Fresh Air Family Time: Washington, DC Area

At happyly, it is our goal to support your family's innate desire to remain healthy and happy, while still having fun. In this period of social distancing, there are ways to safely supplement your creative time at home with fresh air activities. They should be deliberate outdoor plans that respect and honor our community initiative to eliminate the threat of this virus through our united efforts.

Every family has to make their own choice when it comes to entering public spaces, so following an honest assessment of previous personal exposure and potential signs of questionable health, we feel that hiking in nature is an ideal way to keep an active family moving.

Obviously, taking precautions and paying careful attention to maintaining a respectful distance has never been more important. We have put together a list of some of our favorite hikes, and we highly suggest using alltrails.com as your secondary source for additional walks off the beaten path.

Please explore some of our recent blogs COVID-19 daily schedule for pre-school and grade school and Keeping kids active while protecting them, yourself and the community from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) for more information and creative ways to stay positive during this very anxious time. There will be much more to come, so keep an eye out for new content, stay healthy and honor our elders through respectful caution.

Great Falls: Maryland Side

Great Falls is the perfect place for an active family excursion. You’ll find great hiking and breathtaking scenery, and easy access from I-495 (Capital Beltway). Enjoy a hike on the multi-use paths, many fit for biking, horseback riding and dog walking (provided pets are kept on a 6-foot leash). Rock-climbing and kayaking are also permitted here.

The Maryland side, part of the C&O Canal National Historical Park, boasts the locally beloved Billy Goat trail and other trails kids of all ages will enjoy. The Billy Goat trail is most appropriate for older kids with a recommended one-to-one caretaker to child ratio to ensure safety. It is a formidable 8-mile trail that can be challenging in sections. 

The C&O Canal Towpath, on the other hand, offers gentle terrain perfect for a family walk or biking excursion. At the Visitor’s Center, families can sign up for one-hour mule-drawn canal boat rides too. We love taking a picnic and making a day of our visits to Great Falls. It's fun to examine the way the landscape changes throughout the seasons. It almost feels like you're visiting a new place on a sunny day after a cloudy one.

Great Falls: Virginia Side

Great Falls is a wonderful option in quick driving range from DC, VA and Maryland. You’ll find great hiking and breathtaking scenery, plus it's easy to access from I-495 (Capital Beltway). We enjoy it here for so many reasons and at the top of that list is the ability to enjoy a hike that suits all ages and athletic/fitness styles.  

Adults and kids alike will revel in the terrain, with stunning cliffs, the majestic Potomac River, raging rapids, and ample wildlife visible throughout.Trails, many of which are stroller and wheelchair friendly (including two of the gorgeous overlooks), range from easy to difficult, with trailheads conveniently located adjacent to parking lots. 

During and after heavy rainfall, however, trails can become treacherous with muddy rocks, slippery gravel, and vernal ponds. For families with bolder more agile children, this may add to the fun, but for those with little ones, it’s best to wait for fairer weather or commit to the more traveled routes. 

The Virginia side offers 15 miles of trails that meander through the trees and pass along the falls, affording hikers fantastic views of the Mather Gorge. The Visitor Center allows families to take a break, grab a bite, and learn about the park. We love taking a picnic and making a day of Great Falls, there's so much to explore and enjoy. 

Riverbend Park

Just a short distance from Great Falls National Park, Riverbend is a local gem. This quiet park is considered one of the "prettiest parks in Northern Virginia." The Potomac Heritage Trail runs right through this well maintained park, there is plentiful parking, and it is free. 

Parking is also available at the Nature Center, which is open for special events and serves as a great starting point if you want a short hike with little ones, just over a mile and half round trip to the Riverbend Visitor's Center. 

If you prefer a longer excursion, pack a picnic and hike from the Riverbend Visitor Center to the Great Falls Visitor Center, only 1.8 miles downstream, where you can continue your journey while experiencing the great beauty of the Falls by linking in to the trail system there. 

It provides a great balance to start at the less frequented Riverbend, and work your way toward the more busy parkland around the Falls. You are sure to see a variety of wildlife along the way, or in season might enjoy fishing, paddleboarding, canoeing or kayaking available at Riverbend before or after your journey. 

If you have already experienced Great Falls, Riverbend has more than enough to offer, with over ten miles of hiking trails with trails for horses and mountain biking as well. 

The National Arboretum

The US National Arboretum in DC, which offers 446 acres of outdoor fun, is a fabulous place to take the kids to run around or do some family hiking without having to leave the city.   

Admire the National Capitol Columns, an arrangement of twenty-two Corinthian columns that were a part of the United States Capitol from 1828 to 1958 and then head to Fern Valley for a stroll through the woods or a visit to the Children's' Garden.  

