Celebrate National Rails-to-Trails Day With Us on April 25th, 2026!
- WHEN: Saturday, April 25th, 2026
- START POINT & REGISTRATION: Dahlgren Railraod Heritage Trail, 10431 Bloomsbury Road, King George, VA 22485 (see driving directions below). NOTE: There are no restrooms.
- START TIME: Register by 9:15 a.m.; begin walking at 9:30.
- DISTANCE: The group walk is 5K (approx. 3 miles). This is an out-and-back walk You are welcome to turn around and return to the parking lot at any time – or walk further if you’d like.
- FEE: This is a FREE walk (donations to cover expenses are welcome), however those walking for AVA credit will pay $4.00. Bring your event/distance books for stamping.
- FOR MORE INFO: https://my.ava.org/event-view.php?sn=131639
- NOTE: Everyone is encouraged to get a free trail permit. Click here to get one: Use Permits. It is very quick and easy to get this online
- DETAILS: We are honored to have Laurie Schlemm, President of Friends of the DRHT, lead our walk. This walk will be a great experience as we’ll learn more about the natural world that now thrives along this former rail corridor, and reflect on how history and nature meet in one remarkable place. The railroad may be gone, but its path still brings people together, and that is a legacy worth celebrating.
- All across the country, communities like ours will mark Rails-to-Trails Day, the national day led by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy to spotlight the value of trails and the important role they play in American life. It is a day to appreciate not only the joy of being outdoors, but also the history, connectivity, and public benefit that trails make possible.
- The trail we’ll be walking follows the route of the old Dahlgren Branch Rail Line, built in the 1940s during World War II. What is now a place for walking, running, cycling, wildlife viewing, and reflection was once an active railroad corridor tied to the movement of materials and people connected to the Navy’s work in Dahlgren. In those years, the rail line served an important purpose. Today, that same corridor has been transformed into something new while still carrying the memory of what came before.
- That is part of what makes this trail so special. It is not just a recreational path. It is a living piece of local history. It reminds us that places can evolve, and that what once served industry and wartime need can now serve health, connection, education, and community life. Rails-to-Trails projects across the country preserve these corridors in meaningful ways, and here in our own community, we are fortunate to have one that continues to bring people together.
- IF INTERESTED: After the walk we will be going to Vinny’s Italian Grill & Pizzeria in King George, a 10-minute drive from the trail: 7835 Dolleys Ct., King George 22485
- DRIVING DIRECTIONS: NOTE – GPS may not be accurate in this area. From Fredericksburg – Cross Chatham Bridge (Rt. 3), staying on Rt. 3 (Kings Highway) for approximately 9 miles. Turn Left onto Birchwood Creek Rd. (Rt. 665). Drive 1.5 miles. Turn Left onto Bloomsbury Rd. (Rt. 605). Drive 500 feet and turn Right onto a dirt driveway into the parking lot.
- From Stafford – Rt. 17 – stay straight onto Butler Rd (Rt. 218). From Rt. 1 – turn onto Butler Rd. (Rt. 218). At second stop light after the YMCA, turn Right onto Cool Springs Rd. At light at end of Cool Springs, turn Left and follow directions above, staying on Rt. 3, Kings Highway.
From Our First Day of 2026 Walk in Downtown Fredericksburg, VA
The FWC started the year off right with a delightful 5K walk in historic downtown Fredericksburg, VA. Just over 30 walkers braved the cold, blustery wind to walk together and admire the interesting things you don’t usually see when you’re driving! We met some new people and made some new friends – and are looking forward to getting to know them better in 2026!
From Our Saturday, December 20th, 2025, Annual Holiday Night Walk in Downtown Fredericksburg, VA
Our club celebrated the beautiful holiday decorations and lights with a Traditional Walk in downtown Fredericksburg, VA, on Saturday, December 20th. We are so grateful for the wonderful support from the owner and staff at Anita’s Cafe, where our Start and Finish Point was. They always us make us feel so welcome! The weather cooperated and walkers enjoyed delicious cookies at the checkpoint by Hurkamp Park. It was also great to visit with walkers from other clubs, and we met some new friends as well!
If you’d like to be on our mailing list or have questions about FWC membership, contact our Membership Coordinator, Kay Shoemaker at: fredericksburgwalkingclub@gmail.com.
