"Old Rag" by Shenandoah National Park. License.
This week's great weather definitely has us thinking about breaking away to enjoy the great outdoors. Fortunately, the Washington DC area has no shortage of beaufitul parks to enjoy a hike, ride, or ride.
In this post we highlight 5 awesome parks in the DC area great for a Fall visit. We left off the common favorites (Great Falls, C & O Canal, Rock Creek Park) in order to focus on places that are either off the beaten path or a little farther out, but worth a day trip or more.
As always, if you have a favorite, please do not hesisitate to share below!
Burke Lake Park
Fairfax County, about 25 miles SW of Washington DC
Burke Lake Park: Dam by brownpau. License.
Fitness lovers this is the park for you. Burke Lake Park features a five mile trail around the lake that is perfect for a run, ride, or hike. Along the trail you will find a "Fitness Course" that according to the Burke Lake Park website, was voted one of the 10 best fitness trails in the country by the American Hiking Society. So, as you make your way around the lake, you can stop to do fun things like pulls, dips, situps, and more than 10 other exercises. The course provides a great way to get your weekend workout outdoors. When you are finished, you can play some minature golf. Read more on the Burkle Lake Park website and print out a map of the park.
Catoctin Mountain
Maryland, about 60 miles NW of Washington DC
"Catoctin Mountain Park-5. Early fall vista from Chimney Rock" by TrailVoice. License.
Catoctin Mountain is probably best known as the home of Camp David. Yes, the President vacations there. While you probably won't be hiking with the Obamas, it is still a great place to enjoy Fall foliage. Make sure that you plan a stop at Cunningham Falls, which while technically not in Cactoctin Mountain Park, are easily accessed via this hike. Check out the Catoctin Mountain website for more hiking information, including trail maps.
If you need a little extra inspiration, or just like arts/crafts, this weekend (Oct 10-11) is the 52nd annual Catoctin Colorfest. Read more on the Catoctin Colorfest website.
Manassas Battlefield National Park
Virginia, about 30 miles west of Washington DC
"Manassas Battlefield National Park" by InSapphoWeTrust. License.
Manassas Battlefield National Park was the site of two historic Civil War Battles, The First and Second Battles of Bull Run. Battle stories in the Park are relayed through remaining historical artifacts, trail-side signs, and even an in house movie that plays in the Visitor Center. There are also miles of trails. For a shorter hike (~1 mile) you can try the Henry Hill Loop and for folks looking to make an afternoon out of it (~9 miles), try the First and Second Manassas Trails. Read more about the battles on the Park website.
Rosaryville State Park
Upper Marlboro, 20 miles SE of Washington DC
Rosaryville does not have the vistas of Catoctin Mountain, the waterfalls of Great Falls Park, or the history of Manassas Battlefield. However, it is a great spot for a peaceful hike or mountain bike ride. The 9 mile Perimeter Trail loop is the perfect venue to spend a low-hassle afternoon on a weekend when the more well-known parks are packed. Read more about the Perimeter Trail and the visit the park website for more information.
Shenandaoh National Park
Virginia, 75 miles southwest of Washington DC
"Old Rag" by Shenandoah National Park. License.
Shenandoah National Park is well worth the 75 mile trip from the District. The park features rock climbing, camping, and of course, lots of hiking. The most popular hike being Old Rag, a challenging ~9 mile hike that involves some rock scrambling. If one were to come up with a mid-atlantic hikers bucket list, Old Rag would most certainly be on it. Visit the Shenandoah National Park website for useful information about the hike and its challenges.
Featured Article
Cycling
Hiking
Running