For
the location of the Oak Marr RECenter click here
for a link to Google Maps. For the location of the Thaiss Park entrance
click here.
This section of the Cross County Trail utilizes sidewalks
to connect off-road sections of the trail. Most of the walk is on a concrete
sidewalk. The sidewalk is barely wide enough to permit 2 bicycles to pass
each other. The section of the walk between Oak Marr RECenter and Route 123
is asphalt trail and much more bicycle friendly. Parking is available at both
Thaiss Park and the Oak Marr RECenter.
A number of Walk lights were found to be malfunctioning
or hidden from view. These were reported to VDOT at (703) 383-2600. There
were no Walk lights on the northern and eastern sides of the Jermantown Road
and Route 123 intersection. The green light interval to cross Route 123 is
not long enough to permit walkers to cross unless a Walk button is pressed
so the walk was shifted to the southern side of Jermantown Road for several
blocks. (In my opinion a Walk light should be installed on the northern side
of the intersection for trail walkers. This would eliminate 2 crossings of
Blake Lane/ Jermantown Road.)
We only spotted 2 CCT signs on the entire route. Don’t
worry if you don’t see them as you are essentially walking along a continuous
section of roadway with 3 different street names.
These directions are stated in terms of east and west
since that is the general direction of this section of the trail. The overall
direction of the trail is north and south. People going east are headed toward
the southern part of the county. West corresponds to travel toward the northern
part of the county.
- (West) The walk starts from the parking lot
at Thaiss Park. Walkers from the previous section of the CCT should turn
left to enter the parking lot and should not continue through the tunnel
under Pickett Road. Leave the parking lot using the access road from Pickett
Road and turn right onto the sidewalk on the side of Pickett Road.
(East) Turn left at the access road into the Thaiss Park parking
lot. This completes this section of the CCT. Walkers wishing to continue
onto the next section should walk to the far northern end of the parking
area and turn right onto the wide asphalt trail next to Accotink Creek.
- (West)(East) The trail crosses Route 50. Walk
lights are provided but the control on the southern side of Route 50 did
not work.
- (West)(East) The trail crosses Route 29. Walk
lights are provided but the walk light on the northern side of Route 29
was not working.
- (West)(East) The trail passes Kingsbridge Drive.
The sidewalk is located between the main roadway and a service road here.
- (West)(East) The trail crosses Five Oaks Road.
The tree foliage on the west side of Five Oaks Road is too low to the ground
and will force most walkers to bend over to pass here.
- (West)(East) The trail crosses Interstate 66
on a bridge. It also crosses Sutton Road on the west side of I66.
- (West)(East) The trail passes Blake Lane Park
on the other side of Jermantown Road.
- (West) At the next traffic light Blake Lane
turns right and the current road is named Jermantown Road. Turn left to
cross the wide section of Blake Lane using the Walk light. Then turn right
to cross Trevor House Drive using that Walk light. This is necessary because
there is no Walk light on the northern side of Jermantown Road to cross
busy Route 123.
(East) Cross Trevor House Drive using the Walk light. Then turn left
to cross the wide portion of Blake Lane using that Walk light. Then turn
right to follow the concrete sidewalk along the wide section of Blake Lane.
Jermantown Road is known as Blake Lane on this section of the walk.
- (West)(East) The trail passes Borge Street Park.
There is some nice playground equipment here.
- (West) Cross Route 123 using the Walk light.
On the other side turn right to cross Jermantown Road using the Walk light.
Then turn left to follow the wide asphalt trail along Jermantown Road.
(East) At the intersection with 123 turn right to cross Jermantown
Road at the Walk light. Then turn left to cross Route 123 using the Walk
light. Continue straight on the concrete sidewalk along Jermantown Road
on the other side of Route 123. There are no Walk lights on the northern
and eastern sides of this intersection making it necessary to switch to
the sidewalk on the southern side of Jermantown Road for a few blocks.
- (West) A wide asphalt trail intersects from
the right after passing the second appearance of Elmendorf Drive. This is
the next section of the CCT. People wishing to continue onto that section
should turn right here. Otherwise stay on the trail along Jermantown Road
to reach the entrance to the Oak Marr RECenter.
(East) A wide asphalt trail intersects from the left. This is the
next section of the CCT. Walkers from that section of the trail should turn
left to continue onto this section of the trail. Walkers from the Oak Marr
RECenter should continue straight on the asphalt trail along Jermantown
Road.
- (West) This section of the CCT ends at the entrance
to the Oak Marr RECenter.
(East) Walkers starting from the parking area at the Oak Marr RECenter
should turn left and follow the wide asphalt trail along Jermantown Road.
Pictorial
Directions
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