Amazing hiking trails! Trails are pretty accessible for all levels…read more The trail maps need updating as there are some new trails.

It's closed for months to repair a sewage siphon in spring, which is ridiculous. There's a sewage…read morepipe that empties into the waterfall area, but people don't seem to care and they swim, even though you can smell the sewage. The whole place and even the forest is littered with hard lemonade and beer bottles, babies diapers, dog poop and all kinds of food wrappers.

We ended up going about 2 miles until we reached the waterfall. The beginning of the trail was…read moreuncovered and some portions was along the highway.

Like the review before states, this trail is a feast for your eyes! It hugs along the Potomac…read moreRiver with beautiful views in between the trees on one side and sheer rock faces on the other. There are many creeks and streams that traverse the path on their way to going the Potomac. Despite going on Labor Day late morning/early afternoon, I only saw a handful of people several of whom were running with their dogs (no worries, no doggie land mines were encountered). I picked up the trail at the Theodore Roosevelt Island parking lot. There is a dirt footpath that goes from here to the American Legion Bridge (10 miles) and as mentioned before almost all of it is shaded. It may extend further, but I turned around at this point! There are parts were you will have to slow down your jog due to some uneven, rocky footing but have no fear, there are long stretches perfect for running. Someone must have come by and cleaned up the litter because it was pristine today! Huzzah!

My daughter and I visited here at night, and I definitely wouldn't recommend going after dark! We…read morewere the only ones there, and with the limited lighting, it was hard to see the spider webs hanging around. I turned on my phone flashlight and suddenly noticed so many spiders above us--I'm pretty sure one even brushed my forehead, lol! I would definitely suggest visiting during the day instead. President Roosevelt was clearly a beloved figure, and after learning more about him, I can understand why. The display was meaningful, but it still felt like it couldn't fully capture his impact. The outdoor exhibit added an entirely different experience of its own. It was unique, peaceful, and offered a completely different way to appreciate the history and legacy being honored.

Overall, I thought Theodore Roosevelt was a so-so spot to go for a little walk to explore nature…read morethrough a 1.5 mile loop. Without having much information about the island prior to visiting, I was expecting (well, hoping) to see some city views of DC and Arlington from the island. However, not having these views was not a deal breaker. While the paths/trails were mostly clear, the island does not seem well-maintained. For instance, I was quite disappointed that the water fountains were not working. For obvious reasons, visitors definitely should bring their own water, but a lot of folks nowadays (including myself) are tethered to their Nalgene bottles or Stanley cups. I think this is a nice place to go for walk/run/very easy hike, if you live within walking distance or a couple of metro stops away from the island. Unfortunately, I live about 30-45 minutes away by car, so the odds of me visiting again (unless I'm in the immediate area) will be pretty slim. Also, I highly recommend visiting first thing in the morning (at least during the fall, spring and summer) because parking is very limited.

New little adventure for Desmond and I. I was on Yelp looking for a new dog park or trail for my…read moredog and I to explore not too far from home. Dora Kelley nature park was such a great find! There are several entrances. We entered off the Sanger Ave entrance next to the Nature Center. There's lots of informational signs along the trail, explaining all of the different things to be on the lookout for, including plants, flowers, birds, and other species you may encounter. There's a paved and unpaved trail that runs along a creek. I usually keep an AirPod in and listen to music or audiobook, but there were so many earthly sounds that made me want to walk in silence and take in everything nature was offering.

Wonderful to surround oneself in nature here. Please complete the access from Beauregard!! It has…read morebeen blocked for years.

Grading on the curve of "it's in Maryland", this is a fantastic trail!…read more If this were west of the rockies though, it would be A-OK. There is one tiny section where you actually have to scramble. The rest of it is pretty much a moderate hike with some lite route-finding. We saw multiple snakes on the way in, which were the highlight. Definitely worth doing if you're in the area, but probably not worth a dedicated trip if you're in DC proper.

Not a reflection of the trail as a whole, but when I stopped back on this occasion I was dismayed…read more It was one thing during the peak of the COVID era when there were signs up saying this trail was to be undertaken in one direction only. People were throwing around all sorts of silly rules out of desperation in those days. I doubt any lives were saved by this; maybe the theory was to reduce human contact but realistically, we're talking about hiking in open air. Public health aside, I return to find even now there are still signs saying to take the trail one way. And having done it both ways many times, it's the wrong way! Absurd. Supposedly there's some justification, but I think that grown adults can figure out how to hike in two directions without running into each other. As an overall natural resource, it remains a gem (though it must be noted that the Billy Goat B trail downstream is currently closed due to damage). But whoever is making these stupid rules shouldn't be in the business of making rules at all. Thankfully some rebels were taking the trail in the northernly direction, as well they should.

Awesome hike. I wouldn't say it's "hard" but "moderate" is fair, mostly for the distance I guess…read more The trail is not flat or even, so don't expect that. There are easier shorter trails in the area if you need them. VERY close to Bear Chase which makes a great post hike drink and meal!

