Hiking Trails & Parks in District of Columbia
661 mapped hiking and walking trails, plus 82 parks, recreation areas, and campgrounds across District of Columbia. Free trail maps for every listing — browse by county or city, or jump straight to the full list.
About Hiking in District of Columbia
District of Columbia has 661 mapped hiking trails and 82 federally managed parks and recreation areas spread across 8 counties. Trail data comes from OpenStreetMap contributors; parks and campgrounds from Recreation.gov.
Trying to narrow down? Browse all trails, all parks, all 8 counties, or pick a county below to see only its options.
Where to Go in District of Columbia
A spatially-sampled view of 38 trail and park locations across District of Columbia’s counties.
District of Columbia Counties
Top 8 counties shown — 8 total indexed.
Trails by Difficulty in District of Columbia
Parks & Campgrounds in District of Columbia
Longest Trails in District of Columbia
Curated Guides for District of Columbia
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there hiking trails in District of Columbia?
Yes — we have 661 mapped hiking and walking trails in District of Columbia, sourced from OpenStreetMap. Browse the full list below, with distance, elevation, and difficulty for each.
What is the most difficult hiking trail in District of Columbia?
Mount Jefferson Park Trail near Alexandria is rated expert — the toughest classification among District of Columbia's mapped trails.
What is the best hiking trail in District of Columbia for families?
ADT - Maryland - Seg 4 near Ranson is one of the best family picks in District of Columbia — easy difficulty and 0.2 miles round trip, short enough for kids and first-timers. See the full family hiking guide below for more options.
Is there a trail map for District of Columbia?
Each of the 661 trails in District of Columbia has its own page with an interactive map, GPS coordinates, and a link to view it on OpenStreetMap — no app or account needed.
What parks and recreation areas are in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia has 82 parks, recreation areas, and federal facilities in our index (32 classified as recreation areas). Each listing includes activities, photos where available, and directions.
Can I go camping in District of Columbia?
We don't show any campgrounds with mapped campsites in District of Columbia right now — check the state level for more camping options nearby.
Hiking guides & rankings for District of Columbia
In-depth articles drawing on the trail and park data above.
Photo: Joshua EarleThe 10 Longest Hiking Trails in District of Columbia, Ranked
District of Columbia's longest mapped hiking trails, ranked by distance with notes on what makes each route worth the commitment.
Photo: Holly MandarichDistrict of Columbia's 10 Most Punishing Trails by Elevation Gain
Steep is hard. These are the ten District of Columbia trails with the most total elevation gain — quad-burners earned by hard climbing.
Photo: Tobias MrzykThe Best Beginner-Friendly Hikes in District of Columbia
Ten gentle, well-marked District of Columbia trails perfect for first-time hikers, families, or recovery days.
Photo: Joshua EarleThe 10 Most Challenging Hikes in District of Columbia
District of Columbia's ten hardest hikes — expert difficulty, big mileage, or serious exposure. Reserved for experienced hikers.
Photo: Joshua EarleThe Best National Parks & Recreation Areas in District of Columbia
Federal parks and recreation areas in District of Columbia ranked by what they actually offer hikers and campers, not just popularity.
Photo: Sergei AkulichBest Waterfall Hikes in District of Columbia: 10 Trails to See Falls Up Close
District of Columbia's best hikes to named waterfalls — from short family-friendly viewpoints to all-day cascade chasing.