I am going to DC for three days at the end of April with my dog (please note, the dog has an injured paw, so he will NOT be hiking, just sleeping in the hotel 
I plan to do DC destinations on days 1 and 3 (inspired by DC with a Grumpy Tween thread), but I want to do something outdoorsy on day 2. Ideally, I really want to do Class IV or above rafting, but it seems that the closest rafting that’s Class IV or higher is something like 200 miles away. I am willing to drive, but I would say 2 hours or about 100 miles out of DC is about my limit.
If rafting is not going to happen, I would like to do some nice hiking or something else outdoors. I hiked the Grand Canyon all the way to the bottom and back out last year, so I am fine with long or challenging hikes (summiting a smaller mountain sounds good), but I am looking for something that’s a reasonable day hike, so let’s say no more than 6 hours or so?
Any ideas for great outdoor activities (doesn’t have to be hiking or rafting) around DC?
The Maury River in central Virginia (not far from Lexington, Rockbridge County). It’s a fairly tame river but was a lot of fun when our group did a day-long canoe trip years ago.
All the dog friendly hotels that I have visited, don’t allow you to leave your dog in the room by themselves.
Maybe he would be happier at a dog ranch?
The Potomac river is 15 miles from DC.
http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/trips/best-trails/best-us-hiking-cities/#/great-falls-kayak_37652_600x450.jpg
The rafting on the Shenandoah river is not class IV ( but maybe different this year),
http://www.rivertrail.com/package/whitewater-rafting-rapids-shenandoah-potomac-rivers/
I haven’t gotten as far as planning specific hikes, but the destination I had in mind was Shenandoah National Park, 75 miles west of DC. Spectacular area.
http://www.nps.gov/shen/index.htm
I don’t think any of the hikes will be super, super strenuous, but it is spectacularly beautiful Appalachian Mountain terrain.
In DC itself, it’s flat, but the entire loop around the Capitol, the Mall, the Tidal Basin, the Lincoln Memorial, and back to the Capitol is a pretty nice little hike. It’s about 7.5 miles, but with lots and lots of stuff to look at. along the way.
The Billy Goat trail A is pretty long and strenuous for one that is very, very close to civilization. It is on the Maryland side of Great Falls National Park. For you, it should be an easy 1/2 day adventure.
The MD, WV, VA border near Harper’s Ferry has some fun rafting. Definitely not class IV but you could combine it with hiking the Maryland Heights trail or the VA heights trail and Harper’s Ferry is a beautiful little historic town.
I’ll find some links.
Thank you all for all the suggestions! I will look through all of them!
I was actually looking at Old Rag - it looks like a lot of fun!
If you are only in DC for 3 days, I would recommend sticking closer to town unless you want to see the Virginia countryside by driving to Old Rag (~1.5-1.75 hrs from DC). You can be completely outside the city, surrounded by the woods, on the Billy Goat or Potomac Heritage Trails within 20-30 mins of the National Mall. I’ve lived here for almost 30 years & it always amazes me how quick & easy it is to escape from the city.
The Billy Goat Trail is composed of 3 different sections, A, B, and C for a total of 7 miles point-to-point (more miles if you hike it as a loop). Sections A & B have some rugged rock scrambles but offer spectacular views of the Potomac River gorge. If you’re lucky, sometimes you can see bald eagles fishing for a meal. You can also watch US Olympic kayakers run the rapids at Great Falls. If you park at the lot near the Old Anglers Inn, you can hike on the Billy Goat, then head over the the Old Anglers Inn for a nice post-hike meal on the patio if the weather is nice. http://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/upload/GF-Map-Page-2.pdf
There is also a great trail called the Potomac Heritage Trail which runs along the Virginia side of the Potomac River. For a nice 9-mile loop (called the "Key Chain Loop’), start at the parking lot for Roosevelt Island right near Key Bridge. Follow the Potomac Heritage Trail along the VA side of the Potomac, cross Chain Bridge over to Maryland, then follow the C&O Towpath back to Georgetown & cross back over to VA on Key Bridge. http://www.nps.gov/pohe/planyourvisit/upload/PHT_GWMP_map_MAR2009_printable.pdf
If you do decide to hike Old Rag, make sure to start early, like 8 am. The parking lot fills up early & there are sections of the trail where only one person can pass through at a time. There are literally traffic jams because it is a popular trail, especially when April wildflowers are in bloom.
You can go white water rafting within 3 hours of DC if you head northwest to Ohiopyle, PA. There is excellent white water on the Youghiogheny River. (There are serious class IV-V rapids on the upper Yough). Just google ‘Ohiopyle’ or ‘the Yough.’
