best DC area day hikes
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Anonymous
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This is sort of an anti-travel question but I wasn't sure where else to ask it ...
DH and I have Friday off and we have childcare. Before kids we were avid hikers and really miss it. We used to take day trips from DC to Shenandoah, Old Rag, etc. but will only have from 9-5:15/30pm to be gone. I figure if we have a 2+ hour drive that would leave from 11:30am-3pm only to hike ... not much time. Can anyone recommend some good hikes closer to the city (we are in Takoma DC)? Anything in the 10mile range? I know it may not be gorgeous waterfalls etc. but anything pretty and outdoors (but not Rock Creek Park which we both run and bike daily) would be good. |
Anonymous
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Mason Neck is nice and has some scenic parts along the water, and less than an hour from DC
http://www.hikingupward.com/OVH/MasonNeck/ |
Anonymous
| Great Falls Park. I think the something like Goat Trail is on the Maryland side. |
Anonymous
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There are some nice trails in Montgomery County including
Little Bennett http://www.montgomeryparks.org/PPSD/ParkTrails/trails_MAPS/little_bennett.shtm or the Cabin John trail http://www.montgomeryparks.org/PPSD/ParkTrails/trails_MAPS/cabin_john_svu.shtm |
Anonymous
| Definitely Great Falls. Love it there on weekdays. |
Anonymous
| Prince William Forest Park. |
Anonymous
| EDIT - you said close to the city, my suggestion is not valid. |
Anonymous
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Billy Goat A! That's the best loop, IMO
Second choice: the GWParkway trail. It runs all along the Potomac from somewhere pretty far down, close to the CIA, to Roosevelt Island. 10 miles altogether. You could do an out/back if you only have one car, or park one car at the end near Virginia (really cannot remember that park-only exit), hike to Roosevelt Island, walk up and across the bridge, and Uber back to your car. |
Anonymous
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Annapolis Rock is about an hour from DC, in Maryland. It's not that long, kind of steep to get up there, beautiful vista and running stream.
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Anonymous
| Sugarloaf mountain |
Anonymous
| Rock Creek Park has some good ones - look up Pulpit Rock on a map - Boundary bridge. Even though it's close in - it's fun for kids as there is often water close by - especially if you can cross the creek. For that reason - when mine were young - they loved Soapstone Valley. |
Anonymous
| If you are serious hikers you could do all the sections of the Billy Goat Trail. A is the favored ( harder) section but B is fun and so is C. |
Anonymous
reading comprehension much? OP's short, succinct post made three points - adults only, 10 miles, not Rock Creek. |
Anonymous
| Go to Catoctin! |
Anonymous
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10:37 here again - just looked at a map and that trail I mentioned, you'd park at Turkey Run Park and hike all the way to Theodore Roosevelt Island. It's not a walk on a flat surface - there are some nice climbs.
I was also wrong about the distance - it's actually 7.5 miles one way. Info here- https://www.nps.gov/pohe/planyourvisit/nova-hike-4.htm |