In addition to the wide-open spaces and wooded trails, there's a fabulous bonsai exhibit and a beautiful koi pond.  You can easily spend a morning wandering here.

Sugarloaf Mountain

Sugarloaf mountain is owned by a private incorporation specially formed for the purpose of preserving the beauty of the mountain and surrounding area. Gordon and Louise Strong spent years gaining ownership of the many tracts that make up the property so visitors can enjoy them today. Stronghold, Incorporated was formed in 1946 to ensure that the beauty of the mountain would continue to be available to all. 

The first stop visitors can make after driving up the mountain is at the East View. The overlook is a very short walk from the parking lot and is a great spot for families to stop and take in the breathtaking scenery below. 

Hop back in the car and continue to drive to reach the West View. This is the area to go if your kids want to pretend to be mini mountain climbers. The area is full of boulders, big and small, that our kids love to scramble over as we make our way to the overlook. 

Visitors will have to climb a fairly steep set of stairs to reach the overlook on this side of the mountain, but it’s well worth it. The area also features many beautiful stone structures that have been put in by various superintendents over the years. 

We think that the best way to enjoy Sugarloaf is to just park and let the kids lead the way. The landscape is so varied and interesting that it is easy to spend a whole day there. Sugarloaf does offer bathrooms at the parking lots as well as some picnic areas. Because of the rocky terrain, strollers are not recommended.

Roosevelt Island

This scenic oasis in the city offers boardwalk style walkways through the woods and over the swamp lands. Get your active kids moving, hiking, walking and biking. It's a serene place to take a deep breath from the noise of the city and enjoy the sounds of nature and fresh air.  

Wildlife encounters are very common along the trail, including snakes, deer, ducks, and turtles as well as beautiful birds. Leashed dogs are welcome! 

Bring a bike lock to park and have a picnic! It's also a convenient stop along the Mount Vernon Trail with so much more to offer, so make a day of it. 

Mount Vernon Trail From Rosslyn To Washington’s Estate

One of the many amazing things about living in the DC area are the public spaces that will be eternally respected and protected throughout the DMV. The Mount Vernon Trail is one of those gifts. Carved out of prime real estate along the Potomac River, this paved path is preserved for bikers, walkers, runners, and strollers.

It is well maintained with beautiful open views of the river as well as long pockets of wooded areas and a great diversity of local wildlife sightings. It has parking lots, restrooms and picnic areas spaced out along the way. You can observe planes taking off and landing up close at Gravelly Point and lay footfalls on the centuries-old streets of Old Town Alexandria. 

The trail begins in Rosslyn and runs almost entirely uninterrupted, with just a small portion following city streets. It is part of the much larger mid-Atlantic Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, and it really earns that right. Basically every couple of miles you are taking in a whole new experience, which is an accurate assessment of our city as a whole.

The 18-mile trail runs along the Potomac and George Washington Parkway and has so many naturally built-in points of interest. It begins near Theodore Roosevelt Island and passes through Gravelly Point. Here you can stop and watch the planes coming in and out of Reagan. Along the way, there is a path to take to Abingdon Plantation Historic Site.

Navigating the trail in Old Town slows you down a bit, but that's ok because it is a great place to stop for a meal or snack. Windmill Hill Park and Jones Point Park Playgrounds are conveniently located along the trail in the Old Town area.

About two miles after crossing under the Woodrow Wilson Bridge at Jones Point Park, is Dyke Marsh Wildlife Refuge. For a quiet place to start your journey this is an ideal area on the trail. The parking lot at adjacent Belle Haven Park has ample room, a large picnic area is available and there is still another seven to eight miles to cover before the trail ends at Mount Vernon.

This is our favorite place to begin a stroller run because from here, nature really begins to shine. There are points of elevation, so it provides a good workout, and the beauty is quite memorable. A few miles in is the quiet River Farm set a short distance from the trail and the northernmost of five farms once owned by George Washington.

Less than a mile south of that is Collingwood Park Playground also a very short distance from the trail. About five miles further is George Washington's majestic estate home, Mount Vernon. If you keep your eyes out, you'll come across little pieces of history along your journey. 

Watkins Regional Park

Start at the Nature Center to see some birds, snakes, spiders, turtles, and other fantastic creatures, including a scorpion that glows in UV light and a crow that can talk when he feels like it.  

The rangers are very helpful and can provide you with a discovery backpack that includes binoculars, a compass, scavenger hunt, and several field guides to the plants and animals that you might encounter on your hike – a big hit with our group that kept everyone engaged and enthusiastic! 

There are a few different loop hiking options, so you can do one or a combination of more tailored to the age level and ability of your group. 

