1. Family Trail Guide
Trail

Rock Creek Park - Rapids Bridge Hike

Washington, DC
Length: 2.00 mi.
Type: Loop

About This Trail

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This 2- mile loop hike takes you through the forest and then parallels the scenic whitewater section of Rock Creek before heading back uphill. The trail starts from the horse center and is identified by orange tape on wooden posts.

 

Submitted by Joe Linehan

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Trail Features

Seasons Fall, Spring, Summer, and Winter
Surface type Dirt
Elevation gain 100 ft.
Stroller friendly Yes
Stroller terrain All Terrain
ADA accessible Yes
Water fountains Yes
Bathrooms Yes
Cell reception Excellent
Pet friendly Yes
Nearby convenience store Yes
Camping Nearby No
Emergency support
within 5 miles 		Yes

Trail highlights

Creek / River

In addition to hiking the trail, Rock Creek Park has many other fun family-friendly activities including a nature center where ranger-led hikes begin, historically significant sites, and even a planetarium. A one-half mile self-guiding interpretive trail, the Woodland Trail, begins behind the Nature Center, while a one-fourth mile wheelchair-accessible Edge of the Woods trail begins right out the front door. The Nature Center is wheelchair-accessible.

Fee & Parking Details

Fee : $0.00

Ample parking at the Nature Center. From the Nature Center, walk south/back through the parking lot toward the Horse Center. Take a sharp left into the Horse Center and head straight towards the corral. The dirt trail begins to the left of the corral.

Trail Contributor

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Hike it Baby Trail Guide is managed by the Family Trail Guide team. If a trail has been “abandoned” by the initial owner, it gets adopted by the team. Also, if there are no trails in the area, the Family Trail Guide team researches trails that are family friendly in the area to insure that hikes cover all areas where Hike it Baby hikes.

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Trail Map

Getting There

Directions from Downtown Washington, DC: Take the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway north to Beach Drive. Exit onto Beach Drive, north, and take it to Broad Branch Road. Make a left and then a right onto Glover Road, follow the signs to the Nature Center, 5200 Glover Road, NW.

 

Rock Creek Park Nature Center and Planetarium
5200 Glover Road, NW, Washington, D.C.
Near the intersection of Military Road and Glover Road

About The Guide

Hike it Baby Family Trail Guide is an online resource to help families with children source trails that little legs can hike and parents can feel comfortable with. Hike details are sourced and have been hiked by families who participate in our community. Our contributors do their best to give you all the details they can, but if something is missed, you can reach out to the contributor and offer suggestions for them to add to make it a better trail description for all. This guide was built with a generous 3-year partnership with L.L.Bean. Like Hike it Baby, L.L.Bean believes that helping get families into nature from birth on is key to healthier, happier communities.
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Trail Disclaimer
Hike it Baby makes every effort to keep trail content up to date, but trail conditions are subject to change. Hike it Baby is not responsible for any injuries that occur while hiking the trails covered in this guide. Hike it Baby is a platform that helps connect families to federal, state and local parks nationwide.