Fort Circle Park Hiker-Biker Trail

Not familiar with the trail? No problem. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , MORE Trail Liaison, to join one of his weekly Wednesday rides.

During a recent ride on the Fort Circle Park Hiker-Biker Trail, Dan Fitzgerald, a Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE) trail liaison, was approached by a group of neighborhood youngsters excited and awed by his fancy mountain bike.

Kids: "Hey man, where are you going?"
Dan: "On the trail in the woods."
Kids: "You go in there?"

While the value of natural forest settings may be a no-brainer to most of us, the kids' reaction outlines a fundamentally different perspective. Many organizations are working to change that perspective and at the center of the renaissance is the Fort Circle Hiker-Biker Trail, a 7-8 mile linear trail extending through several of Washington DC's "east of the river" communities. Fort Circle offers pleasant natural surprises and depressing urban-neglect reminders wrapped up into one unique trail experience.

Mountain biker riding the Fort Circle Park Hiker-Biker Trail

View the Fort Circle Park Hiker-Biker Trail Slideshow on Flickr      

Trail & Terrain

For the purposes of this article, the Fort Circle Trail is divided into north and south sections starting from the Ridge Road / Fort Davis Drive intersection in the northern portion of Fort Dupont Park. To reach the intersection from the Fort Dupont Activity Center, take Fort Dupont Drive or the partially paved trail adjacent to the stage. If you only have time for one direction, we recommend the Southern Section.

Southern Section

Fort Davis Drive to Massachusetts Avenue: This is the longest, cleanest, flowy-est, and all-around finest cross-section of the entire trail. You'll pass a steep, rutted trail (stay right to avoid it) leading to ruins of the earthworks fort that gives the park its name.

Massachusetts Avenue to Branch Avenue: Deep stream valleys and ridge riding remind you that yeah, DC can be hilly. The best hill climbs are yet to come, though. his section is Fort Davis Park and features a wetland area near 28th Street.

Branch Avenue to Naylor Road: The trail entrance is on the right after a short stretch on Park Avenue. Enjoy the sketchy downhills! After crossing 28th Street, drop in and pedal hard to build up speed for "Gumball Alley." Good luck with the ascent (you'll need it).

Naylor Road to Anacostia Community Museum: Cruise downhill to Good Hope Road, cross it, and meander through the stream valley over some quaint wooden bridges. The meandering ends abruptly with a steep hill climb leading to the Anacostia Community Museum and Fort Stanton.

Fort Circle sign at the entrance of the trail

Northern Section

Ridge Road to East Capitol Street: The trail is fast and smooth but the roadside refuse erodes your enjoyment. The trash issue improves after crossing C Street into Fort Chaplin Park, where the fort's earthworks are in relatively good condition.

East Capitol Street to Fort Mahan: You'll need to cross busy Benning Road to get there, but the Fort Mahan trail section offers both a fun interpretative loop and a treasured trail connection to the 1.6 mile Marvin Gaye / Watts Branch Park trail.

Trail & Neighborhood Characteristics

By now, we've mentioned "road crossing," "trash," and "urban-neglect" enough times for you to probably realize that this isn't Schaeffer Farm. Mountain bike purists with easy access to the suburbs may want to look elsewhere for fresh singletrack. However, many others will enjoy Fort Circle for what it is. Here's a look at the pros and cons of the trail from a mountain biker's point of view:

Pros

• This is the only legal mountain bike trail in the District. That fact alone makes this trail a worthy addition to the city slicker's repertoire.
• There are enough steep hills to keep your lungs interested.
• Generous tree shade makes this a decent choice for summer rides.

Cons

• Your personal safety comfort level on this trail depends on your individual nature, but MORE recommends always riding it with a buddy.
• Road crossings are numerous and some crossings (Pennsylvania, Benning, Naylor, etc.) can be a major pain during rush hour. 
• The Park Service works hard to keep the trail in good shape but downed trees seem to be a constant issue.
• The Fort Circle Trail is to poison ivy as the Tidal Basin is to cherry blossoms. Get your Technu ready.   

MORE Stewardship

Without MORE's steady support for this high-potential but often-neglected trail destination, the Fort Circle Park Hiker-Biker Trail would suffer. The Fort Circle community of riders is led by Dan Fitzgerald (email: dbfitzgerald[at]yahoo.com). Dan schedules weekly Wednesday rides and occasional trail work days - stay tuned to the MORE website or contact Dan directly for updates.

Future of the Trail

Fort Mahan Interpretive Sign

Over the years, the Fort Circle corridor has been threatened by many ill-advised development plans. For the most part, the city now recognizes its value as a natural and recreational resource for a neglected, but vibrant, community clinging to few remaining green spaces.

The CapitalSpace Initiative planners and the National Park Service have expressed their shared intentions to connect the Fort Circle parks which, as the name indicates, form a partial circle of Civil War defenses around Washington DC. In the case of this article's featured trail, Union Army soldiers once walked the same sacred ground that mountain bikers and hikers now prowl.

Do you think they appreciated the lung-busting climbs?    

Location / Directions: SE Washington, DC; Metro - Benning Road (Blue)
Trail Distance: 7-8 miles
Surface / Difficulty: Mostly natural or crushed gravel; Moderate
Trail Map: Fort Circle Hiker-Biker Trail Map
Administration: National Park Service - National Capital Parks-East
Social Media: Twitter

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