How many hiking trails are listed near Washington?

The directory currently includes 146 quality-checked routes near Washington, covering 1.1k km of mapped lines. These are routes with a traceable source, sufficient geometry and elevation data.

Which route ranks highest near Washington?

ADT - Maryland - Seg 3 currently has the highest directory score in this set. Compare its distance, ascent and route type with ADT - Maryland - Seg 2 and Pennsylvania Avenue Heritage Trail before choosing.

When should you hike near Washington?

Varies by region is the season stored for this place in the directory. It is not a live conditions report: consult the route source, land manager and local forecast before travelling.

Are there routes rated easy near Washington?

97 routes are rated easy by the directory’s distance-and-elevation model. The rating does not rule out rough surface, exposure or temporary hazards, so verify the individual route.

How is “near Washington” defined?

Routes on this page are linked within a 60 km radius of the city. Distances are geographic straight-line measurements, not driving times; open each route to plan the actual journey.

What is the closest hike to Washington?

Rock Creek Trail is the nearest mapped route, about 2.9 km from the city centre.

District of Columbia, United States

Hiking trails near Washington

146 quality-checked hiking routes are currently mapped within 60 km of Washington, District of Columbia, United States. Together their route lines cover 1.1k km. The average route is 7.5 km with 73 m (240 ft) of recorded ascent.

146
Trails: 60 km
Search radius: 97
Easy routes: 2.9 km
Closest

The directory difficulty mix is 97 easy (66%), 34 moderate (23%) and 15 hard or expert (11%). 29 routes (20%) are recorded as loops. Difficulty is calculated from available distance and elevation data; it is not a statement about technical terrain or current conditions.

The most frequent route tags are mountain (12), river (8), lake (3), forest (2). The highest recorded point in this set is 386 m (1,266 ft). The place-level planning field lists varies by region as the preferred season; check each route and official notices for live access and weather. ADT - Maryland - Seg 3, ADT - Maryland - Seg 2, Pennsylvania Avenue Heritage Trail currently lead this page’s directory ranking, which uses route completeness and computed route scores rather than editorial field testing.

Choose by the details

How do these routes differ?

A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

0.4 km

Pennsylvania Avenue Heritage Trail

Compare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

14 m

Pennsylvania Avenue Heritage Trail

6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.

Return logistics

0 recorded loops

Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.

Plan the return journey →

Comparison of the first 6 listed routes
Route	Distance	Ascent	Moving time	Shape
ADT - Maryland - Seg 3	33.4 km	199 m	7 hr 49 min	Point to point
ADT - Maryland - Seg 2	69.1 km	254 m	16 hr	Point to point
Patapsco Traverse (north hiking)	51.5 km	676 m	12 hr	Point to point
Patapsco Traverse (south hiking)	51.9 km	752 m	13 hr	Point to point
Patapsco Howard County Thru Trail	50.0 km	604 m	12 hr	Point to point
Pennsylvania Avenue Heritage Trail	0.4 km	14 m	7 min	Point to point

Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.