Highland Avenue Hill workout
Falls Church City, VA
Hill Length: Approximately 0.4 mile up the more gradual ascent, or 0.1 mile up the steep ascent
Directions: From MD and North: Take 495 south to Route 7, Leesburg Pike, go East on Route 7 approximately 2 -2 1/2 miles and take a left (North) at the intersection of Haycock Road (it’s Shreve Road off to the right or south), go approx. 1/4 mile North on Haycock Road and take a right (East) onto Highland Ave. This is the steep part of the hill; go 0.1 mile to the crest and park anywhere where permitted along the crest near the intersection of Mt. Daniel Drive at the stop sign.
From VA and South: Take 495 north to Route 7, Leesburg Pike, go East on Route 7 approximately 2 -2 1/2 miles and take a left (North) at the intersection of Haycock Road (it’s Shreve Road off to the right or south), go approx. 1/4 mile North on Haycock Road and take a right (East) onto Highland Ave. This is the steep part of the hill; go 0.1 mile to the crest and park anywhere where permitted along the crest near the intersection of Mt. Daniel Drive at the stop sign. From Alexandria or South Arlington: Take Route 7 WB and take a right (North) at the intersection of Haycock Road (it’s Shreve Road off to the left or south), go approx. 1/4 mile North on Haycock Road and take a right (East) onto Highland Ave. This is the steep part of the hill; go 0.1 mile to the crest and park anywhere where permitted along the crest near the intersection of Mt. Daniel Drive at the stop sign.
From DC and East: Take I-66 West to Exit 66A (EB Route 7, Leesburg Pike, Falls Church), go EB on Route 7 approx. 1/4 mile to the second traffic light and take a left (North) at the intersection of Haycock Road (it’s Shreve Road off to the right or south), go approx. 1/4 mile North on Haycock Road and take a right (East) onto Highland Ave. This is the steep part of the hill; go 0.1 mile to the crest and park anywhere where permitted along the crest near the intersection of Mt. Daniel Drive at the stop sign.
From Fairfax County and West: Take I-66 East to Exit 66 (Route 7, Leesburg Pike, Falls Church), go EB on Route 7 approx. 1/4 mile to the first traffic light and take a left (North) at the intersection of Haycock Road (it’s Shreve Road off to the right or south), go approx. 1/4 mile North on Haycock Road and take a right (East) onto Highland Ave. This is the steep part of the hill; go 0.1 mile to the crest and park anywhere where permitted along the crest near the intersection of Mt. Daniel Drive at the stop sign. Via Route 7: Go East on Route 7 and take a left (North) at the intersection of Haycock Road (it’s Shreve Road off to the right or south), go approx. 1/4 mile North on Haycock Road and take a right (East) onto Highland Ave. This is the steep part of the hill; go 0.1 mile to the crest and park anywhere where permitted along the crest near the intersection of Mt. Daniel Drive at the stop sign.
An address for MapQuest purposes: A randomly selected address near the crest of the hill is 2315 Highland Avenue, zip code 22046. It is unknown whose house this is.
From Metro: Orange Line to West Falls Church Station. As you leave the station, bear off to your left (northeasterly) for 1/4 mile until you leave the bus service area and parking lot service road and reach Haycock Road. Jog off to your left (North) for 100 feet on Haycock Road and take a right (East) onto Highland Ave. This is the steep part of the hill; go 0.1 mile to the crest of the hill near the intersection of Mt. Daniel Drive at the stop sign.
Alternative Parking: In the West Falls Church Parking Lot, then walk east until you hit Haycock Road, turn left (North) on Haycock Road and take a right (East) onto Highland Ave. This is the steep part of the hill; go 0.1 mile to the crest of the hill near the intersection of Mt. Daniel Drive at the stop sign.
Warmup loop: From the crest, down Mt. Daniel Drive (to get a sense of the grade), left on Grove Avenue, left (EB) on the W’OD Trail near the bicycle bridge over Route 7 (MP 7), left (NB) on N. West Street to the intersection off to your left (WB) of Highland Ave. 0.7 miles.
The hill climb workout: 0.4 mile climb from N. West Avenue up the more gradual grade (steeper near the top) on the south side of Highland Avenue to the crest, 0.1 mile recovery run down the steep north side of Highland Avenue, turn around at Haycock Road, repeat the hill in reverse (0.1 mile steep climb, 0.4 mile recovery run). Do as many half-mile repetitions as is effective.
Afterwards: Replenishment at Starbucks in Falls Plaza West, 2318 W. Broad Street (Route 7 in Falls Church), the Giant shopping center (NE corner of Route 7 and Haycock Road, across the street from George Mason High School).