DC Outdoors
Your guide to the great outdoors
Hiking | Camping | Boating | General |
The Potomac Trail |
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Leesylvania State Park 2001 Daniel K Ludwig Drive Woodbridge, VA 22191-4504 |
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(703) 670-0372 | ||
Entrance fees for passenger vehicles: $2 (weekdays), $3 (weekends) | ||
http://www.virginiaoutdoors.com/inc/parkfiles/_parkmaps/leesylvania-parkmap.pdf/ | ||
An easy half-mile hike along the beach between the boat landing area and the fishing pier. The trail passes through picnic grounds and features beautiful views of the Potomac. Accessible year-round Trail type: point-to-point Distance from Leesylvania State Park to College Park: 41.8 miles |
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Bull Run Mountains |
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Bull Run Mountains Conservancy 17405 Beverley Mill Drive Broad Run, VA 20137 |
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(703) 753-2631 | ||
http://brmconservancy.org/trail_map.html | ||
The Bull Run Mountains, comprising the most easterly chain in the Piedmont, offer great diversity of habitats and species. There are a number of short, moderately difficult hikes to choose from. Hiking permits are not requireed, but all non- members of the Bull Run Conservancy must complete the liability waiver found here and read these use guidelines. Additionally, information on Conservancy membership is available here. Accessible year-round from dawn till dusk. Trail type: varies Distance from the Bull Run Mountains to College Park: 53.6 miles |
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C & O Canal Hike |
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C & O Canal National Historical Park Headquarters 1850 Dual Highway Suite 100 Hagerstown, MD 21740-6620 |
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(301) 739-4200 | ||
http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/Whites_to_Edwards_Ferry_8872.asp | ||
This 10-mile hike through farmlands follows the remains of the C&O Canal bed and runs between Whites Ferry and Edwards Ferry, which both saw military use during the Civil War. No fees or hiking permit required. Accessible year-round. Trail type: out and back Distance from the trailhead at White's Ferry to College Park: 41.2 miles |
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AT - PenMar to Ensign Cowell |
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Potomac Appalachian Trail Club 118 Park Street, S.E. Vienna, VA 22180-4609 |
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(703) 242-0315 www.patc.net |
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http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/AT_MD_1_8872.asp | ||
A 9.4-mile hike beginning just north of the Mason-Dixon Line, this trail features the steepest Appalachian Trail grade in Maryland and an elevation gain of about 2027 feet. The trail can be rocky and slowgoing. No fees or hiking permits required. Accessible year-round. Trail type: point to point Distance from the trailhead at PenMar Park to College Park: 73.2 miles |
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AT - Ensign Cowell to Dahlgren's |
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Potomac Appalachian Trail Club 118 Park Street, S.E. Vienna, VA 22180-4609 |
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(703) 242-0315 www.patc.net |
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http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/AT_MD_2_8872.asp | ||
A 13.8-mile hike featuring some rocky terrain through long stretches of forest along the ridge of South Mountain, leading to spectacular views from Black Rocks and Annapolis Rocks and featuring a gentle climb up to Washington Monument, the first monument to the first president, built in 1827. No fees or hiking permits required. Accessible year-round. Trail type: point to point Distance from the trailhead at Ensign Cowell Shelter to College Park: 64.3 miles |
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AT - Dahlgren's to Ed Garvey |
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Potomac Appalachian Trail Club 118 Park Street, S.E. Vienna, VA 22180-4609 |
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(703) 242-0315 www.patc.net |
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http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/AT_MD_3_8872.asp | ||
A 10.9-mile hike beginning at Dahlgren's Backpacker Campground on the Appalachian Trail and ending at the Ed Garvey Memorial Shelter. This moderately difficult trail passes a historical marker for a battle in which Major General Reno was killed during the Battle of South Mountain. Features a steep, rocky climb up Lamb's Knoll with an elevation gain of 1402 feet followed by a gentle hike to Gathland, home of the Civil War-era War Correspondents Memorial. No fees or hiking permits required. Accessible year-round. Trail type: point to point Distance from the trailhead at Dahlgren's Campground to College Park: 61.7 miles |
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AT - Ed Garvey to Harper's Ferry |
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Potomac Appalachian Trail Club 118 Park Street, S.E. Vienna, VA 22180-4609 |
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(703) 242-0315 www.patc.net |
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http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/AT_MD_4_8872.asp | ||
