Washington is the capital of the United States, a planned city of 68 square miles on the Potomac River between Maryland and Virginia. It holds the three branches of the federal government, the Smithsonian museums (free to enter), the National Mall monuments and a wide range of neighborhoods, and receives more than 20 million visitors a year.
Top trails
Routes worth lacing up your boots for.
-
1
Rock Creek Park Valley Trail (Nature Center to Peirce Mill)
-
2
Theodore Roosevelt Island Loop
-
3
C&O Canal Towpath: Georgetown to Fletcher's Cove
-
4
Billy Goat Trail Section A (Great Falls, Maryland)
-
5
Great Falls Park River Trail and Overlooks (Virginia)
-
6
Mount Vernon Trail (Roosevelt Island section)
-
7
Capital Crescent Trail (Georgetown to Bethesda)
-
8
Fort Circle Park Trail: Fort Stevens to Fort Totten
-
9
U.S. National Arboretum Loop and Azalea Hills
Trail difficulty levels
Pick a route that matches your fitness and experience.
Flat paved or packed paths such as the C&O Canal towpath and Roosevelt Island; suitable for families.
Natural-surface trails with some hills, such as Rock Creek Park and the Great Falls overlooks.
Rock scrambling and exposed terrain such as Billy Goat Trail Section A.
When to hike
Seasonal conditions in Washington.
- Items
Local hazards
What to watch out for on the trail.
Hazard: Ticks and poison ivy along wooded trails; check clothing after each hike.
Hazard: Potomac currents and rock ledges at Great Falls cause drownings every year; stay out of the water and off wet rocks.
Hazard: Summer heat index can exceed 100 F (38 C); start early.
Hazard: Billy Goat Trail Section A is occasionally closed for flood or rescue operations; check nps.gov/choh before driving out.