Great Hikes Around DC that are Metro Accessible

Looking for a fun outdoor hike but not sure where to go? As it turns out, the Metro is good for more than just your work commute and can take you to some surprisingly scenic and natural spots in the area. Within minutes of getting off the Metro, you’ll forget about just how close you are to DC.

Get out into nature and leave your car behind!

Cleveland Park – Red Line
Exit on the east side of Connecticut Ave, and walk .2 miles north to Melvin Hazen Park. You’ll find a path that leads to trees that will tower over you. You can take the trail into Rock Creek Park. You can also walk south along Connecticut Ave to get to the National Zoo.

Shade Grove – Red Line
Exit the station and head northeast along Redland Road.  Relax along the ponds near the corner of Crabbs Branch Road and Redland. Or keep heading Northeast along Redland. At the intersection with Needwood Road, go right, and walk about 1.5 miles to reach Lake Needwood and Rock creek Regional Park.

Forest Glen – Red Line
Exit the station and cross Georgia Avenue to the East.  Walk along the south side of Forest Glen Road for .5 miles. You will come to the paved Sligo Creek Trail. Take the trail either north or south.

College Park – U of Md — Red
Exit the station. Cross the parking lot to Paint Branch Parkway, and turn right. Go about .4 miles to Paint Branch. Follow the paved path to the left to Lake Artemesia or to the right to Bladensburg.

Fort Totten – Red/Green/Yellow
Exit the station and turn left.  Look for a paved path leading to the park.

Foggy Bottom –  Orange/ Blue
Foggy Bottom can connect you easily to the C&O Towpath. Hike along the scenic towpath for as longs you like; it goes 183 miles to Cumberland, Maryland. The path is great for biking, hiking and jogging. You can even rent kayaks at Fletcher’s boathouse.  According to DC Audubon, “Walk west from the station along Pennsylvania Avenue and M Street to 30th Street. Turn left and walk along 30th Street to the canal.”

Waterfront/SEU – Green Line
Exit the station and walk to the right(west) on M Street, you’ll be able to see the waterfront from the sidewalks.  Walk along the Washington Channel and enjoy the sights and sounds of the marinas. As you approach the fish market, you’ll find a footpath on the other side of the Maine Ave. Cross Maine Avenue, and that path will take you up and over the bridge, to get to  East Potomac Park.

West Hyattsville –  Green
Exit the station and head southeast along Jamestown Road. At the intersection with Queens Chapel Road, you’ll find a paved trail.  Take the trail right to Northwest Branch and the Mt. Rainier Park and Nature Center.

East Falls Church — Orange
Head south on Tuckahoe St.. Follow the paved path to Four Mile Run Park. You can also pick up the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad (W&OD) trail.

Arlington Cemetery – Blue
The cemetery is hallowed, so biking and jogging are frowned upon. Instead exit the station and cross the GW Parkway to the paved Mount Vernon Trail. Head south on the trail through the Lyndon B Johnson Memorial Grove through Old Town Alexandria.

Rosslyn – Blue/Orange
According to DC Audubon, “Walk from the station towards the Key Bridge. Just after crossing Washington Parkway, turn right onto the bicycle path, which will take you to the parking lot and foot bridge to Roosevelt Island.”  At the parking lot, you can follow the river north on the Potomac Heritage Trail.

For some other great trails check out John Beetham’s article on DC Audubon Society’s site.

There is a lot of great information on kayaking and hiking in the DC metro-area on TrailVoice.com. Definitely a site worth checking out!

Photo Credit: CC-licensed by Flickr user Brownpau