A 6.3-mile hike beginning at Ed Garvey Memorial Shelter and ending at Harpers Ferry. The descent is a steep and rocky switchback, but this is followed by several miles of flat, wide, smooth towpath hiking. Features cliff views of the Potomac River and a 422-foot elevation gain. No fees or hiking permits required. Accessible year- round. Trail type: point to point Distance from the trailhead at Ed Garvey Memorial Shelter to College Park: 60.4 miles |
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Billy Goat Trail |
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Great Falls National Park 9200 Old Dominion Drive McLean, VA 22102 |
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(301) 299-2026 |
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http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/Billy_Goat_A_8872.asp | ||
Entrance fees:$3.00 for individuals coming into the park on foot, horseback, or bicycle (good for three consecutive days); $5.00 for vehicles, including motorcycles (good for three consecutive days) | ||
The Billy Goat Trail at Great Falls offers spectacular scenery and is one of the most challenging hiking trails in the Washington DC area. The 4.7-mile trail runs along the Potomac River in Montgomery County from the Great Falls Overlook (near the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center) south beyond Carderock, Maryland. No hiking permits required. Accessible year-round from 7 AM till dark. Trail type: loop Distance from Great Falls State Park to College Park: 21.5 miles |
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Greenbelt Perimeter Trail |
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Greenbelt Park 6565 Greenbelt Road Greenbelt, MD 20770-3207 |
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(301) 344-3944 |
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http://www.nps.gov/gree/planyourvisit/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&PageID=107981 | ||
Greenbelt Park is a part of National Capital Parks East. There are four trails in the park, but the Perimeter Trail is the longest at 5.3 miles and is marked by yellow blazes. It is popular for hiking and circles the parks western section. No fees or hiking permits required. Accessible year-round. Trail type: loop Distance from Greenbelt State Park to College Park: 4.6 miles |
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Capital Crescent Trail |
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Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail: (301) 344-3944 |
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http://www.cctrail.org/ | ||
The Capital Crescent Trail forms a large C-shaped arc that extends for 11 miles between Silver Spring and the Districts Georgetown waterfront. Suitable for walkers, joggers, bikers, and rollerbladers. No fees or hiking permits required. Accessible year-round. Trail type: point to point Distance from trailhead in Silver Spring to College Park: 6.9 miles |
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Schaeffer Farm Trails |
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Seneca Creek State Park 11950 Clopper Road Gaithersburg MD 20878 |
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(301) 924-1998 |
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http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/senecaguide.html | ||
Fees: Weekends and holidays April-October $2/person;
November-March no charge. Out-of-state residents add $1 to all day use service charges. |
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This 10-mile trail system was designed with mountain biking in mind, but is a multi-use system open to cyclists, hikers and equestrians. The layout provides access to attractive scenery of wooded stream valleys and open farm fields while making efforts to protect the natural environment. No hiking permits required. Accessible year-round. Hours of Operation: 8 a.m. to Sunset, March through October; and 10 a.m. to Sunset, November through February. Trail type: loop Distance from Seneca Creek State Park to College Park: 27 miles |
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Eight-Mile Loop Trail |
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Catoctin Mountain Park 14707 Park Central Road Thurmont, MD |
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(301) 663-9388 |
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http://www.nps.gov/cato/planyourvisit/hiking.htm | ||
This loop is a combination of all of the three major loops in the park and completes an 8.5 mile loop. Access this trail from any of these parking lots: Visitor Center, Headquarters, Wolf Rock, Thurmont Vista, or Hog Rock. The loop makes a complete circle back to any of these access points. No hiking permits required. Accessible year-round from dawn till dusk. Trail type: loop Distance from Catoctin Mountain Park to College Park: 69.7 miles |
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Little Bennett Regional Park |
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Little Bennett Regional Park 23701 Frederick Road Clarksburg, Maryland |
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(301) 972-6581 |
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http://www.montgomeryparks.org/PPSD/ParkTrails/trails_MAPS/little_bennett.shtm | ||
This 3,700-acre park offers over 21 miles of natural surface trails. The park is mostly forested and lies among the tributaries of Little Bennett Creek. No hiking permits required. Accessible year-round from dawn till dusk. Trail types: vary Distance from Little Bennett Regional Park to College Park: 33 miles |
Hiking | Camping | Boating | General |