Northern Virginia Regional Commission Initiates Gap Analysis Study for the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail in Loudoun County

NVRC is Pleased to Coordinate with the National Park Service and Loudoun County

The Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC), as the lead agency and manager of the study, is pleased to partner with the National Park Service (NPS) and Loudoun County to identify the most feasible route options for completing a network gap in the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (PHNST) in Loudoun County, Virginia. The project will identify, assess, and present the feasibility of potential routes in the PHNST corridor, including considerations for trail construction, maintenance, accessibility, park connections, scenic views, and other key elements for trail development. 

The PHNST is a 900-mile, congressionally designated trail network that runs from the mouth of the Potomac River in Maryland and Virginia to the Alleghany Highlands in western Pennsylvania. Spanning over 140 miles across Northern Virginia, the region’s PHNST corridor currently runs from southern Prince William County to the Town of Leesburg as a braided network in which there is a primary trail path as well as several branch trails that provide access to scenic areas, parks, and other attractions. Overall, the trail embraces portions of Arlington, Loudoun, Fairfax, and Prince William Counties, the City of Alexandria, and the Towns of Dumfries, Leesburg, and Occoquan.

The study area represents the largest network gap in the PHNST through the Northern Virginia region, covering the area north from the Town of Leesburg to the Virginia portion of Harpers Ferry National Historic Park, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail near the Harpers Ferry NHP, and the Maryland segment of the PHNST (represented through the C&O Canal Trail) as indicated by NVRC’s 2022 Corridor Analysis Report published in March 2023. Completion of this trail gap would enhance the greater national scenic trail system and provide substantial recreational opportunities for visitors and the region’s more than 2.5 million residents. For more information on the trail network in Northern Virginia, you can visit NVRC’s PHNST dashboard.  

Design and planning firm, Lardner/Klein Landscape Architects, has been selected to conduct this study. Project activities with the consultant commenced in late January 2024 with expected completion in November or December 2024. Outreach events and public meetings are expected to be scheduled at multiple points between February and October 2024 to raise public awareness and provide opportunities for input and comments on the study. For additional information and to sign up for project updates, you can visit NVRC’s project webpage. For specific questions about the study, you can also contact Rebecca Murphy at rmurphy@novaregion.org.

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About the Northern Virginia Regional Commission’s Work with the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail

NVRC has provided planning and management for the Northern Virginia section of the PHNST since the 1990s, including coordination efforts prior to congressional designation. Through data and mapping activities, special studies, and coordination with land managers, advocacy groups, and other trail partners, NVRC aims to address the range of needs and priorities of the PHNST in the region.