WB&A Trail: Odenton down to Lanham

**Check back to see if the date or start time has changed. This ride may get postponed (possibly replaced with another ride) if the chance of rain is above 29%, or wind speed or wind gusts are above 14 mph (per WeatherBug) **
Note: This Isn’t the same as the W&A trail, which is to the east of this trail.

TRAIL INFO
The Baltimore, Washington & Annapolis Trail was originally a railroad line and relatively a straight line from Odenton down to Bowie. It has existed as two unconnected trails, until the bridge over the Patuxent got completed in May 2025. It features fields, bridges, and two corrugated iron tunnels. And it passes through these towns: Lanham, Glenn Dale, Bowie, Piney Orchard, and Odenton.

The trail is split into the NE portion in Anne Arundel County (~5.6 miles long) and the SW portion in Prince George's County (~7 miles long) making it a total of about 12.5 miles long one way due to switchbacks approaching the bridge. Total elevation is +/-1054 ft.

The trail goes through a mix of landscapes, but overall, it has trees on both sides most of the way. The fun parts are going through two corrugated iron tunnels, over two bridges, and through a boardwalk section that goes over a marshy area.

Trail video: WB&A Trail by Thelsh Experience
Map of the North trail: WB&A Trail - Anne Arundel County Trails | The Friends of AACo Trails (friendsofaatrails.org)

SKILL LEVEL: This trail has some noticeable inclines and declines so you need to be in shape to climb them or be ready to dismount and walk up. **Your bike brakes need to be in excellent condition too.**

PARKING & CHECK-IN
Closest Train Station: Odenton
Free parking is at Odenton Elementary School.
We'll meet in the parking lot 1:45-2:00, latest. At 2:00. we'll do a quick intro and the icebreaker question. From there, we’ll warm up our legs with a short ride to the trail’s starting point using a sidewalk (street crossing required).

If you're running late, just leave a comment in this event to let us know and try to catch up to us at one of our "regroup" stops.

BIKE RENTAL OPTION
The closest bike rental shop is TrailWerks Cyclery, https://trailwerkscyclery.com/
BIKE REPAIR
Jafe Cycling (in the retail center across the street from the southern endpoint).
THE PLAN
This ride starts at the northern trailhead in Anne Arundel County. We'll bike down to mile 0 in PG County. Since we have two leads, we will likely have two sets of people regrouping on the trail.
There are a couple of turns that may not be clearly marked so we will stop briefly for riders to catch up, but if you’re too far behind, then you should be prepared to use a nav app or the RideWithGPS link that will be posted in the event comments.

We’ll stop to regroup at the Patuxent River bridge (mile 5.7). For those that decide to go to the endpoint, we’ll regroup there for mile 0 pics and the option to go across the road to get drinks, snacks, etc. We estimate it will take participants 60-90 minutes to return.

PACE: It’s up to you. HOWEVER: The event organizers have fit legs (avg. 10-16 mph). And some of us like to do a cardio workout at some point. We make stops at tricky points on the trail and /or to regroup every 2-4 miles. Since paved trails can sometimes be crowded, we don’t have expectations of being able to go very fast.
· If you prefer a faster pace than the lead riders, you can make stops to wait for them to catch up.
· If you’re not sure what your avg. speed is, be prepared to use a nav app to ride solo in case you don’t catch up to us at our stops.

DISTANCE OPTIONS
These are just suggestions. Participants can return at any time they choose.
OPTION A- ~5.8 miles one way to the bridge and back
Participants can choose to turn back whenever they like and ride less mileage. Note: Mile 4-5 is a noticeable incline. And then mile 5.0-5.7 is a steep switchback decline segment. This means on the return, we’ll be faced with a steep continuous switchback incline, which I affectionately refer to as the “mini Tour de France.”

OPTION B: Any longer distance
Cross the bridge and continue biking south until you feel like biking back.

OPTION C: Bike the full trail distance of 12.7 miles, +/- 525 feet and back. Take a rest stop at mile 0 and/or go to the retail center across the street. The organizers plan to do this option.

BATHROOMS
There are retail options at The Shops at The Village at Odenton Station, which you would pass on the way to the Odenton train station. On the way down, there should be port-o-potties at Race Track Rd and Horespen Park parking lots. And there’s retail options across the road from the southern point (mile 0)

OPTION FOR AFTER=RIDE SOCIALIZATION
If you’re interested in meeting for drinks or food with your biking friends, we recommend The Hideaway, 1439 Odenton Rd, which has outdoor picnic tables and a large parking lot in the back. You can ride there as well as drive and it’s easy to see bikes from inside or outside. There are more food options on the other side of the Odenton Marc station.

WHAT TO DO & BRING
Bring: Water bottles, snacks, biking gloves, bike bell, bike lock, helmet visor, sunglasses, bike tube, pump, patch, first aid kit, mobile phone with nav app installed (e.g. Google maps, we use RidewithGPS). If you get leg cramps during or after a ride, take electrolytes before and during your ride (or add salt and magnesium to your water). A change of clothes for your ride home or a car seat cover to absorb sweat.
I will have first aid items (acetaminophen, antibacterial cream, bandaids, gauze, alcohol) in my backpack.
Clothing: Wear biking gloves and durable clothing so that if you fall, your skin is protected.
Be proactive to avoid a fall/crash and minimize injury:
· Keep a distance between yourself and other bikers. If the biker ahead of you suddenly stops, you should be able to avoid hitting them.
· Don’t make stops on the trail. Pull over to the side and use hand gestures to let people know you’re slowing down to make a stop.
· Yelling out “Passing on your left” and/or ringing a bike bell as you approach people ahead of you, so they don’t inadvertently move in your line of travel.
· Slowing down to wait, rather than speeding up when trying to pass people at the same time walkers/bikers are approaching you from the opposite direction.
· Avoid potholes and debris and slow down when approaching bumps
· When approaching road crossings and iffy situations, triple-check before crossing and don’t let yourself be distracted by talking, etc.
· Ensure your helmet is tightly secured so that it won’t move if you hit the ground.
MEETUP POLICIES
Participants should understand that biking is an inherently dangerous activity, and an accident could happen at any time. Participation is at your own risk.
An RSVP of “Yes” to an event is your digital signature acknowledging that you have read, understood, and agree with Meetup’s and MD Rail Trail Biking’s policies, esp. section 6 “Release” and section 8.2 ” Limitation of Liability,” found at https://www.meetup.com/terms/