Last Updated:        November 03, 2025

Length:                  Rock Creek Trail; Montgomery County; 14 miles

                                 Rock Creek Park Trail; Washington, DC; 9.6 miles

Difficulty:              Rock Creek Park Trail; Easy. Paved trail and road sections with a downhill grade from Chevy Chase to Washington, DC.

                                 Rock Creek Park Trail; Moderate. Paved trail and road sections with an uphill grade from Washington, DC to Chevy Chase.

Directions:

Wisconsin Ave runs from I-495 in the north, all the way to the Potomac River south in Georgetown:

To start from Rays Meadow Park in Chevy Chase, MD [Northern End]; From the intersection of the East West Highway (Route 410) & CT Ave (Route 185) Head east along the East West Highway (Route 410) for 1 mile and turn left on Meadowbrook Lane. Come to Freyman Drive and head left. Park entrance will be on your left.  

To start from Georgetown, Washington, DC from the Rock Creek Park; Thompson's Boat House parking lot [Southern End]; Wisconsin Ave runs from I-495 in the north, all the way to the Potomac River south in Georgetown. In Georgetown, Wisconsin Ave ends at Water & K Streets. Turn left (east) along K St, which travels underneath the elevated Whitehurst Fwy. When you see daylight (Freeway above turns) take a right towards Rock Creek Pkwy which heads south. Quickly come to an intersection where you'll turn right into the parking lot (Fee).

The Rock Creek Trail travels from Rock Creek Regional Park in Montgomery County, Maryland South, to Meadowbrook Park in Chevy Chase, MD at the Washington, DC line. It then continues South, as the Rock Creek Park Trail through Washington, DC. In Maryland the Rock Creek Trail will connect to the under construction, as of 2025, Capitol Crescent Trail extension, which used to be the Georgetown Branch Trail, at the Rock Creek Trestle. The Capitol Crescent Trail extension will continue the Capitol Crescent Trail , which travels from Georgetown, Washington, DC, North, to Bethesda. The Capitol Crescent Trail extension will continue from Bethesda, East, through the Wisconsin Ave Tunnel and alongside the Purple Line transit project to the Silver Spring Transit Center in Silver Springs. Completion is expected in Fall 2026. See; PURPLE LINE/CCT EXTENSION . At its Southern End, the Rock Creek Park Trail connects to both the Southern End of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal and Southern End of the Capitol Crescent Trail . For more information visit; ROCK CREEK TRAIL-MD,   ROCK CREEK PARK TRAIL , CAPITOL TRAILS COALITION , DC TRAILS , BIKE WASHINGTON & WASHINGTON BIKE ASSOC .

Rock Creek Trail:

Montgomery County, Maryland:

Starting from Rays Meadow Park parking lot in Chevy Chase, MD [Northern End]; Porto-Potty, water fountain, playground & sports fields.

Note; Heading North, the paved Rock Creek Trail takes you underneath the Rock Creek Trestle and Capitol Crescent Trail extension. I believe you'll be able to connect to the future Capitol Crescent Trail extension here.

Heading South, the paved Rock Creek Trail quickly crosses the East-West Highway, where the trail parallels Meadowbrook Lane. Pass by the Meadowbrook Stables and travel around Meadowbrook Park, where you'll find restrooms, a playground, picnic tables and sports fields. You cross over Rock Creek, where the trail turns East, passing by the Beach Drive parking lot at 1 mile. You'll cross over Rock Creek a couple more times before coming to the Valley Trail parking lot after 1.4 miles. 

Note; This is the end of the Rock Creek Trail.

Rock Creek Park Trail:

Washington, DC:

Head right, out to Beach Dr, then left where you'll pass a Map Board as you enter Rock Creek Park in Washington, DC. [Re-zeroing Mileage]

Note; 5 miles of Beach Drive are closed year round to traffic, creating a wide, car-free zone. See Map Below.

Head Southeast, past the gates along a CAR-FREE Beach Drive, which is downhill all the way to DC. Rock Creek follows along your left and woodlands surround you on rocky slopes. Very peaceful and scenic. At 0.6 miles you come to the intersection of W Beach Dr. Use Caution. Here you'll encounter a short 0.1 mile On-Road Section, which is not closed to traffic, as the road turns South. Past Wise Rd return to a CAR-FREE Beach Drive. At 1.3 miles you come to Picnic Grove #10. All picnic areas are numbered and include parking lots, so if you have the NPS Map (See; Below), you can easily determine your location. Start of another On-Road Section, which is not closed to traffic to allow access to picnic areas. Pass by Picnic Grove #9, before passing by Sherrill Dr at 1.6 miles. 

Note; CAR-FREE Sherrill Drive takes you 0.4 miles East, up to 16th St NW.

Pass by Picnic Grove #8, followed by the Rolling Meadow Bridge on your left, as it crosses over the creek, before coming to Bingham Dr on your right at 2 miles. 

Note; CAR-FREE Bingham Drive takes you 0.5 miles West, to Oregon Ave.

Past here, the paved Rock Creek Park Trail now parallels Beach Dr, although its a bit narrow. Pass by Picnic Grove #7. You cross over Rock Creek at a place called Milkhouse Ford, before passing by the Miller Cabin & Picnic Grove  #6 at 2.4 miles. Restrooms and water fountain. After traveling underneath Military Rd, you come to Joyce Rd at 2.7 miles.

