Washington, DC’s 1,700-acre urban oasis offers hours of outdoor activities
The first national park established in a major U.S. city, Washington, DC’s Rock Creek Park spans 1,754 acres of National Park Service land from Upper Northwest DC into Maryland, providing sanctuary for wildlife and a retreat for locals and visitors.
With its prime location and numerous access points, a day at the park offers endless possibilities: stroll through lush greenery, hike miles of scenic trails, gather friends or family for a picnic or explore the nature center, golf course, horse stables, amphitheater or planetarium.
The History of Rock Creek Park
Before its establishment as a national park, this swath of land played a crucial role in the lives of the indigenous communities that lived in the area for thousands of years. In the 1600s, Europeans took control of the land and the park as we know it was founded in 1890, making it one of America’s first (and largest) designated city retreats. The natural feel of the park was deliberately designed by the Olmstead Brothers, whose principles would influence the layout of other parks nationwide. Vestiges of Rock Creek's history can be found all over, including along the river (Peirce Mill) and hidden in the forest (Boulder Bridge).
Even presidents over the years have considered it a welcome respite from the political climate of Washington. For example, Theodore Roosevelt liked to bird watch in the park and Ronald Reagan would often ride horses at the park’s stables.
Learn more with the National Park Service.
Rock Creek Park is open year-round and is particularly popular in the warmer months. On weekends, you’ll find visitors and locals taking advantage of all 32 miles of hiking trails, including traffic-free running and biking paths.
Visitors can join a walk with an expert ("Ramble with a Ranger") or book a guided hike with DC Design Tours, which reveals some of the park's coolest landmarks from the picture-perfect Boulder Bridge to the ruins of a hidden mansion.
Rock Creek is the only national park with an on-site planetarium, where National Park Service Rangers conduct free programs twice a day on Saturdays and Sundays. Rangers also lead outdoor night sky programs with telescopes from April through November. Free tickets may be picked up for these programs one hour in advance at the Nature Center.
The park's Tennis Center boasts more than 24 outdoor courts, which can be reserved for one hour, costing $12-$20. An 18-hole public golf course can also be found the grounds, with tee times available for $25.
Explore even more things to do in one of the largest urban parks in the U.S.
Getting to Rock Creek Park
One of the best things about Rock Creek is how easy it is to access. If you’re new to the site, the Nature Center (5200 Glover Road NW) is the perfect place to start, open 9 a.m.- 5 p.m., Wednesday-Sunday. This serves as the park’s visitor center and stocks brochures and trail maps; it’s also where park ranger-led programs begin. Peirce Mill is another convenient entrance, and both the Woodley Park and Cleveland Park Metro stops are perfect jumping off points for descending down onto your wooded trail of choice.
As a leading green city, DC has endless opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors.
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