Explore the Outdoors at Rock Creek Park

Come explore Rock Creek Park! A natural oasis in our nation's capital, the park was officially authorized in 1890, making it the third-oldest national park designated by the federal government. Today, Rock Creek Park manages 99 pieces of land and nearly 3,000 acres in northwest and part of northeast Washington, DC. Park sites offer visitors the opportunity to escape the bustle of the city and find a peaceful refuge with majestic trees, wild animals, fresh air, recreational opportunities, and thousands of years of human history!

Details

Activity

Hiking

Rock Creek Park is home to over 30 miles of hiking trails within the main boundary of the park. These trails connect to local and regional parks, as well as national trail systems, that provide opportunities to hike or walk hundreds (or thousands) of miles without setting foot on the same path or trail twice!

Rock Creek Park trails connect to or are part of the following trail systems:

Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (DC, MD, VA, PA) - over 830 miles of existing and planned trails and trail corridors managed by different agencies and organizations

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park - a 184.5-mile trail connecting Harper's Ferry, WV, with Washington, DC

Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail - a  560-mile land and water route that tells the story of the War of 1812 in the Chesapeake Bay region

Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route- includes more than 700 miles of land and water routes taken by American and French troops during the American Revolution

Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail- includes over 3,000 miles of land and water routes managed by the National Park Service in coordination with the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network, the Chesapeake Bay Program; federal, state, tribal, regionall, and local agencies, by national, state, regional groups; and public and private organizations

Pets Allowed

Yes

• It is park policy for all pets to be kept on leashes at all times. This is for the safety of your pet, our visitors, and the park itself.
• Pets may not be left unattended tied to an object.
• Visitors with pets must pick up all pet waste and dispose of it in a trash receptacle.
• Rules apply to all of the Rock Creek Park sites including Battery Kemble Park, Montrose Park, Glover Archbold Park, Dumbarton Oaks Park, and Meridian Hill Park.

Activity Fee

No

For information about permits and fees, please visit the Permits page. (This includes picnic groves, athletic fields that require reservations, weddings, research and special park use.)

If you require additional information, please contact Rock Creek Park Permits at 202-895-6013 or via e-mail.

Location

Rock Creek Park

Rock Creek Park is located in northwest and northeast Washington, DC with several satellite sites spread throughout the city.

Reservations

No

Reservations

All group activities of 25 or more people in Rock Creek must be registered under a special use permit. For more information call our Special Park Uses Ranger at [phone] or e-mail us.

 

Season

Year Round

Time of Day

Day

Rock Creek Park itself is open year round during daylight hours. The park is closed after dark. For information about Visitor Center hours please visit our Operating Hours page. 

Accessibility Information

Service Animals
Service animals are allowed in national parks. For a definition of a service animal, please see the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) definition.

Facilities
Nature Center and Planetarium: Fully wheelchair accessible. Persons with wheelchairs or with mobility concerns can use an outside accessible ramp to reach the planetarium or lower level of the Nature Center.

Peirce Mill: The lower two levels are wheelchair accessible (separate entrances). The third and fourth floors are only attainable by ascending steep stairs. Staff will provide a description of equipment found on the upper levels for any visitors unable to reach them.

Old Stone House: The first floor of the house and a portion of the adjacent garden are wheelchair accessible. The upper floors are reached by narrow winding stairs. Staff will provide a photo tour of the upper floors for any visitors unable to reach them.

Meridian Hill Park: The northern portion of the park is wheelchair accessible from 15th Street NW and Euclid Street NW. Due to its historic architecture, the south end of Meridian Hill Park is not currently wheelchair accessible. A new rehabilitation project will provide wheelchair accessibility to the lower section of the park by summer 2022.

Trails
The Edge of the Woods Trail is located next to the Nature Center. This 1/4-mile paved loop is fully accessible. 

Programs
Assistive listening devices are available by request for ranger-led program with three days of advance notice. If you would like to request an American Sign Language interpreter, please notify us two weeks in advance. 
Contact us.

Explore

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  Things to Do

  Learn more about horseback-riding, concerts, picnicking, golfing, tennis, hiking, biking, and boating. There's so much to do!

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  Hiking in Rock Creek

  An extensive network of trails and paths cover Rock Creek Park. Enjoy one today.

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  Volunteer With Us!

  You can make a difference by volunteering at Rock Creek Park!