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Colesville, Maryland

Top Spots in and near Colesville

  • Derwood, Maryland

    Hike, Bike, or Run the Lakeside Trail and Muncaster Mill Trail

    4.5
    3.41 mi / 196 ft gain
    Park at the Meadowside Nature Center to Access the trailhead. This is a 3.4 mile loop with opportunities for birding and observing wildlife. Dogs are welcome on leash. 
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  • Washington, District of Columbia

    Hike the Soapstone Valley Trail

    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 le...
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  • McLean, Virginia

    Hike at Turkey Run Park, McLean

    4.0
    2 mi / 200 ft gain
    Turkey Run Park is available to hikers year-around and is located just off of George Washington Parkway in McLean, Virginia. The exits are clearly marked and you simply drive to parking lot C-1 to start this hike.Turkey Run has numerous trail options available but I chose an out-and-back. When yo...
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  • Laurel, Maryland

    Hike the South Tract Trails at Patuxent Research Refuge

    5 mi
    From the visitors center, start on the Fire Road trail. From there, it's a choose-your-own adventure (choose-your-own ecosystem, actually). Pick the Laurel and Valley Trails to stay in the quiet (and maybe enchanted? It felt enchanted) forest. Goose Pond trail is a short jut to a--yup--pond, wher...
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  • Washington, District of Columbia

    Visit Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

    4.5
    1.5 mi
    The Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens are a unique spot in Washington, D.C. The grounds are full of ponds, boardwalks, and a trail that connects you to the Anacostia River Trail. The main draw of this park are the ponds full of lotus flowers. During the summer months, they grow tall with colors ranging ...
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  • Arlington, Virginia

    Fish the Potomac River in Arlington

    Parking along 36th Road in Arlington, VA, head down the path on the Gulf Branch Trail. Walk northeast for roughly a quarter mile, where you will intersect with the Potomac River. Find a spot along the sand, cast out, and watch the catfish bite! Chicken liver seems to work well.  Don't forget to h...
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  • Arlington, Virginia

    Bike the Mt. Vernon Trail

    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 mak...
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  • Arlington, Virginia

    Hike Theodore Roosevelt Island

    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-...
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  • Washington, District of Columbia

    Visit the National Mall in Washington D.C.

    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 Mal...
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  • Washington, District of Columbia

    Photograph Sunrise at the Lincoln Memorial

    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, ...
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  • McLean, Virginia

    Scott's Run Nature Preserve Loop

    4.2
    2.51 mi / 397 ft gain
    This nature preserve can be hiked year-round and is a sanctuary for rare wildflowers, birds, and other wildlife including deer and fox. There are six main interconnecting trails that run through the preserve; winding their way around matured hardwood forest, sheer bluffs, and rocky cliffs overloo...
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  • Great Falls, Virginia

    Hike from Riverbend Regional Park to Great Falls National Park

    5.0
    2.5 mi / 75 ft gain
    This hike utilizes the Potomac Heritage Trail from Riverbend Park to Great Falls National Park. This section is an easy, mostly flat trail that will take you along the Potomac until you reach Great Falls National Park. When you reach Riverbend Park turn right into the parking lot. At the end of t...
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  • Great Falls, Virginia

    Canoe from Algonkian Regional Park to Riverbend Park

    4.0
    Starting at Algonkian Regional Park and ending at Riverbend Park, this 8.5 mile canoe trip is a perfect way to get away from the traffic that is Northern Virginia.  Paddling hard, people have completed it in 4 hours.  It can easily be turned into an all day trip lasting 8 or more hours, if paddli...
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  • Montgomery Village, Maryland

    Hike the Seneca Creek Greenway Trail Upper Section

    5.0
    14.86 mi / 836 ft gain
    Park in the lot off of Watkins Mill Road to access the trail. This hike is dog friendly and is accessible from March until November. 
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  • Potomac, Maryland

    Great Falls and the Billy Goat Trail

    4.5
    4.61 mi / 272 ft gain
    Just outside of Washington DC is a great hike and rock scramble you don't want to miss. Great Falls lies in both Virginia and Maryland and has beautiful views of the Potomac River. Start out at the Great Falls Tavern parking lot (Maryland side), and keep in mind it is $10 to park here if you don...
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  • McLean, Virginia

    Photograph Great Falls of the Potomac

    5.0
    0.69 mi / 131 ft gain
    Viewing Great Falls is easy which makes this adventure great for all levels of adventurers. There is a ~$10 entrance fee, there you will receive a map of the park. There are 3 platforms of viewing Great Falls, each platform has stunning  panoramic views. Make sure you do not forget to bring your ...
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Camping and Lodging in Colesville

Rock Creek Park Group Picnic Areas
Washington, District of Columbia

Rock Creek Park Group Picnic Areas

Greenbelt Campground
Greenbelt, Maryland

Greenbelt Campground

Greenbelt Park Picnic Areas
Greenbelt, Maryland

Greenbelt Park Picnic Areas

Parkway Drive Volleyball Courts
Washington, Virginia

Parkway Drive Volleyball Courts

Fort Dupont Park Picnic Areas
Washington, District of Columbia

Fort Dupont Park Picnic Areas

Hains Point Picnic Area (East Potomac Park)
Washington, District of Columbia

Hains Point Picnic Area (East Potomac Park)

Guides, Insights and Stories from Colesville

How the Outdoors Won in the Recent Spending Bill

How the Outdoors Won in the Recent Spending Bill

Outdoor Alliance

7 Sunrise Photos from Virginia's Historic Leesylvania State Park

7 Sunrise Photos from Virginia's Historic Leesylvania State Park

Nick Palastro