What are the best hikes near DC? Today we have compiled an awesome list with the best hikes near DC.
If you thought DC was an urban jungle, think again. The DC area is full of hiking trails and many of them are really close to the city. You might need to drive to some of the hikes we are going to list today but some of them are accessible by foot, bike, or bus. The reserves sprawl across state boundaries into Maryland and Virginia and they’re still within easy driving distance.
If you love nature like me, or simply want to take some time away from the city life crazyness, we will give you some great options to go hiking, see the beautiful wildlife and great falls.
Theodore Roosevelt Island
This island, located in the middle of the Potomac River, is a hidden gem! It’s a great place to go for a walk and see some wildlife. In particular there are plenty of red tail hawks that fly around the area – just keep your eyes peeled for them!
How to get there: The closest metro stop is Rosslyn on the orange line, then it’s a 15 minute walk from there. Or if you don’t mind walking 30 minutes you can also take two buses from 23rd street (Lincoln monument): first bus 66 to Fletcher’s Boat House, second bus 34 to Theodore Roosevelt Island. You can always bike or drive as well!
Great Falls
This national park is really close to DC and well worth it! The waterfalls are beautiful, especially if you go in the spring time (it’s beautiful with all the greenery around). There are several trails of different difficulty levels. You can walk along the river or even climb up some rocks for an awesome photo spot!
How to get there: drive, bike or take metro bus 193 (the last stop is at 9th street)
Billy Goat Trail
This trail is located inside of Great Falls National Park and it has some pretty difficult parts so I recommend this hike only for advanced hikers. If you like rock scrambling though this one is perfect for you!
Note: make sure you do your research before taking this hike, there are lots of injuries every year because people underestimate the difficulty.
Great Blue Heron at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge:
The Blackwater refuge is located in Cambridge, Maryland (only 1 hour away from DC). You will be able to see beautiful birds like herons and maybe even some alligators! There are several trails where you can spot animals and plants while going on a nice walk in the woodlands.
How to get there: Drive or take a bus from Water street metro station, next bus 28A goes straight to the entrance of the park. Patowmack Canal Trail This trail follows a canal that was used in times to transport goods from Maryland to the Potomac river.
You can see some historical elements of that time on this trail, like stone walls or granite locks. It’s a very nice walk with great scenery.
How to get there: Drive to Great Falls national park, then head east and take McCoord road (or you can walk from Southside drive).
Muddy Branch Trail This trail is located in Rock Creek Regional Park, where you will find plenty of hiking trails! The Muddy branch trail has about 6 miles so it is not too long but it has several steep hills so be prepared for a workout.
C&O Canal
This is one of the most popular trails around DC. It’s really close to Georgetown and it follows an old canal that used to transport goods from Maryland all the way to Washington.
You can see several historical elements like locks or stone walls, as well as a lot of wildlife! There are plenty of spurs that lead to different parking lots so you can pick whichever one works best for you depending on how long you want your hike to be. How long do these hikes take?
The shortest ones will probably take between 1-3 hours while longer ones may take up to 8 hours. If you’re new to hiking – I recommend trying out shorter hikes before attempting longer ones. It takes some time to really get into it and build up your stamina, so better start small!
Rock Creek Park
This is a great place to work out while enjoying the views! It’s located in Rock Creek Park, right next to the creek. There are several trails of different difficulty levels, so it doesn’t matter if you’re just starting out or if you need more of a challenge – you will find something here for sure!
How to get there: Drive or take metro bus 80 from Connecticut avenue. They also have other locations around DC , so there’s no excuse not to exercise during your trip 🙂
Lake Fairfax Park
Lake Fairfax Park is one of my favorite places to go running because it has gorgeous scenery and I feel like I’m really making some progress when I run here (which is great since summer time makes me tired and not so much in the mood for working out). It’s located in Reston, Virginia (about 1 hour away from DC) and it has several trails that you can choose depending on how long your run is gonna be. How to get there: Drive or take a bus from West Falls Church metro station.
Lake Needwood
This place is really fun because Stoney Creek Mountain Bike Trails are also very close by! Stoney Creek offers biking trails of different difficulty levels as well as some great views which make this whole exercise thing even more enjoyable! How to get there: Drive or take bus 29A which goes directly to Lake Needwood. This park also has plenty of other trails where you can take your dog for a walk etc.
Rock Creek Nature Center Trail
This is a perfect place to go hiking with your family as there’s plenty of activities for children! There are also some really nice trails that will lead you all the way down to the creek.
How to get there: Drive or take metro bus 80 from Connecticut avenue and stop at ‘Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan’. You can also walk from Woodley Park, although this may take a while.
Glen Echo Park This is one of my favorite places! I love going here because it has so much fun stuff for kids -and even adults- like mini golf, rock climbing etc.
It also has an area where you can ride horses if you’re into that kind of thing 🙂 How to get there: It’s located in Glen Echo, Maryland (about 1 hour away from DC). Take metro bus B2 and get off at the last stop.
