek. This joint project was the culmination of many hours of discussion and negotiation; the by-pass trail was roughed in as a gesture of good will and cooperation by both groups. A memorandum of understanding has been written and signed, solidifying all of the terms by which both groups will move forward to create both a model shooting facility and a first class recreational trail in King George.

A community-spirited gathering to celebrate National Trails Day as well as the one-year anniversary of the DRHT's grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony. We encourage hikers and runners and bikers to get out on the trail all day long to celebrate National Trails Day.

The organized part of the day will take place on the portion of the trail just east of Rt 610. Parking and directions will be available at the Rt 610 intersection, but the MAIN PARKING will be located just off Rt 218. Turn right at the Rt 610/ Rt 218 Intersection and go approximately 0.8 mile until you see a dirt road on the right. There will be balloons and signs. Drive down the dirt road and follow the directions to parking.

Agenda:
1600 - Arrive
1800 - Cookout (bring a covered dish)
1900 - Dusk hike
2000 - Storytelling & S'mores
The festivities and fellowship will be followed by an on-the-trail campout.

National Trails Day brings together outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds to celebrate the great natural heritage of the United States trail system. Traditionally held each year on the first Saturday in June, National Trails Day was established to recognize the value of recreational trails and the people involved in building and maintaining them. Whether it's the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, or a volunteer group, trail preservation is necessary to keep our trails open to the public and available for years to come.

For more information about this DRHT event, please contact events@friendsdrht.org.
For photos from this event, visit our Photo Gallery.

A Firends of the DRHT call to action effort at the Rt 605 trailhead to restore the continuity of the one remaining set of tracks!

All Friends are welcome but we will need about 6-8 burley men and women to haul rails around and drive spikes. Current plans for the rail line are that we will encourage the RR Historical Society to use the track from the Rt 605 trailhead to the end of the double width berm--the end of the siding line--to run a small work car setup that will carry a few people for rail rides on weekends. This will be a very attractive addition to the 605 trailhead for families with children; the elderly and anyone that wants a slow gentle ride on real railroad work car.

This effort will require the following:
Removal of a pile of rubbish from the tracks.
Restacking the fuel that we use for the fire pit.
Relocating the fire pit by a few feet.
Gravel bed renewal.
Relay about 5 full sections of rail--10 rails in all.
Relay about 40 ties beneath these rails.

We are asking for a $20 donation per adult and $25 for a family. You may also buy a table, engraved with your family or group name, to be placed on the trail for a donation of $250.00. The tables will again be made by the Boy Scouts. All donations are tax deductible when made through RF&P BikeWalk - DRHT. Receipts for tax purposes will be available at the event.
Schedule of Activities:

Thanks to all the volunteers who helped with our Adopt-a-Highway Litter Pick-up! We had a great turnout and managed to clean the entire strectch of Rt 610 in just under 2 hours. Many hands made quick work.

Meet at the Rt 605 trailhead. Please be sure to arrive at the Rt 605 trailhead (parking is available) in time to be ready to depart promptly at 8:00am on a bus that will transport hikers to the hike's starting point. Hike the trail (10-12 miles) back to the Rt 605 trailhead and the hikers' vehicles. The hike is expected to take all day. A barbeque of venison, burgers and hot dogs at the Rt 605 trailhead will follow the hike.

Jan 18th Update: The hike will take place as scheduled, rain or shine, sleet or snow. It's a winter hike so dress appropriately and enjoy the crisp fresh air!

The hikers will break for lunch at some point along the trail. Hikers should bring their own lunch and water and anything else they need for the actual hike. Hikers are reminded to dress in layers appropriate for the weather on that day. Because this is a challenging hike, we do not recommend participation of children under 12, or anyone else not prepared to hike a full and physically challenging day.

Directions to the 605 trailhead are: (from Rt 3) Turn North by La Grange Horse Stables and horse statue and go approximately 1.2 miles to the trailhead on the right. Park in the designated area inside the boulders.

Special Note: The route for this hike will not cross the trail property that is adjacent to the Little Ark Baptist Church cemetery. The Friends of the DRHT, out of our deep respect for the congregation of LABC and Rev. Dr. Ben Jones, do not allow our permit holders to use the trail property that is adjacent to LABC property at all without permission from the congregation through Rev. Jones. The hike has, therefore, been routed so that it will not touch LABC property at all. The goal of the Friends of the DRHT is and always has been to find a way to return the trail property that is adjacent to the LABC cemetery to the congregation and to complete the trail. Contrary to the vocal minority that composes the opposition, these are not mutually exclusive objectives.

A 5-mile hike beginning at the Rt 694 trailhead and ending at the Rt 610 trailhead.

The group will put up mile markers along the trail as they go. The hike will last through lunch so pack some snacks or sandwiches to munch on.

Meet at 11:00am at the Rt 694 (Lamb's Creek Church Rd) trailhead.

Note: For all hikes we remind participants to dress appropriately (layered to match the weather conditions), to bring whatever food and drink they will need, to wear sturdy shoes.

Join a 3.25 mile hike from the Rt 610 trailhead to Caledon Natural Area. The hike is expected to last 2-3 hours.

Meet at 9:45am at the KG School Board Office at 9100 St. Anthony’s Road (the old Elementary School) for the 10:00 bus to the trailhead.

Once at Caledon, hikers can return by bus to the School Board Office or they can stay for the Caledon Wine and Art Festival and catch the bus back to the School Board Office at a later time when the group decides to return.

The Caledon event is open from 10:00am to 4:00pm. The Wine Tasting costs $7.00/person; the Art Show is free. The bus can accomodate purchased art pieces for the return trip.

Note: For all hikes we remind participants to dress appropriately (layered to match the weather conditions), to bring whatever food and drink they will need, to wear sturdy shoes.