The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club Trail Patrol and Shenandoah National Park are offering guided hikes in the Central District of the Park in celebration of National Trails Day. Educational information will also be available at the Harry F. Byrd Visitor Center.

Hikes range from the 1.8 mile Family "Story of the Forest Nature Trail" to the advanced 6 mile Rose River Loop. All hikes meet at the Visitor Center 15 minutes before they are scheduled to leave.

The event goes from 9:00am to 4:00pm on Saturday, June 3. Admission is free, though park fees still apply. You can register on the day at Harry F. Byrd Visitor Center, but pre-registration is required for some hikes. To find out more information about pre- registration and hiking times, email TPNTD@patc.net or click on the link below. Directions to the park can be found at www.nps.gov/shen.

Waynesboro Parks and Recreation is sponsoring this event to highlight some of the region's adventure sports such as mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, and rock climbing. Industry professionals will offer classes and product demonstrations throughout the day, and opportunities will be available to experience these sports and to purchase outdoor gear. There will also be a trail clean up for all participants.

XtremeFest is Saturday, June 3 from 10:00am to 3:00pm at Ridgeview Park in Waynesboro. Questions? Contact Dwayne Jones at 540-942-6735 or Parks&Rec@ci.waynesboro.va.us.

Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment is having their 3rd Annual Hike and Happy Hour to celebrate National Trails Day. This year's hike will be led by world-class bird watchers Alan Schreck and Linda Fields.

It will start at 4:00pm at Roosevelt Island and follow at 6:00pm with the Happy Hour at the Continental in Rosslyn. A $10 donation is suggested with proceeds to benefit local conservation efforts. (http://www.arlingtonenvironment.org/getinvolved.ht m#hike)

This event will include children's activities, a trail maintenance project, a guided hike and a canoe tour. The celebration goes from 10:00am to 9:00pm, contact (540) 862-8114.

To celebrate National Trails Day, staff from the Alexandria Archaeology Museum are offering a guided bike tour of the 15-mile Alexandria Heritage Trail. The tour will stop at the city's archaeological sites as well as Old Town to see the Godspeed, the historic replica of the ship that sailed from England to Jamestown in 1607.

The event is June 3, 2006, from 10:00am to 1:00pm at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, 101 Callahan Dr., Alexandria. The tour is free but pre- registration is required, contact the Alexandria Archaeology Museum at (703) 838-4399.

The Rivanna Trails Foundation is partnering with local trail-friendly organizations in Charlottesville to celebrate National Trails Day. The event is a day of community trail-building and stream cleanup for all ages. Lunch is also provided.

Activities begin at 8:30am at the New Pedestrian Bridge between Charlottesville High School and McIntire Park. To register, email Diana Foster at dfoster@newventure.com. Volunteer opportunities are also available.

Access Powells Creek through remote James River National Wildlife Refuge. Experienced participants must bring their own canoe/kayak. PFDs required. Cyrus Brame, US Fish and Wildlife Service, will guide and interpret the area’s wildlife and history. Pre- registration required, limit ten watercraft. To register contact Kim Hodge at (804) 730-2898 ext. 205.

To celebrate National Trails Day, the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail will have its official "ground breaking" on Saturday, June 3rd at 10:00 at the trail's intersection with Route 610 in King George County, Virginia. This 15.7 mile rails-to-trails project located east of Fredericksburg to US Route 301 is part of the abandoned Dahlgren Railroad Line which was used to carry people, supplies and equipment to the Dahlgren Naval facility during World War II. The rights to the trail were acquired in 2006 by the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail Association with the mission of preserving the trail from development and hopefully transferring it to Virginia as part of its Virginia State Park system according to David Brickley, the association's president. However, a majority of the King George Board of Supervisors has been opposed to the trail and has previously prevented the state from acquiring the trail. A new "Friends of the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail" has been formed by local citizens who support preserving the trail.

As no parking is available at Rt 610, transportation is being coordinated by the Friends organization. Cyclists will be riding to the trailhead. Those not riding on their bicycles to the trail will meet at the Caledon Natural Area picnic shelter at 9:00AM where shuttle buses will take others to and back from the ceremonies. This will be a day of celebration and commitment to preserving Virginia's special spaces and our next rail-to-trail. For more information call 703-590-3569.