Dahlgren Heritage Rail Trail

Welcome to the inaugural Dahlgren Heritage Rail Trail 50 km. We hope to hold this race yearly in early August.

We thank our volunteers from the Dahlgren Heritage Rail Trail Association and King George Fire and Rescue and King George Sheriff Departments.

Trail Description

The race starts on the field east of the shelter in the Caledon Natural Area. Across the field and entrance road, there will be two cones, between the tree row. Go between these cones. Next follow the orange survey flags to the stone trail at the east end of the park. Follow the pink streamers along this trail and gravel roads to reach Rt 218.

Turn left on Rt 218 and face traffic as you go east. Just before the bridge crossing the rail trail, cross Rt 218 and go down the between the pink streamers to the rail trail.

At the rail trail, turn left to go to the east end.

Turn around and go to the west end.

At the section west of the Indian Town Aid Station, there is a detour to go around the rifle range impact zone. Follow the signs, orange streamers and blue blazes on this trail.

Turn around and back to the ramp to Rt 218, detouring around the rifle range impact zone.

Back up the ramp to Rt 218 between the pink streamers.

Turn left on Rt 218 and face traffic.

Cross Rt 218 at the gate to Caledon and follow the pink streamers and survey flags to finish

There are not a lot of streamers on the trail. They are placed in areas where you might make a wrong turn off the trail. If you are on a paved road for more than 50 feet other than Rt 218, you are off course.

The trail is wide and is in great shape. However, “look up, fall down”. There are still rail ties in the bed in spots. The footing is better in the west end of the trail rather than the east end.

Aid stations

There are full service aid stations at 2.6, 6.7, 11.4, 15.8, 19.9, 24.0 and 28.5 miles. There is water, Gatorade and food at each station.

Crossing Roads

If there is a yellow line in the middle of any road that you cross, cars are traveling at 55 mph. Make sure you look both ways before crossing. There is a crossing guard that can help. On Rt 218, there will be crossing guards to calm traffic.

Take Care of Each other

If a fellow runner goes down. It is your obligation to stop and help.

Assistance

Runners can take assistance only at aid stations. Mules (carrying food and water for others) and outside pacing are prohibited. Crew assistance can only be provided at the designated locations.

Weather

We will not start with lightning in the area. However, once the race has started, it is up to you to take appropriate measures for your safety. Aid station personnel will be in their cars during lightning storms.

Parking in Caledon

Please follow the parking attendants’ directions. If you arrive before 6:15am, you do not need to pay the parking fee. Otherwise there is a $3 fee.

Little Ark Baptist Church

Any crew or family parking at LABC and walking through the cemetery to meet the eastern end of the trail will have their runner pulled from the race immediately.

Parking Elsewhere

If your crew or family want to watch, make sure all tires are off paved surfaces when parked on any road in King George County. The King George Sheriff will tow without warning any car where tires are on the pavement. The Meadows subdivision, on the eastern end of the trail, is a private subdivision. Parking off the road is considered private property and some home owners are unfriendly, calling to have cars towed. We recommend, not viewing the race on the eastern part of the course.

Headphones

No headphones are allowed in Caledon or on Rt 218. If you want to wear headphones on the rail trail it is ok. You should pull them out at aid stations and when crossing paved roads. Cars driving at 55 mph hurt when they impact bare skin.

Bugs, spiders, poison ivy

I ran the entire course in the past week. I had one adult tick on my legs and there are many horse flies, that bite. If you are allergic to bug bites or bee stings, you need to carry your own epipen. King George Fire and Rescue tells me that you will be dead before EMS will reach you. In February, I did get poison ivy while running on the trail and none since then. I’m glad I’m a mid pack runner now. Front runners will have many spider webs across the trail.

Runner Tracking

You must check in at the start on Saturday morning. People who pick up their race number and do not check in will have their names called at the start. We need to keep track of every body. If you drop, you must turn in your number at the next aid station. We are tracking numbers at LABC, Indian Town and Rt 605. Make sure you tell them when you arrive. Any lost runner that does not follow these procedures will be charged for the cost of search and rescue.

Crews

Crews are allowed only at Rt 218 (mile 8.7) and Rt 605 (mile 19.9) aid stations. Crews can provide unlimited aid at these points.

From Caledon (Start) to AID at Mile 8.7 under Rt 218 Bridge

This aid location is reachable on foot only. From the race start line, follow the course across the field to the east. There are survey flags on the field to follow and once on the trail portion, there are pink streamers marking the course.

Once the trail connects to Rt 218, take a left and face traffic as you walk on the shoulder of Rt 218. After about 1000 feet, you will reach a bridge across the rail trail. Trail access is on the right, following the pink and orange streamers. You can meet your runner at the bottom of this trail. They will be coming from the east.

Cautions: Rt 218 is 45 mph and there are no crossing guards to slow traffic. The shoulder is very narrow in this area. The connector trail between Rt 218 and the Rail Trail is very steep for the first 20 feet at the top.

From Caledon (Start) to Rt 605 Aid (Mile 19.9)

Turn right on Rt 218. After 1.7 miles, turn left on Indian Town Rd. After 2.5 miles, turn right on Dahlgren Rd (Rt 206). After 2.1 miles, turn right on Rt 3. After 4.7 miles, turn right on Rt 605. Aid station and parking is on right after 1.3 miles.

From Rt 605 Aid (Mile 19.9) to Caledon (Finish)

Turn left from Rt 605 parking lot. After 1.3 miles, turn left on Rt 3. After 4.7 miles, turn left on Rt 206. After 2.1 miles, turn left on Indian Town Rd. After 2.5 miles, turn right on Rt 218. After 1.7 miles, turn left into Caledon.

Drop Bags

You can drop a bag at the shelter at Caledon between 5:30 and 6:30am on Saturday morning. These will be transported to the Comorn Aid Station (16 & 24) and will be back at Caledon around 2:30pm

Time Limit

There is an 8 hour limit. The course is flat. So if you keep moving at a 15 minute per mile pace, you will finish within the time limit. We’re not going to pull anybody from the race unless they are sitting in the aid stations.

Porta Pots

There is one at Indian Town and one at Rt 605. Make sure you go off the trail to do other business. Watch out from the poison ivy.