Another vote for Billy Goat trail, especially where the rocks are. Take a camera, and keep and eye out for rock climbers on the VA side. I advise getting there early, and parking right across from Old Anglers Inn. then you will walk on the C&O Canal before entering the Trail.
In my opinion, and the opinion of my 20 yo son, There’s one part of Old Rag that’s really fun to hike, but there’s a lot that’s pretty boring. Be warned, cell reception is pretty iffy there, and it’s not that close to DC.
It’s not White water rafting, but you could sign up for a kayaking trip around DC. I think they even have a kayaking tour of the monuments.
Another fun outdoor thing to do is to rent a bike. You can ride from DCto Mount Vernon or Alexandria, VA along a paved trail most of the way, or ride on the C&O canal from Georgetown to as far as you want to go in Maryland. You need a hybrid or mountain bike for the C&O canal ride. You could in theory ride a bike to up by the Billy Goat Trail in Potomac, then hike the trail, and ride back to Georgetown. There’s a place along the Canal to rent kayaks too, if you’re interested. You could also ride by the zoo, and through Rock Creek Park. They close the road to traffic on the weekends. It’s quite a nice ride, but you do have to dodge tourists along the way.
I hope the weather cooperates.
Well, heck, the Appalacian Trail its very self is within 100 miles of DC.
While there is no real elevation change, how about sticking right in DC and during the CapitalCrescent trail. It’s a rails-to-trails and leads from Georgetown out to Bethesda behind NIH. it’s quite pleasant and at some points your would never know you are in DC. (Also very good for a bike. Maybe rent a bike w a tagalong trailer and take your dog!)
http://www.cctrail.org
Rock Creek Park also has some elevation. I’m not familiar w the trails, but it’s a fairly big park w many area no where near a road.
“Maybe rent a bike w a tagalong trailer and take your dog!”
Aww, I like this
You can actually do both the Rock Creek Park/Beach Drive trail and the Capital Crescent Trail in the same, fairly easy ride. They connect with minimal on-street riding. I have done this many times.
Also, The CC trail is right next to the C&O canal trail for part of it.
Aww, that warms my heart, taking your injured pup for a ride in the trailer.
If you decide to go that route, you can rent both bike & trailer at Big Wheel Bikes in Georgetown. (http://www.bigwheelbikes.com/rentals.htm) The shop is near the C&O Canal, which is where you will pick up the Capital Crescent Trail if you want to do the ride suggested above by 1214mom. The CCT takes you through some neighborhoods with cherry blossoms, which may be blooming mid-April. But be aware that it will be on a slight uphill grade.
When you finish your ride & return the bike to Big Wheel, you’ll be across the street from Georgetown Cupcake for a sweet reward (although Sprinkles Cupcakes, which also has a cult-like following, is just 3 blocks down M Street from G’town C’cakes & has much shorter lines…) Or if beer is your thing, go around the corner to Pizza Paradiso for pizza & an extensive beer menu.
Some roads inRock CreekPark are closed on Sunday mornings for biking and running. Even though I’m a DC native, I still get lost on those roads, as they are so curvy you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere.
A bike is also a great way to seen the sights along the mall and ride across the bridge from the Lincoln memorial to Arlington National.
Ps - if you do CCT, wave to my moms new apartment in Chevy a Chase Lake. (It’s fund to stay at her place, as I can jump right on the trail and have a pleasant jog. Looking forward to heading down in a few weeks to check in on her and plans or take my bike to head into Georgtown!).
So many fun ideas! I am getting really excited for this trip!
I am most likely going during the week, so weekend craziness, either in DC or on Old Rag or on hiking trails shouldn’t be an issue.
GEORGETOWN CUPCAKES are my all-time favorite cupcakes!!! (we have a branch in NYC) So yes, I need to make a pilgrimage to their flagship store :ar!
Ah… So you won’t be able to get anyplace quickly or early, unless you go really early… Rush hour is terrible, as you may already know. I do NOT recommend Rock Creek Park during the week. The C&O canal or CC trail are both fine. The trail towards VA is also nice. It passes the airport, very close to the runway, and Old Town is a fun destination.
Enjoy, and let us know how it goes. billy Goat trail still my number one recommendation. I hope puppy gets better.
If you are going to the mountains / Old Rag area, give the White Oak Canyon hike a look.
The White Oak Canyon hike is off the Skyline Drive. it’s nice. Downhill to the falls, then back uphill, so be aware.
