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Tales from the Trail

Every trail has a story to tell. For some, it's a story of the past - from Native American settlements to Civil War garrisons. For other trails, the story begins and ends with the environment - the degradation caused by our damaging habits and what we can do to buck the trend. Last but not least, the drama queen trails tell the story of political and administrative struggles - different user groups with different priorities.

Only in DC can the story of a trail span history, environment, and politics. Such is the story of the Rock Creek Park Trail.

View the Rock Creek Park Trail Slideshow on Flickr

Paved Trail

The setting is Rock Creek Park, Washington DC's most popular green space not named the National Mall. The park hosts approximately 2 million visitors per year - many of whom tread on the paved Rock Creek Park Trail.

The 6.5 mile paved trail is is divided into sections detailed below (mileage markers in parentheses). The official southern terminus of the trail is just south of the Tidal Basin, parallel to Ohio Drive.

Tidal Basin to Georgetown/C&O Canal (2.1 miles): Part trail and part large sidewalk, this section is adjacent to the National Mall and the Kennedy Center. The C&O Canal intersection is your best Georgetown access point.  Georgetown/C&O Canal to P Street Bridge (0.5): The P Street bridge is your last chances to exit the trail (safely, at least) until Connecticut Avenue. The bridge is just four blocks west of Dupont Circle.P Street Bridge to Connecticut Avenue Bridge (1.3): The grandest of Rock Creek's bridges is Connecticut Avenue. This area features a very popular large grassy area at Shoreham Drive.National Zoological Park (1.0): This section includes a 0.5 mile detour that avoids the Parkway tunnel, but it's only open from dawn to dusk. Zoo access is available at National Zoo Drive.Zoo to Broad Branch Road (1.7): After winding 1.7 miles passed the Zoo, the paved trail ends at Broad Branch Drive.Beach Drive

Six and change miles of trail may be great for a jogger, but most cyclists will be itching for more. Riding on a weekend? You're in luck. Beach Drive, north of Broad Branch Road, is, in The WashCycle's words, DC's very own "ciclovia." On weekends, from 7 AM Saturday to 7 PM Sunday, this section of Beach Drive is closed to cars. For 36 straight hours every week, one of the region's most scenic roads is a two-wheeled and two-feet wonderland.

Beach Drive's car-free section lends itself to a two-part breakdown.

Broad Branch Road to Joyce Road/Military Road (1.6 miles): The crossing at Joyce Road provides trail access to the Nature Center. Military Road to Maryland/DC border (2.7): The most remote-feeling section, the DC/Maryland border is the northern terminus of Rock Creek Park.

To view the full 10.8 mile excursion (Rock Creek Park Trail plus Beach Drive), check out this map featuring Google's new Bicycling map layer.

Trail Highlights

Several features and characteristics of the route make it a classic Washington DC outdoor adventure.

Bridge Architecture: This is not an architecture website, but even a casual observer is awed by the massive concrete bridges crossing Rock Creek. The Connectict Avenue bridge is the largest, but Trail Voice's favorite is the tiny Boulder Bridge on Beach Drive.19th Century History: Pierce Mill is the featured attraction, but we also like Mt. Zion Cemetery, a reminder of the vibrant history of free blacks in the District. Trail Connections: Rock Creek Park, in and of itself, features a vast network of natural surface trails. Cyclists and joggers/hikers can also take advantage of the following trail connections: National Mall, C&O Canal, Melvin C. Haven/Glover-Archbold Park, and Montgomery County's extension of the Rock Creek Trail.Trail Future

No stranger to the DC political scene, Rock Creek Park was a favorite getaway for Teddy Roosevelt and his unsuspecting foreign guests. Lately, it's been the scene of a different kind of politics. Loved to death by walkers, joggers, and stroller-pushers, the narrow, winding paved trail has long been a point of contention with cyclists; but that may change. After several years of WABA advocacy efforts, DDOT and the National Park Service have decided to widen the trail and improve the surface.

Park & Trail Volunteering

For the stewards among us, Rock Creek Park provides a full slate of volunteer opportunities including Bike Patrol, Pierce Mill guiding, and Nature Center programs. The busiest day of the Rock Creek spring volunteering season is April 10th in conjunction with the Potomac River Watershed Cleanup. Visit our dedicated event page to learn more about joining the Trail Voice/Friends of Rock Creek's Environment team and thousands of other volunteers.

No other DC trail offers urbanites an experience quite like the Rock Creek Park Trail. Whether you visit to stretch your legs or take in the history, we think you'll enjoy the story.

