Edge of the Woods Trail, Rock Creek Park, December 2016

The Edge of the Woods Trail is a short, wheelchair-accessible path in Rock Creek Park, starting and ending at the Nature Center. Along the way are interpretive signs on the area’s flora and fauna, but there’s not much to see besides woods and a very small meadow.

The hike

The Nature Center is a popular starting point for visitors to Rock Creek Park in Washington, DC and serves as the trailhead for this 10-minute walk. Leaving the Nature Center—which doubles as the park’s primary gift shop—head straight, walk back toward the parking area, and bear right at the sign reading “Edge of the Woods Trail.”

Nature Center in Rock Creek Park

Stay right at the subsequent junction steps later, and follow the loop in a clockwise direction. The path begins in the woods amid towering tulip, chestnut, and oak trees, with an occasional black cherry or holly. Frequent benches offer the opportunity to sit down.

Edge of the Woods Trail, Rock Creek Park

About 2/3 of the way around, the paved path skirts the edge of a tiny meadow with high grasses, then reaches a junction with the half-mile Woodland Trail. Stay right, reaching the northern wall of the Nature Center. From here, it’s less than a minute back to the start.

Allot 10-15 minutes for this handicapped-accessible walk.

Holly tree along the Edge of the Woods Trail