The D.C. area has the perfect climate for year-round hiking. Spring provides a treasure trove of wildflowers and breezes. The woods are lush and green during the summer, and awash in gold and rust come autumn; mild winters make for easy hikes whether or not there's snow on the ground. It's no surprise that D.C. is a great place to take an outdoor day trip.Teddy Roosevelt Island, just across the Key Bridge from Georgetown, is a beautiful, easy hike for all ages. There's a network of flat walking trails on the 88 acre island, including a boardwalk through the marsh. At the center is an amphitheater with fountains and a larger-than-life 17-foot statue of Teddy Roosevelt. Markers along the hiking trails provide information on the plethora of wildlife and native plants.
Cunningham Falls State Park in Maryland is a woodland paradise, located off US Route 15 between Frederick and Thurmont in the Catoctin Mountains. The park makes for a great day trip for D.C. residents and visitors. The park is home to the president's retreat at Camp David, and the magnificent 78-foot-high Cunningham Falls — the largest cascading waterfall in Maryland. The park has nine trails with varying difficulty, and all trails include routes to the waterfall. Maps of the hiking trails are available from the park's ranger stations. Click here for a complete trail guide
Just a 35-mile drive from downtown Washington, Prince William Forest Park transports visitors to an idyllic wooded wonderland only an hour from the D.C. metro area. "It's not too far away from home, but with 15,000 acres of parkland and a complete forest ecosystem, it feels like a mini-getaway," says Bob Hickman, Prince William Forest Park superintendent.
Situated along Quantico Creek in Triangle, the park has 40 miles of trails for all levels of hikers, walkers, and bicyclists. The Piedmont Trail is popular with seniors and families with strollers, as it is paved with bouncy turf made from recycled tires. The Quantico Falls loop is also a good family hike, with peaceful curves in the open forest and views of the creek. Both trails are less than one mile. The nine-mile road through the park is a picturesque Sunday drive by car or bike, and a great way to spend an afternoon.
Photo credit: flickr cc Wodwose75
Just a 35-mile drive from downtown Washington, Prince William Forest Park transports visitors to an idyllic wooded wonderland only an hour from the D.C. metro area. "It's not too far away from home, but with 15,000 acres of parkland and a complete forest ecosystem, it feels like a mini-getaway," says Bob Hickman, Prince William Forest Park superintendent.
Situated along Quantico Creek in Triangle, the park has 40 miles of trails for all levels of hikers, walkers, and bicyclists. The Piedmont Trail is popular with seniors and families with strollers, as it is paved with bouncy turf made from recycled tires. The Quantico Falls loop is also a good family hike, with peaceful curves in the open forest and views of the creek. Both trails are less than one mile. The nine-mile road through the park is a picturesque Sunday drive by car or bike, and a great way to spend an afternoon.
Photo credit: flickr cc Wodwose75
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