happyly approved

Fort DeRussy Hike in Rock Creek Park

5200 Glover Road NW, Washington, DC 20015

Daylight to Dark

$$

hikes

Fort DeRussy Extension Option -1.75 miles

If you're ready for something a little more challenging than the Nature Center Paved Hike in Rock Creek Park and don't need a stroller, the Fort DeRussy extension option is for you.  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 saw 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.

Features

Paved Sidewalk
Thoughtfully captured by:
Rebecca Green
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