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Trail
This is another popular trail and you can find more about it on this website (click here to read more) . I like going here because the scenery is amazing! How to get there: Drive or take bus 29B from Connecticut avenue. You can also walk from the metro station of the same name.
Wolf Rock & Chimney Rock
Wolf Rock is a nice trail that’s not too difficult to climb, but it does have some steep parts which makes it more challenging.
The views however are totally worth it! It’s located in Sugarloaf Mountain park, right next to the Potomac river.
I love going here because you can see all the way down to Washington DC! How to get there: Drive or take metro bus B2 from Connecticut avenue and stop at ‘Sugarloaf Mountain’. You can also walk from the metro station of the same name.
Loudoun Heights Trail
This is a very popular trail and honestly one of my favorites! It’s about 3-4 miles roundtrip, so it’s not too long but it takes you to some really beautiful places!
There are also some great views from the top, where you can see all of Loudoun county. If you have more time, you can even walk down to the Potomac river from here. How to get there: Drive or take bus 29B from Connecticut avenue and stop at ‘Loudoun Heights’. You can also walk from the metro station of the same name.
Camp Muir Trail
Mount Rainier National Park This is a must-do when in Washington DC if you’re an experienced hiker! I love going here because you really get to see a different side of the mountains that most people rarely go to.
How to get there: You have two options- drive or take bus 53 from Connecticut avenue and then change to the Link light rail train towards ‘Sumner/Northeast 100th’. Take off at ‘Mount Rainier South-Gate’ station. Btw, if you go during summer time, tickets are FREE so don’t forget to pick yours up before entering! 🙂
Hoh Rainforest
Olympic National Park This is another one of my favorite places! I love going here because it feels like being in another planet… seriously, nature looks so different here!
The hike itself is about 4-5 miles roundtrip, but it’s not too difficult, so don’t be put off by that.
How to get there: Drive or take bus 53 from Connecticut avenue and then change to the Link light rail train towards ‘Olympic Peninsula’. Take off at ‘Seattle-Pacific Ave’ station. Btw, if you go during summer time, tickets are FREE so don’t forget to pick yours up before entering! 🙂
Top of Mt. St. Helens
Gifford Pinchot National Forest This is another must-do for all nature lovers out there! I must admit I haven’t been here myself yet, but it looks incredibly beautiful in pictures 🙂
It’s about a 2 hours drive away from Washington DC, so you have to plan ahead if you want to go.
How to get there: Drive or take bus 29B from Connecticut avenue and stop at ‘Gifford Pinchot National Forest’. Stop at the first ranger station after leaving the main road. You can also walk from the metro station of the same name, but it will take a while!
Little Devil’s Stairs
Cheakamus River Hiking This is another local favorite here in Silverdale, Washington. I love going here because it’s not too difficult to climb, but still really beautiful!
The hike itself is about 2-3 miles roundtrip, so it’s quite long but the paths are easy enough to follow. How to get there: Drive or take bus 41 from ‘Burlington Mall’ station. You can also walk from the metro station of the same name, but it will take a while! 🙂
Mt. Si Trail
Mount Si This is yet another one of my favorite trails for all you nature lovers out there! It was actually ranked as one of the most dangerous hikes in America at some point, but it’s definitely not as bad as you think 😉
It’s about 4-5 miles roundtrip, but the trail is very good and easy to follow. Just make sure you keep your eyes on where you’re going at all times…
How to get there: This one is a bit tricky- drive or take bus 41 from ‘Burlington Mall’ station and change at ‘Snoqualmie Ranger Station’. You can also walk from the metro station of the same name, but it will take a while! 🙂
Mt. Daniel Trail
George Washington National Forest This trail is for more experienced hikers out there! I love going here because it takes you up to some of the most beautiful places around here, with awesome views of the mountains surrounding you.
The hike itself is about 10 miles roundtrip, so it’s definitely not easy! How to get there: Drive or take bus 53 from Connecticut avenue and then change to the Link light rail train towards ‘Olympic Peninsula’. Take off at ‘Seattle-Pacific Ave’ station. Btw, if you go during summer time, tickets are FREE so don’t forget to pick yours up before entering! 🙂
Whitewater Trail
Snoqualmie Pass This trail is my local favorite because it’s very short (only 1 mile long) but also really beautiful! I love going here in autumn when all the leaves are changing color 😉
How to get there: Drive or take bus 41 from ‘Burlington Mall’ station. You can also walk from the metro station of the same name, but it will take a while! 🙂
All these trails are amazing for taking some nice pictures to remember your trip by!
Conclusion
If you are looking for a new workout routine, Rock Creek Park is the perfect place to start. The different trails have varying difficulty levels so it’s easy to find something that suits your fitness level and needs. If you’re not sure which trail will work best for you, consider how much time you want to spend on exercise – shorter hikes may take about 1-3 hours but longer ones could last up to 8 hours or more if they require steep inclines or difficult terrain.
