District
Washington DC
Rock Creek Park’s 1,754 acres of urban forest give DC its signature trail network — Valley and Western Ridge run the length of the city under continuous tree cover.
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DC’s trails are surprisingly varied for a 68-square-mile district. Rock Creek Park is the spine: 32 miles of singletrack winding from the Maryland line down to the Kennedy Center, with side ravines (Soapstone, Pinehurst, Melvin Hazen) that climb steeply into the surrounding neighborhoods. The C&O Canal towpath starts at Georgetown and runs 184 miles to Cumberland MD — the first 14 miles of that are entirely walkable from the city. Capital Crescent Trail and the Anacostia River Trail extend the network into Maryland and southeast.
Parks in DC
All DC trails
- Anacostia Riverwalk Trail · Anacostia Riverwalk Trail
- Capital Crescent Trail · Capital Crescent Trail
- Valley Trail · Rock Creek Park
- Western Ridge Trail · Rock Creek Park
Permits, parking, and access
DC’s major trail networks are National Park Service-managed and free to access. Parking varies by trailhead — Rock Creek picnic area lots and the Nature Center are free; Beach Drive sees weekend closures (vehicles excluded, walkers and cyclists in) on multiple segments. The C&O Canal towpath at Georgetown has limited street parking; consider Metro to Foggy Bottom or Rosslyn for trail-end access.