Shenandoah - Old Rag Mountain

If you’ve been in the DC area for more than 15 minutes and like hiking, you’ve likely heard that Old Rag Mountain is a staple. It’s a challenging hike and day trip worth the trip. This hike is most appropriate for teens or children ages 8 and up with a lot of energy and athleticism.  

We’ve also done the hike with babies and toddlers in backpacks when eager for a challenge. The loop is 9 miles or you can do an out and back option, which is closer to 6 miles with some boulder climbing along the way.  When younger kids are involved, we recommend reserving seven to eight hours for this portion. Of course, it is possible to do it faster but on this moderately strenuous adventure, you’ll want to leave plenty of time for refueling and experiencing nature.

Bring plenty of water, snacks and a first aid kid.

Huntley Meadows Park

The largest park operated by the Fairfax County Park Authority, this breathtaking piece of land tells a fascinating story that would catch the eye of any history buff, even long before President Ford turned it over to Fairfax County in 1975. 

We highlight our happyly favorites because of diversified appeal, so before hitting this refuge, enhance your connection by reading up on the historical significance of the property.  Since it became protected land, wildlife, including beavers, have returned, and the biodiversity is remarkable. 

After several visits strolling the impressive boardwalk, wildlife viewing stations and the paths through the surrounding woods, the encounters are different each time as one enjoys more than 10 miles of exploration on the Heron, Deer and Cedar Trails. 

Prepare to pace yourself, as little ones stop to examine every species available, and save time to start at the Norma Hoffman Visitor Center (hours vary by season, but closed Tuesdays), which is charming and well outfitted to prepare any visitor for the delights to come!

Potomac Overlook Park

There are miles of trails for hiking for people of all ages and abilities on 67 acres of land in Potomac Overlook Regional Park. The nature center has an educational organic vegetable garden and other demonstration gardens showcasing native plants and insects and live animal displays. 

Admission to the park is free.

Burke Lake Park

The 4.7 mile hike around Burke Lake offers some elevation shifts, is entirely suitable for a jogging stroller, and is packed with beautiful lake view stopping points. Benches to relax are scattered along the hike and a series of workout stations for pulls ups, sits ups and the like are constructed throughout one section of the hike, and our little ones especially enjoy the balance beam. There are also many other points of interest spreat out thoughtfully along the way, keeping the kids involved through the duration of the hike. Volleyball courts, a disc golf course, numerous picnic areas (both accessible and tucked away), great fishing spots, a marina, an amphitheater, a nature trail off the beaten path and two playgrounds are scattered throughout the hike.

Our Favorite Hiking Options within Rock Creek Park

Nature Center Paved "Hike" -- 2 miles

We've put this hike in quotation marks because it's really more of a walk on a paved path, but it works well to get you out in the park a bit even if all you're working with is a regular stroller. This hike starts at the impressive Rock Creek Nature Center and Planetarium (a destination for the kids all on its own, although the Planetarium temporarily closed for repairs). There is a large parking lot with plenty of room. 

The rangers at the center are great and there are interesting exhibits of wildlife found in the park. There is a very short paved loop around the nature center as well. We recommend popping in here, using the bathrooms, filling water bottles, etc. before getting started.

After finishing at the nature center, walk a few hundred feet to pick up a paved portion of Western Ridge Trail and turn right. Walk down to Military Road and cross at the light. Continue along the paved path as it follows the stretch of Military Road, but in the woods a bit. You'll reach the creek, and you can continue to follow the path to the right (south) along the creek for a few hundred feet until you reach a grassy picnic area. 

You can take a break here or walk across the Joyce Road bridge, turn right to see a small, sandy beach area by the creek just in front of the Rock Creek Park Station for the US Park Police (path marked in purple on the map above). There is a picnic bench here, and it's an inviting little area to play by the water. Afterward, head back up the way you came and back to the Nature Center.

Fort DeRussy Extension Option -- 1.75 miles

If you're ready for something a little more challenging and don't need a stroller, this hike takes you through a few of the neat historical features of the park. Park at the Nature Center and follow the same path across the paved portion of the Western Trail, crossing Military Road at the light. 

Instead of continuing along the paved portion, however, look uphill just a bit for the marked dirt trail. Follow that east down towards the creek. You'll come to a placard and maker for the remains of Civil War defense Fort DeRussy. How cool is it that this fort experienced Civil War action when Confederate troops attacked Fort Stevens!? Check out the remains of the fort and play a bit here.

Continue down the path until you reach Rock Creek and a "T" in the trail. Go left and follow the trail north along the creek. About 1/4 mile in, look across the creek to spot the cabin of Joaquin Miller -- a poet and playwright who lived in this cabin in Meridian Hill in the 1880s. 