The Fredericksburg Walking Club (FWC) is part of the Virginia Volkssport Association (VVA). Learn more about other Virginia walking events and clubs at: https://www.walkvirginia.org
*The FWC and the VVA are members of the American Volkssport Association (AVA). Volksmarching is a form of non-competitive fitness walking that developed in Europe. Participants typically walk 5k (3.1 miles) or 10k (6.2 miles) on an outdoor trail. Volksmarch clubs offer incentives for AVA members for their AVA sanctioned walks. Volkssport participants enjoy recording distances and events in international record books. Incentive awards, like pins and patches, are given for collecting a certain number of events. If you would like to become an FWC or AVA member, contact us by the email, or come to one of our walks and ask us about it. You do not have to be an AVA member to walk with us, although we encourage it. The FWC schedules non-AVA walks along with AVA walks. For more information about the AVA: https://ava.org
To see more FWC walks from 2025, 2024, 2023, and 2022, click the buttons below:
WALK ANYTIME!
We sponsor the following Seasonal and Year-Round Events (YREs) below that can be done any time the Start Point is open OR by registering via the Online Start Box (OSB). For those walkers not familiar with the OSB, here’s a link to walk you through the steps:
SEASONAL WALK – Stafford, VA – Crow’s Nest Natural Area Preserve. AVA Online Start Box only. You will need to create an account and register for the walk. Follow the steps in the PDF above. Click here for more info and Start Point directions: https://my.ava.org/event-view.php?sn=130079. Walk Thursday – Sunday only, April 4th – October 25th, 2026. Opens at 8:00 a.m. Closes at 8:00 p.m. (or dusk).
YEAR-ROUND-EVENT – Fredericksburg, VA – First Day at Chancellorsville Battlefield. AVA Online Start Box only. You will need to create an account and register for the walk. Follow the steps in the PDF above. Click here for more info: https://my.ava.org/event-view.php?sn=130081. Walk starts at the Spotsylvania County Museum, 6159 Plank Rd., Fredericksburg, VA 22407.
YEAR-ROUND-EVENT – Fredericksburg, VA – Bridge to History. Click here for more info: https://my.ava.org/event-view.php?sn=130524. Start Box at the Fredericksburg Visitor Center, open daily, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except on major holidays.
YEAR-ROUND-EVENT – Fredericksburg, VA – Historic Fredericksburg. Click here for more info: https://my.ava.org/event-view.php?sn=130069. Start Box at the Fredericksburg Visitor Center, open daily, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except on major holidays. Online Start Box available.
YEAR-ROUND-EVENT – Fredericksburg, VA – Rappahannock Rambles. Click here for more info: https://my.ava.org/event-view.php?sn=127307. Start Box at the Fredericksburg Visitor Center, open daily, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., except on major holidays. Online Start Box available.
YEAR-ROUND-EVENT – Ashland, VA – Center of the Universe. Click here for more info: https://my.ava.org/event-view.php?sn=127304. Start Box at the Ashland Visitor Center, open daily, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except on major holidays. Online Start Box available.
YEAR-ROUND-EVENT – Culpeper, VA – Historic District Streetscapes. Click here for more info: https://my.ava.org/event-view.php?sn=127306. Start Box at the Culpeper Visitor Center, open daily, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. except on major holidays and for short lunch breaks. Online Start Box available.
YEAR-ROUND-EVENT – King George, VA – Dahlgren Rails to Trails Walk. AVA Online Start Box only. You will need to create an account and register for the walk. Follow the steps in the PDF above. Click here for more info and Start Point directions: https://my.ava.org/event-view.php?sn=131639.
YEAR-ROUND-EVENT – King George County, VA – Caledon State Park. AVA Online Start Box only. You will need to create an account and register for the walk. Follow the steps in the PDF above. Click here for more info and Start Point directions: https://my.ava.org/event-view.php?sn=131640.
YEAR-ROUND-EVENT – Spotsylvania County, VA – Ni River Trail. AVA Online Start Box only. You will need to create an account and register for the walk. Follow the steps in the PDF above. Click here for more info and Start Point directions: https://my.ava.org/event-view.php?sn=129538.
YEAR-ROUND-EVENT – Stafford County, VA – Curtis Memorial Park. AVA Online Start Box only. You will need to create an account and register for the walk. Follow the steps in the PDF above. Click here for more info and Start Point directions: https://my.ava.org/event-view.php?sn=130068.
YEAR-ROUND-EVENT – Warrenton, VA – Brick Sidewalks. Click here for more info: https://my.ava.org/event-view.php?sn=127308. Warrenton Visitor Center open Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed Sundays. Online Start Box available and should be used on weekends.
Fredericksburg Walking Club 