Location / Directions: NW Washington, DCTrail Distance: 10.8 miles total; Rock Creek Park Trail - 6.5 miles, Beach Drive - 4.3 milesSurface / Difficulty: Paved; EasyTrail Map: Map of Rock Creek ParkAdministration: National Park ServiceSocial Media: Facebook, Twitter

You are escaping to freedom and have made it to Woodlawn. Now you must travel through woods and skirt the edges of farm fields to safely reach the Sandy Spring itself. Can you do it?This excerpt from the interpretive guide [PDF] of the Underground Railroad Experience Trail, sets the stage for a journey that is one part hike, and two parts fascinating history lesson. The trail  is a natural surface path cut through a stretch of Montgomery County woods steeped in Civil War era history. The trail head at Woodlawn Manor is near the Quaker town of Sandy Spring - a town that historians believe was an active stop on the legendary underground railroad. The trail itself is open throughout the week, but we highly recommend joining a 10 AM Saturday morning guided hike. Your "Conductor" (volunteer trail guide) is a wealth of knowledge and an ideal hiking companion. The Trail Experience

From Woodlawn Manor - former home of Dr. Palmer, a Quaker slave owner - the Conductor leads you to the relative safety (from a runaway slaves' perspective) of the forest cover. At this juncture, your challenged to use the mind, a runaway slave's best weapon, to imagine the sacrifices required to survive. Proceeding north on the trail, it's necessary to start thinking about shelter - do you opt for the prickly bramble patch or the hollowed tree? With that said, shelter is temporary and danger lies ahead in the form of a stream crossing (now a bridge). Your hiking experience ends at the Sandy Spring, but for runaway slaves, Sandy Spring was just one stop on the long road to freedom.

The Underground Railroad

Men and women, white and black, working together to right a wrong. Morality does not have a color.- Mike Robinson, Volunteer Conductor

In today's world, it is difficult to understand the underground railroad from either the perspective of a runaway slave or that of the selfless citizen willing to risk his or her life for the cause. The Underground Railroad Experience Trail is an educational path that helps us to understand this important piece of our history.

Maryland Emancipation Day

The last day of the scheduled guided tour, November 7th, doubles as Maryland Emancipation Day. Dedicated to showcasing Maryland's, and specifically Montgomery County's place in history, this event offers a number of family-friendly activities including a special evening edition of the guided tour entitled, "The Night Sky and the Underground Railroad." For more information as the event approaches, visit the Montgomery Parks website.

Location: Woodlawn Manor in Sandy Spring, Maryland Distance: 2 miles one way; 3 mile circuit for guided option Surface / Difficulty: Natural; Easy Trail Map: Trail Map and Guide of the Underground Railroad Experience [PDF] Additional Info: Guided tour every Saturday at 10 AM (until November 7th)

The Underground Railroad Experience Trail has been invaded by non-native plants! Help the Weed Warriors fight back!

The Washington DC fort building industry just ain't what it used to be. No matter, both history buffs and outdoor recreation enthusiasts can still appreciate a visit to Fort Washington Park (map), located in Prince George's County, Maryland. Flanked by Swan Creek to the north and Piscataway Creek to the south, Fort Washington Park is strikingly set on the steep banks of the lower Potomac River. The fort itself was originally completed in 1809, rebuilt in the 1820's, and opened as a National Park in 1946. Much of the concrete structure from the early to mid 1800's remains standing today, offering a glimpse into 19th century history for 21st century adventurers.

Although most park visitors cluster near the main fort structure, Fort Washington Park has not ignored the needs of hikers. The River Trail and the Swan Creek Trail (designated sections of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail), circle the perimeter of the park, totaling a three-plus mile loop when combined. Extending south from the main fort, the River Trail tiptoes (sometimes steeply) along the picturesque banks of the Potomac and the Piscataway, eventually turning inland to connect to the park entrance road. The hike continues with the Swan Creek Trail, the entrance to which is a few hundred feet outside of the park gate. With heavy tree cover, steep gorges, and marshy habitats, the Swan Creek Trail traverses a much different landscape than its counterpart. However, the trails do share one similarity - fascinating relics and ruins from the fort's early days dot the trail-side.

Hiking and history at Fort Washington Park - not a bad way to get into the 4th of July mood.

Park Stats: 341 acres; approximately three miles of natural surface trailsPark Map: http://www.nps.gov/fowa/planyourvisit/upload/FOWAmap1.pdfAdministration: National Park Service, National Capital Parks - East

Monuments in the moonlight - need we say more? Full moon hikes are on for May (Sierra Club PRO) and June (MD.DC.VA Hiking Meetup Group).

The Cherry Blossom Festival welcomes nearly a million people to "our nation's front yard" - the National Mall & Memorial Parks (map). What more really can be said about this iconic national park that has not already been expressed by Presidents and Statesmen? It's a symbol of our country, a mecca of free speech, and a darn good place to go for a jog. D.C. locals and tourists alike enjoy miles of trails and acres of urban open-space in this park. There is really no one way to experience the outdoor recreation opportunities of the National Mall & Memorial Parks, but Trail Voice recommends two feet or two wheels. National Mall Park Rangers seem to agree - check out the schedule of events for Ranger-led walks and bike tours (which start up again this weekend after a winter hibernation). If you're visiting at some point during the next few weeks, you might also want to see what that cherry blossom fuss is all about.

Park Stats: 146 acres encompassing the National Mall (U.S. Capitol to Washington Monument), West Potomac Park (south of the Reflecting Pool including the Tidal Basin), and Constitution Gardens (north of the Reflecting Pool up to Constitution Ave.)Trail Stats: No official mileage. Multiple connections to other Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia trails.Administration: National Park Service - National Mall & Memorial Parks