Keep heading along the creek, and you'll see a roadway the travels right down into the creek! Here is Milkhouse Ford, and people used to drive directly through the creek at this location until the 1950s. It's a great spot to stop and look for wildlife now.

When you're ready to loop back, take the trail to the left that leads west up the hill. You'll be walking along a little tributary that has excellent spots for kids to play. At the top of the hill, you'll see green trail markings for Western Ridge Trail. Follow that to the left back to Military Road and then back to the Nature Center.

Rapids Bridge Hike -- 2 miles

This looped hike also starts at the Rock Creek Nature Center and Planetarium. After parking and stopping into the center, if you like, walk back through the parking lot towards the Horse Center (another great destination!). Head towards the horse corral and pick up the trail just to the left of it. Start your hike by walking through the forest path heading towards the creek for about 1/2 mile. You'll come to Ross Drive and see the creek beyond it. 

Cross the drive here and keep walking through the grassy picnic area. When you reach the bridge crossing over the creek to Beach Drive, stop. Look to your right and pick up the trail heading south along the creek.

Continue along the trail and consider popping down to the creek to let the kids climb the huge boulders here. As you head south, you'll start to see rapids forming in the creek -- the only spot this happens along the 33-mile creek. 

Walk until you reach Rapids Bridge. The bridge offers one of the prettiest places to snap a few pics of the kids in the park, so walk out to the middle of it, but don't cross it. There are tranquil areas to walk down to the creek here too.

When you're ready to continue, head back up to the path and continue south just about 150 feet. Look for an unmarked trail up to the right. Walk uphill along the trail alongside a little tributary to the creek. You'll come to a large bridge (Ross Drive), stay on the trail crossing under it. Continue on uphill until you reach back at the Horse Center.

Boulder Bridge Hike* -- less than 1 mile round trip

This short hike is not stroller friendly, but it has a great view of the creek from up high and an entertaining area for kids to hop and scramble around rocks and skip stones into the creek by Boulder Bridge. Park at the cul-de-sac end of Colorado Avenue (marked on the map with a red star). 

There is street parking here for several hours, which should be plenty of time for this short hike. You'll see a trail sign just off of the cul-de-sac -- this is a small unnamed path that will take you to Valley Trail, and it's where you'll start. Head west down the trail, toward the creek, and you'll run right into Valley Trail (marked pink on the map).

Once you hit Valley Trail (you will see a blue trail marker on a tree), make a right and head north'ish. You'll pass Pulpit Rock -- stop here and take in the view for a bit. Then continue down the sloped trail towards the creek. There are great big trees here and beautiful areas for the kids to play as you walk. Once you get down to the creek, the path gets filled with boulders and rocks. Walk carefully, but kids love to play here too!

Keep walking until you start to approach Beach Drive. Look to your left, and you'll see the beautiful Boulder Bridge. You can scramble down the bank here and play along the pebbled shoreline. Play here as long as you'd like, and then take the same route back to your parked car.

Optional Extension -- closer to 2 miles

If you'd like to make this hike a little more challenging, you can add an extension loop on after Boulder Bridge (marked in purple on map above). Carefully walk up to Boulder Bridge and cross over the creek -- there is no pedestrian crosswalk here, so mind the traffic. 

Pick up the dirt trail on the western side of the creek (there is a trail marker on the right side of the road) and head south, uphill. You'll follow this until you meet up with the Western Ridge Trail back down at the creek, where Blagden Avenue meets Beach Drive. Cross over the bridge here and find Theodore Roosevelt Trail at the corner of Blagden and Beach Drive. 

Take that north back up along the east side of the creek until you meet up with Valley Trail again (near Pulpit Rock). Follow the trail to the right, back out to where you parked on Colorado Avenue.

For more information about coping with the necessary school closures and maintaining a spirit of community during this period of social distancing, we encourage you to check out the following articles.

Yes, You Actually Can Do Something About the Coronavirus

By Anne Helen Petersen

This Can Be Our Finest Hour -- But We Need All Of You.

By Gretchen Schmelzer

Schools Are Closing for Coronavirus. Now What?

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Please check out the blog for more inspiration from a list of March Weeknight Meals, Convenient Washington DC Cherry Blossom Stroller Runs, or join us as we Disconnect to Reconnect with more time at home as a result of necessary social distancing. If you are looking for family team-building at home, we recommend 100 Things: A Rewarding and Fun Family Activity.

Take a moment to explore suggestions from the happyly team aboutKeeping Kids Active while Protecting Them, Yourself and the Community from the Coronavirus as well as our Daily Schedule For Pre-School and Grade School. As always, we welcome your family's highlights! Tag us on Instagram @gethappyly!

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