W&OD FAQ

Virginia law allows the use of electrically powered bicycles (e-bikes) skateboards, scooters, e-skateboards, hoverboards, e-scooters, electric personal assistive mobility devices, and electric personal delivery devices wherever regular bicycles are allowed.

NOTE: Virginia codes sections 10.1, 15.2, and 46.2 regulate electrically powered bicycles (e-bikes) skateboards, scooters, e-skateboards, e-scooters, and hoverboards with a top speed of 20mph; electric personal assistive mobility devices with a top speed of 15mph; and electric personal delivery devices with a top speed of 10mph as bicycles that can be used on trails and shared use paths.

NOVA Parks Guidelines:

For the purpose of these guidelines, NOVA Parks will define e-bikes as an “electric power-assisted bicycle” (e-bike), meaning a wheeled vehicle equipped with (i) pedals that allow propulsion by human power and ii) an electric motor with a top powered speed of 20 mph that reduces the pedal effort required of the rider. This applies to both road and mountain style (e/MTB) e-bikes. They are not, and do not function like a motorized bicycle, moped, motorcycle, or all-terrain-vehicle.

Also allowed are skateboards, scooters, motorized skateboards, motorized scooters, and hoverboards with powered versions capped at 20 m.p.h., electric personal assistive mobility devices are limited to 15 m.p.h., and electric personal delivery devices are limited to 10 m.p.h.

If your e-device can operate in excess of 20mph, it is not permitted on the W&OD.

As a matter of law, NOVA Parks cannot regulate the use of these devices within the parks (Virginia Code § 15.2-5704).  If you see any device operated in an unsafe or reckless manner, please contact the police department of the county, city, or town this occurs in (if an emergency, call 9-1-1).

What is the NOVA Parks snow policy on the  W&OD?

Snow Removal on the W&OD Trail

In recognition of the importance of the W&OD Trail to the public throughout the region the following guidelines were developed to address how snow removal is handled.  These guidelines recognize the available resources of the Authority, the difficulty in physically attempting to remove often packed snow and ice and the nature and variability of winter conditions in this region and their effects on the W&OD Trail.

Things to consider:

• Most average snowfalls melt quickly, often before trail staff can/could clear them.  There are obvious exceptions when unusually cold temperatures set in or in particularly shady areas.
• After a significant snow event trail staff will deploy a snow blower to clear the paved trail.  Staff will also work to clear snow at intersections where highway plowing often creates large piles of snow at trail curb cuts that may take many more weeks to melt.  This process often requires heavy equipment and hand digging to clear these piles as well as time.  The Trail has 70 at grade crossing and both sides of each intersection require attention.  They will also work to clear sections of trail which have become drifted in, or which receive little sun and take much longer to melt.  
• Plowing with traditional snow blades will not be employed as they can cause extensive damage to the asphalt surface, trail shoulders and the trail markings thereby significantly reducing the life of each.
• Since the trail is often used by people who like to walk during and after snowstorms, snow can quickly become packed and icy making pushing or blowing and even melting of the snow more difficult.
• Pushing or blowing any significant snow takes time.  Edges of the trail are often obscured when snow is deep increasing the time and difficulty to remove it.
• NOVA Parks will consider allowing jurisdictions to clear sections of the trail within certain town, city, or county limits under strict guidelines and a formally executed MOU. 

NOVA Parks will actively work to remove snow beyond just the intersections when:

• Recorded snow fall is greater than 2-3 inches and the snow appears likely to remain on the trail for an extended period of time.
  • Total accumulation will be determined by the average of Reagan National and Dulles Airports.
• At 2-3 inches the W&OD Trail staff will endeavor to clear the entire paved trail, including intersections, within two weeks of the end of the storm.  Removal operations will start in the Arlington and proceed west.  
• This timing does not take into account other work needed that may take priority such as tree and debris removal that may have resulted from the storm.
• In some instances, trail staff in preparation for snow events may choose to apply a brine mixture on certain sections of the trail to help prevents snow and ice from freezing to (or icing onto) the trail.
• The Bridle Trail will not be cleared.

Due to limited resources, trail clearing will occur during regularly scheduled work shifts, normally Monday through Friday.  Overtime will not be expended to clear trails during non-work hours.  Scheduled work hours may be adjusted if resources and needs permit. 

Attempts to blow or shovel snow from bridges will be made but it is expected that these structures may be difficult to clear completely. Bridges may require hand shoveling and may remain snow packed and slippery.

Staffing limitations, equipment issues, or heavy snow that must be hauled away may result in a temporary stoppage of this removal program.  Every attempt will be made to continue the program after any stoppages. 

