Potomac Heritage Trail: A Trunk Trail in the Nationwide System of Trails - A Proposal

National Park Service - National Capital Region

Trails are normally associated with a single landscape type-mountain, lake shore, or river course. Few traverse more than a single physiographic region. Practically all are connected with a singular strong landscape feature such as mountain range, river valley, or historic pathway. Thus, few trail ways offer a diverse recreation, scenic, cultural opportunity.Yet, just such an opportunity exists with our Nation's Capital as its heart, the Potomac River as its backbone, and an outstanding array of scenic, scientific, cultural, historic, and recreationresources as its appendages.Such a trail, which might appropriately be called the Potomac Heritage Trail, could follow the course of the Potomac River and trace the historic annals of our country while offering an outstanding recreation opportunity for the residents of the Potomac Valley and its millions of annual visitors . In combination with the Appalachian Trail this facility would form the spine for an extensive Potomac Regional Trail System, embracing a variety of trunk, feeder, loop and access trails. The trail would have as one terminus the very birthplace of the Potomac River--the high country around Spruce Knob and Canaan Valley in West Virginia. Just as the river descends through mountainous country, winds tortuously through the Great Valley, courses serenely across the Piedmont, and finally empties into its broad estuary, so the trail could follow the Potomac's waters from source to destination. Another western terminus might be the high scenic lands of southwestern Pennsylvania.This great trail system then would uniquely offer a diverse recreation and scenic opportunity ranging from the high, alpine-like appearance of the "Potomac Highlands" to the low, coast-like character of' the Potomac's mouth on Chesapeake Bay. Its elevational difference between terminal points, 4860-f'oot Spruce Knob to sea level, is but one indication of the changing scenes along the Potomac Heritage Trail. Varying topography, geology, climate, and soil conditionsprovide a wide spectrum of landscapes, forest types, wildlife, and cultural features.Perhaps no other river in the country is as historically rich as this stream. Our very nation grew up and reached its maturity in the Potomac Valley. Our Nation's Capital, potentially the greatest source of visitation to this trail, is the focal point of the entire system. Many famous Americans were born, reared, and lived on the banks of the Potomac--Washington, Lee, Monroe, Mason, and others .