The Route 1 corridor has a number of great trails, but one of the best places to go for a long run or bike ride isn’t a trail at all.
With more than 6,500 acres, the USDA’s Beltsville Agricultural Research Center has miles of roads that don’t get much traffic, especially on weekends, making them ideal for long rides and runs. It’s also a great place to observe meteors and other celestial events.
The facility, which encourages staff to bike to work, has put together a list of written directions on routes to it from Hyattsville, Greenbelt and other nearby areas. Arrow Bicycle and other local biking groups often hold long rides through it as well.
The Beltsville Agricultural Research Center is also currently home to the Washington’s Birthday Marathon, held on the Sunday of the holiday weekend each February.
Held since 1962, it is one of the nine oldest marathons in the country and is the longest-running marathon in the greater D.C. area.
The race, which consists of three loops around the farm, has been canceled this year due to the pandemic, but you can see a map of the course online here.
There’s also a helpful map to see the entire Beltsville Agricultural Research Center area here.
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My father worked there from 1930 to 1943. My school class at University Park School went there every year on a field trip.
I understand the National Bureau of Printing and Engraving is moving their currency printing facility that has been in downtown DC for over a hundred years to a site at BARC.