Note; Right, the paved Military Road Path will take you 0.7 miles West, up to Oregon Ave NW, where you can access the Western Ridge Trail . If you head left, South, along the paved Western Ridge Trail, it will bring you to the Rock Creek Park Nature Center & Planetarium after 0.9 miles.

Past here continue South, along CAR-FREE Beach Drive past Picnic Grove #5 and the US Park Police Station. This next section is what I consider the most scenic, as the road follows alongside Rock Creek on your right. You'll pass by the Rapids Bridge and Picnic Grove #4 before crossing over the beautifully built Boulder Bridge at 3.8 miles. As the name suggests, it's built out of boulders. Pass by Picnic Grove #3 before coming to Broad Branch Rd. Head right, up Broad Branch Rd, then left through the Broad Branch Road parking lot and Picnic Grove #2 where you'll pick up the paved Rock Creek Park Trail/Western Ridge Trail at 4.3 miles at the far end of the parking lot. The trail travels through the woods and you'll come to the Peirce Barn & Mill site, where you'll find a visitor contact station, restroom facilities and the Peirce Mill parking lot. You cross a small bridge before traveling underneath the Tilden Street Bridge, past Picnic Grove #1. Cross a bridge over Rock Creek, followed by the Bluff Bridge, back across the creek. Travel underneath the Porter Street Bridge, followed by the Klingle Road Bridge at 5.4 miles.

Note; Right, West, is the start of the paved Klingle Valley Trail .

Head left, across the wooden arched Klingle Ford Bridge over Rock Creek. Here the trail travels between Beach Dr and Rock Creek. You come to the National Zoo entrance at 5.9 miles. See; NATIONAL ZOO . Come to the Northern End of the Beach Drive/Zoo Tunnel, where the trail heads right, Northwest, bypassing the tunnel. You travel alongside Rock Creek, across which is the Zoo, before the trail loops South, returning you to the Southern End of the tunnel and Beach Dr at 6.6 miles. Here a 110 ft pedestrian bridge crosses Rock Creek. You then continue alongside Beach Dr, traveling underneath the very high stone arched Duke Ellington Memorial Bridge (Calvert St), followed by the William Howard Taft Bridge (CT Ave). Use Caution crosswalk over Shoreham Dr. Here the trail follows along an exercise course. Cross the Saddle Club Footbridge over Rock Creek where the trail now parallels Rock Creek & Potomac Pkwy. Travel underneath the high stone arched Mass Ave Bridge. Cross Rock Creek again via the cement Devils Chair Bridge at 7.8 miles. Travel underneath the Q Street Bridge and Lauzun's Legion Bridge (P St) before crossing an on/off ramp at 8.2 miles. Use Caution. Here the trail becomes more urban.

Note; Right leads up to the paved Rose Park Trail . This trail travels South, above the Rock Creek Park Trail below. 

Use Caution, as you must cross another highway ramp, after traveling underneath the Pennsylvania Ave Bridge at 8.7 miles.

Note; Just past this ramp look to your right and spot a brick lined path. This is the start of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal . Just a short side trip down this trail will take you to the C&O Canal Georgetown Visitor Center. See; C&O CANAL .

After traveling underneath the Whitehurst Freeway Bridge (Route 29) and crossing another highway ramp, you'll come to a paved trail on your right.

Note; This trail will take you 0.9 miles West, to the start of the Capitol Crescent Trail .

Next you pass by the Rock Creek Park; Thompson's Boat House parking lot on your right at 8.9 miles.

Note; The C&O Canal connected to Rock Creek, which in turn flows into the Potomac River. If you follow the road past the parking lot and across Rock Creek you'll come to the Thompson Boat Center. On the SE Side of this building you'll find where Rock Creek enters the Potomac River, along with the C&O Canal 0 MILE MARKER. I have not checked this out yet.

The trail now travels between the Potomac River and Rock Creek & Potomac Pkwy. Look left, across the Pkwy, where you'll spot the Watergate Complex. Looking across the Potomac River, you can also spot Roosevelt Island NP. Pass by the Kennedy Center before coming to the Roosevelt Bridge.

Note; A pedestrian bridge on your left, takes across the Rock Creek & Potomac Pkwy where you can visit the KENNEDY CENTER , as well as, access the Roosevelt Bridge path over the river.

Travel underneath the Roosevelt Bridge and come to an overlook after 9.6 miles. Across the Potomac River, up on the hill, you can spot an American flag flying over the Arlington House in Arlington National Cemetery. I believe this is the official end of the Rock Creek Park Trail. 

Note; You can continue South, where you can access many of DC's monuments. The trail here turns into a wide sidewalk, as the Rock Creek & Potomac Pkwy heads left and Parkway Dr comes in from the right. If you continue alongside Parkway Dr you'll come to Lincoln Memorial Circle and the "Arts of Peace" statute.

Note; Left, East, across Parkway Dr are paths that will take you to the Lincoln Memorial, Reflecting Pool, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, FDR Memorial, WW II Memorial, Washington Monument, National Mall and many other sites.

Note; Right, the wide sidewalk takes you past the Watergate Steps to Arlington Memorial Bridge and the "Arts of War" statue. A path crosses the river via the Arlington Memorial Bridge to Arlington National Cemetery.

Every time we visit DC, we bring our bikes. It's the best way to see all the memorials without trying to find a parking space or wearing out your legs. The Mall is very bike friendly.

HH 

CLICK HERE FOR ROCK CREEK PARK TRAIL (DC SECTION) MAP

CLICK HERE FOR ROCK CREEK TRAIL (MD SECTION) MAP

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