The Metropolitan Branch Trail will ultimately be an eight-mile linear park and trail running parallel to Metroâs Red Line from Union Station to Silver Spring, Maryland, connecting to the Capital Crescent Trail.
** WARNING: THIS TRAIL IS INCOMPLETE, UNUSED AND ISLOLATED. TRAVEL IN GROUPS AND CAREFULLY. **
The trailhead is near the intersection of New York Ave, Florida Ave, and North Capital St., near Union Station (if the fence is open). There are several ways to get there, depending on where you are coming from:
From Rock Creek: Exit Rock Creek at P St., and take this East through both Dupont Circle and Logan Circle. After 3 miles on P St., just after counting down all the NW street numbers and crossing North Capital Street, P St. will end at Florida Ave. Turn right on Florida, left on Eckington, and a quick right on the first street (sign says Harry Thomas Rd.). When the road bends to the left, the trailhead is on the right.
From the Mall: Go up Louisiana Ave towards Union Station. Go around to the left of Union Station and get on First St. NE. Head up 1st St NE for a mile, and just after crossing New York Ave., turn right on Florida and then a quick left on Eckington, and a quick right on the first street (sign says Harry Thomas Rd.). When the road bends to the left, the trailhead is on the right.
From the White House: Simply go up New York Avenue away from the White House for two miles. Just after counting down all the NW street numbers and crossing North Capital Street, turn left on First St. NE, then right on Florida, left on Eckington, and a quick right on the first street (sign says Harry Thomas Rd.). When the road bends to the left, the trailhead is on the right.
For SLR runs from Iwo Jima, we will run the loop starting across
Key Bridge, the C&O Cabal to Rock Creek, up Rock Creek towards P St.,
then on P St. for three miles to see the trailhead (be careful and travel
in groups if you want to venture onto the isolated trail), then go down
First St NE past Union Station and onto the Mall via Lousiana Ave., then
back to Iwo Jima via Memorial Bridge. This should be about 12 miles.