The newly reopened Soapstone trail needs – and will be getting – some work done.

by Marlene Berlin

The recent reopening of most of the Soapstone Valley Trail restores the recreational use of this Rock Creek Park tributary, and reveals trail maintenance work that is needed already, due both to DC Water’s sewer rehabilitation project, and to recent rainstorms.

When I set out for one trail walk, on September 26th, we’d been through a rainy few days, including some powerful overnight downpours.

On the whole, it was very good to have this part of the trail open. Large limbs of two trees impeded the trail, but hikers were able to get around them. The Soapstone sewer work included stream reconstruction, to protect the rehabbed sewer lines from damage from erosion and severe storms. Protecting the trails is a side benefit. The pools at the lower part of the Linnean outfall were working well, and taking stormwater over the rock face into the stream without impeding walkability.

The trail from the first stream crossing to the manhole near the second crossing was in good condition. However, between the manhole and this footbridge, the trail angles sharply toward the stream.

Both this section of the trail and the footbridge are on a trail maintenance to-do list. Alex Sanders, the district manager of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, tells us volunteers will tackle them this fall. This will be their first work in the Soapstone Valley since the park closed in early 2022.

Also, DC Water contractors will need to replace some newly planted trees, because they are already dead.

And something to keep in mind after rainstorms: Portions of the three stream crossings might be underwater. This was the crossing closest to the Broad Branch Road entrance to the park.