Due to mechanical limitations of equipment and trail irregularities, trails will not be cleared or maintained at a dry pavement level.  Materials such as sand and salt will not be used throughout the trail but only in particularly difficult areas as their use can result in surface irregularities and slippery conditions.

The W&OD maintenance and management crew is based out of the park’s maintenance yard and park office in Ashburn, this can affect overall response times. Staff does have the ability to store limited snow removal equipment along the trail in satellite locations on the eastern end. 

Where can I camp on the W&O?

There is no camping allowed in the park. The entire trail is only 100 feet wide. Additionally, the trail is closed at night, after 9pm from MM 0 to the western edge of Herndon, and at dusk from Herndon to Purcellville. Near the halfway point, in Reston, there is a Fairfax County park nearby, Lake Fairfax, that allows overnight camping. “Stealth” camping will be treated as trespassing.

The W&OD is lucky to have a crew of dedicated volunteers who serve as the eyes and ears for trail management. They observe the conditions of the trail and report problems to staff and assist trail users. Riding, walking, running, or scootering on the trail is their joy, and they give back to the trail by donating their time this way. If this sounds like something you’d enjoy doing 4 hours per month April – October, see W&OD Trail Patrol.

The Friends of the W&OD have partnered with a local business to produce t-shirts, hoodies, and other items with the W&OD brand. They ship directly to you, and all items are priced to include a small donation to support the Friends in our work to support the trail. If you have ideas for new items, or designs, please contact us at wod@nvrpa.org. Get your trailwear items by visiting https://homesweethomeshop.com/fowod.html

We enthusiastically welcome equestrian trail users. Remember that they always have the right of way. For more information about how to safely share spaces with horses, see this article: https://www.americantrails.org/resources/safe-encounters-with-horses-on-multi-use-trails And, just in case you wondered, the horse apples they leave behind degrade quickly, so we don’t clean it up.

For many years volunteers, local jurisdictions, corporate partners and NOVA Parks staff have been battling invasive plants. Almost all of the species listed on the Virginia Department of Conservation and Research site are present to some degree on the W&OD. There are a couple of very active groups along the trail involved with this volunteer work. If you’d like to join one of the existing groups or start a group in an area that needs help, please contact wod@nvrpa.org

This video gives information about our efforts in conjunction with a local non-profit, Sustainability Matters, focusing on this important issue: ***

Generally, no signs will be allowed except for permitted events. For more information, please contact, the Trail Manager at wod@nvrpa.org

All events involving 25 people or more, whether one time or recurring, require a permit. You can apply for a permit by contacting the Trail Manager at wod@nvrpa.org

Dominion Energy has an easement within the W&OD Railroad Regional Park to maintain the power lines. This maintenance includes replacement work of the lines & poles and managing the trees and growth underneath the lines. This work is done in collaboration with park management to ensure the trail is open as much as possible and detours are kept to a minimum. They often hire contractors so trucks may say Dominion or other companies.

Other contractors that you may see on the W&OD include Loudoun Water Company and construction/landscape companies working on contracted projects. If you see any contractor operating in an unsafe manner, please immediately contact trail staff via email or voice at 703-729-0596.

If you notice graffiti or vandalism, please email wod@nvrpa.org. Please send a photo of what you see and describe the location as specifically as possible.  If you see active vandalism or graffiti occurring, please call 911.

All commercial activities, no matter how small or large must have permission from the W&OD Railroad Regional Park Manager. To discuss your idea, contact trail staff via email.

Geocaching in the W&OD Railroad Regional Park

While in the past park management allowed geocaches to be placed in the park, our policies have changed and new caches are not permitted. Safety is the #1 priority on the trail. Because NOVAParks rules require caches to be placed 50 feet away from adjoining property, and the W&OD is only 100 feet wide, a cache would have to be on or near the paved surface. That doesn’t work from a caching viewpoint or a safety viewpoint. Therefore, no new caches will be permitted and existing caches will be phased out.

Additional Links

Trails

• American Trails
• East Coast Greenway
• Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail (North Carolina)
• North Carolina Rail-Trails
• Rails to Trails Conservancy
• South Carolina Trails Program
• Traillink.com
• West Virginia Rails-to-Trails Council
• Virginia Capital Trail
• Virginia Creeper Trail
• Great Allegheny Passage rail-trail

Maps

• AnyPlace America — free topographical maps
• VA Statewide Bicycle Map

Advocacy Organizations

• Bike Loudoun
• Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling
• Washington Area Bicyclist Association