Great hike, go on a weekday morning. Otherwise there is way too many hikers on the trail.read more

Came here with a group for kayaking. Only they ran out of kayaks before noon. So some of us had to…read morerent standup paddle boards instead. There is a slightly more expensive pricing for folks not residing in Fairfax, Loudon, Alexandria, or Arlington counties. But they don't really verify...so as long as you put down an address within those counties on your waiver, then you are good to go. See my pics for the pricing as of Aug 2023. The Sat I came, they seemed very short staffed with only two people managing the rental payments and forms and then another 2 manning all the boats/boards. So we pretty much ended up having to launch and bring back our vessels ourselves. They have very limited 2 person kayaks and they require kids under 12 to be in a boat with another adult so be prepared. In addition to kayaks they have jon boats and stand up paddle boards. You can bring your own vessel but there are launch prices. The lake is quite large so 1 hour is still not enough to explore its entirety even if you were powering through. The boat rental process is this: 1) Each person needs to fill out a waiver (just one page), you need to keep the yellow paper on you and return it when you come back. 2) Payments can be done per person or by group and they accept Apple Pay 3) Go down to the dock, hand them your form 4) They will tell you which vessel you can pick and hand you life vests and paddle(s) 5) Go have fun 6) Return the vessel 7) Bring back the yellow form to the rental house Not sure why we need to keep a piece of paper on us while out on the water. I've rented boats in many other places and all they needed was the vessel back. I guess to prevent theft...but they log the number assigned to the vessel on the form prior to you renting so...But at least there isn't an entrance fee to this park and there isn't really much else to do besides activities around the water front. There is a trail that leads to Bull Run, but there isn't say a playground, picnic area, or sports fields. Parking is pretty limited but you can park along the side of the road.

One of my dogs favorite hiking spots. The bike trails are good too, although this park is nestled…read moreway out of suburban NOVA areas like FFX.

Ideal place to enjoy the park, see wildlife, bicycle, walk, and just immerse yourself in beautiful…read more nature. It was our first time here, and we enjoyed bicycling the area for the first time. I liked how you had a two way lane to bike and walk. There was a lot of renovations on the Mt Vernon Trail going through the park and marsh area. It does get crowded there yet there was a lot of parking. It is parallel to Belle Haven Park. There were no nearby restrooms. You do hear sounds of cars & traffic along the Mt. Vernon Trail. The trail gets narrow at some areas and can get uncomfortable by the renovation area - close to oncoming cars. Bicycling through the woods over bridges and stopping by areas to enjoy the views were highlights we enjoyed at Dyke Marsh. We decided to just bicycle for an hour, yet it was enough for both of us. Looking forward to bicycling through all 18 miles of the Mt. Vernon Trail.

Dyke Marsh is a gem. Hidden a few south of Old Town Alexandria, and situated between the Mt Vernon…read moretrail and Potomac, Dyke Marsh is a wetland preserve that George Washington noted centuries ago. This wooded area with a trail that runs a bit more than a mile along the river, has owl and eagle nests and amazing guess of small islands in the Potomac. On any day, there are families, couples, people with dogs. The Marsh attracts lots of birders with their binoculars and photographers with seriously long zoom lenses. This is a place to amble for 45 minutes and connect with the natural world. It's managed by the US Park Service. If you're interested, join the Friend of Dyke Marsh to help preserve this treasure.

A very easy-access section of the Patapsco Valley State Park- you can drive right into the middle…read more I'd rank it as perfect for introducing people to a "natural" state park without the distractions of overly developed amenities. Great trails, enough elevation change for solid workouts, some sections with lovely old trees. There's a long stretch of a beautiful stream (Saw Mill Branch) and some areas that give you that lovely isolated feeling of being in the woods. There's campgrounds (way better than "backyard camping") and driving in from the gate on Hilton Ave puts you in a good spot to immediately start hiking. There's also trails leading in from a number of the surrounding neighborhoods. The paved path by the river is pedestrian and disabled friendly. A historic rail route runs parallel to the river and train spotters can get some unique views as well as see the famous Ilchester Tunnel. PVSP is one of my favorite things about living in central MD, and each section has some unique things. Explore them all - but this (Hilton) area is particularly accessible for beginners who want the full experience.

This is one of my favorite places to visit when I'm in Maryland. I had a marvelous hike there on my…read morelast trip by Cascade Falls. It was beautiful! The waterfall isn't that big but it was still enjoyable to see. There are some rough spots to navigate if you're expecting an easy hike. But overall, it is definitely worth the trip!

Great place to visit hidden away at end of street heading into apartment building. There are…read moreseveral trails you can follow and a fair sized pond with a man made waterfall. Check the hours before you go -it closes early.

Repeat visitor here. I can say Winkler is now offers a much better experience now that they are…read moreowned by the city of Alexandria. The park is the same - a small oasis in the middle of the city. They have a few walking paths through the woods and have an artificial waterfall (which wasn't on when I was there). The paths aren't enough to offer a strenuous hike, but good enough to stretch your legs and be with your thoughts. Come for peace and quiet, not exercise. It offers basically the same experience it's offered for a long time, but the expanded hours (compared to what they were in the past) is a huge upgrade. Don't be surprised if you see deer!