Fort Circle Park Trail: Fort Stevens to Fort Totten

The Fort Circle Parks form a ring of Civil War defensive sites around Washington, DC, and the segment from Fort Stevens to Fort Totten links several of them with about 3 miles (4.8 km) of trail. The route begins at Fort Stevens, 6603 Georgia Ave NW in northwest Washington, the only fort in the city where Confederate forces came under direct fire during the 1864 attack on the capital. Elevation gain is about 100 ft (30 m) over rolling terrain, so the hike is easy and takes about 1.5 hours. Access is by public transit. The Fort Totten Metro station on the Red, Green and Yellow lines sits at the eastern end, Metrobus 70 serves Georgia Avenue near Fort Stevens, and street parking is available near the trailhead. The National Park Service can be reached at +1-202-426-6841, and maps are available at nps.gov/cwdw. No permit or fee is required. The trails are a mix of packed dirt, grass and some paved connectors, and several segments are linked by neighborhood sidewalks rather than continuous path, so a map is important. Tree cover is moderate, with open grass at the forts themselves. Along the way hikers see earthwork remains, interpretive signs and wooded slopes, and the forts offer a quieter alternative to the National Mall. Turnaround is natural at any fort, and Fort Totten at the end provides Metro access for a return. Water and facilities are limited, so hikers should bring their own, and signage is less complete than in larger parks. Because the route passes through residential neighborhoods, bail-out onto local streets and bus lines is easy. Spring and fall bring the most comfortable conditions, and winter walks reveal the earthworks more clearly without leaf cover.