Washington
Top Spots
Hike the C&O Canal Towpath: Carderock to Great Falls
Washington, District of Columbia
4.5
6.28 mi
/ 141 ft gain
Park on the road adjacent to the canal as indicated on the map (see below). This is a popular trail which is dog friendly and accessible year-round.
Visit the National Mall in Washington D.C.
Washington, District of Columbia
4.6
7 mi
Everyone has so many things on their plates these days that take all their time up. It is hard to get away for adventures or to experience new things. The National Mall in Washington D.C. is within an hour from millions of people on the East Coast. This centralized location makes the National Mall a great opportunity for a micro adventure and simple day trip or partial day trip. I chose to take...
Photograph Sunrise at the Lincoln Memorial
Washington, District of Columbia
4.8
Located on the far-west portion of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. stands the Lincoln Memorial. At almost 100 feet tall, this majestic structure overlooks the reflecting pool and offers an iconic view of the Washington Monument.
Parking is almost always an issue near the Lincoln Memorial, but if you arrive early enough, you may be able to find a paid parking space nearby. The nearest Met...
Bike the Mt. Vernon Trail
Arlington, Virginia
5.0
14 mi
Start your ride at the Teddy Roosevelt Island parking area and head southbound towards Mt. Vernon. You'll be riding next to the Potomac the entire time, with great views of the National Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, and the Memorial Bridge. The ride is as long as you want to make it, but a great ride is to Old Town Alexandria and back (14 miles total)! You can stop for lunch i...
Hike the Potomac Heritage Trail to Chain Bridge
Arlington, Virginia
5.0
8.4 mi
/ 300 ft gain
Hike the Potomac Heritage Trail through forest, hill and valley landscapes, as you follow along the river, itself. Starting at Roosevelt Island, you can hike as far as 8.4 miles roundtrip to Chain Bridge, with great views along the way.
Make sure to check the Potomac River water gauge ahead of time, in case the trail may be flooded in some areas.
Hike Theodore Roosevelt Island
Arlington, Virginia
4.3
2 mi
It seems only fitting that the president who gave us our national parks would have one all to his own.
Located on the edge of Washington D.C., Theodore Roosevelt Island offers a glimpse of what the city may have looked like before the politicians, before the marble buildings, before the traffic-choked streets, before the city was even a city.
Accessing the island is easy. Visitors can walk, b...
Hike Through Rock Creek Park
Washington, District of Columbia
3.3
9 mi
/ 450 ft gain
This is primarily a dirt trail, which is pretty rare and fantastic for hiking and trail-running. Depending on where you exactly start, it's roughly 4.5 miles, so it's a pretty moderate hike/ run or almost 10miles if you do the out and back. There are also a ton of other paths, so you can easily add on extra miles if you want to or get on the Valley Trail if you want to make it a super loop.
Hike the Soapstone Valley Trail
Washington, District of Columbia
4.0
2 mi
This is an out-and-back trail that starts and ends on different roads, but you will have better luck parking on Albemarle Street NW (where I have indicated the trailhead is on the map). This is a long street with plenty of street parking, just pay attention to the signs to see how long you can leave your car there.The trail head is hard to miss - There is a sign on the side of the road that say...
Potomac Overlook Trail
Arlington, Virginia
1.01 mi
/ 49 ft gain
Potomac Overlook Trail is a loop trail that takes you by a river located near Arlington County, Virginia.
Places to stay
Washington, Virginia
Parkway Drive Volleyball Courts
Overview
The Parkway Drive Volleyball courts are located along the Potomac River, northwest of the Lincoln Memorial. The Parkway Drive Vo...
Washington, District of Columbia
Hains Point Picnic Area (East Potomac Park)
Overview
Hains Point Picnic Areas are located in East Potomac Park. Reservations for picnic areas (A, B, C, D) are required seven days a ...
Washington, District of Columbia
Rock Creek Park Group Picnic Areas
Overview
Eight group picnic areas in Rock Creek Park are available for advance reservation from May through October. These picnic areas a...
Washington, District of Columbia
Fort Dupont Park Picnic Areas
Overview
Fort Dupont Park has three picnic areas that can be reserved for use by groups from spring to fall each year. There are also pi...
Greenbelt, Maryland
Greenbelt Campground
Overview
Campground closed until Spring 2020. Greenbelt Campground is an urban oasis just 12 miles from Washington, D.C. This beautiful,...
Greenbelt, Maryland
Greenbelt Park Picnic Areas
Overview
PICNIC AREAS CLOSED UNTIL 2020Greenbelt Park is an urban oasis just 12 miles from Washington, D.C. This beautiful, wooded park i...
Guides and stories
Quick links
- The best hiking trails in Washington
- The best backpacking in Washington
- The best camping in Washington
- Top adventures in Washington
Community
Mobile Apps
© 2021 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy