The D.C. Metropolitan area has hundreds of parks and hiking trails for visitors to see the beautiful nature that the area has to offer. With so many different options for people to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which trail or park is the best. This article will look at the top three hiking locations throughout the DMV.
Great Falls Park
Great Falls Park is home to beautiful waterfalls and scenery. There are two different locations in the area, one in Potomac and the other in Northern Virginia, both of which I visited. The Potomac location is more convenient, as it is only about 20 minutes away, whereas the location in Northern Virginia is about 30 to 45 minutes away. Both locations are extremely accessible and have a $20 entrance fee. I ended up hiking the Patowmack Canal Trail located on the Virginia side of the Falls, which is approximately 2.5 miles. The trail follows the Patowmack Canal, which is one of the first canals ever built in the United States, according to the National Park Service. The trail also offers easy access to all three overlooks of the Falls, providing a gorgeous and peaceful view while hiking. On the Potomac side of the Falls, I didn’t hike a specific path, instead opting for the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. The Potomac side of the Falls had beautiful overlooks as well as the famous Billy Goat trail
Mason Neck State Park
Mason Neck State Park is located about one hour away in Lorton, Virginia and has a $10 entrance fee. The park is known for its wildlife and bald eagles and has a variety of trails. I hiked the Bay View trail, which is a one-mile loop throughout the park and has a great view of Belmont Bay as you are hiking. The trail was completely immersed in the woods and as I was hiking, I was able to hear the sound of birds chirping clearly. The park has nine different trails, a picnic area and kayaking/paddleboarding.
Cunningham Falls State Park
Cunningham Falls State Park is located a little over an hour away in Thurmont, Maryland. In the off-season, the entrance fee is $3 for each Maryland vehicle while in the summer it costs $3 per person on the weekdays and $5 per person on the weekend. The park is located in the Catoctin Mountains and is separated into two different sections. The first section, the William Houck Area, has the lake, the falls and hiking trails, which is where I visited. The second section is the Manor Area, which has an aviary and camping. In the William Houck Area, I hiked the Lower Trail, which is a half-mile one-way trail that takes you straight to an overlook of the falls. The trail was steep, but overall easy to hike. Although you are unable to swim in the falls themselves, during the summer, swimming is permitted in Hunting Creek Lake. There are also boating, fishing, and hunting opportunities throughout the park.
