EP #199 What Happens When A Backyard Trail Becomes A Public Treasure

A forgotten railroad can become a community’s front porch, and the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail is a perfect example. I’m joined by Laurie Schlemm, president of the trail, to tell the story of a 16-mile corridor in King George County, Virginia that started in 1942 as a World War II rail line and is now drawing walkers, cyclists, families, and photographers from across the region. If you’ve heard locals talk about “the DHRT,” you’ll finally understand why it keeps showing up in trail photos and weekend plans. We dig into how one especially striking mile runs through the area now connected to Caledon State Park, where wetlands, birds, and a canopy of trees make the trail feel like a shaded sanctuary. Laurie shares what visitors can expect on the most photographed stretch, what makes the wildlife viewing special, and why the nearby bald eagle nesting grounds make this part of Virginia such a standout for nature lovers. Then we get practical about what it takes to protect outdoor spaces for the long term. Laurie explains the behind-the-scenes push to bring the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail into the Virginia State Park System, why permits and usage numbers matter, and how a trail can help create real weekend tourism that benefits local businesses. Subscribe, share this with your favorite trail buddy, and leave a review telling us: what would make you plan a weekend around a rail trail?Laurie SchlemmDahlgren Railroad Heritage [email protected]. Box 53, King George, VA