About Rock Creek Park
Rock Creek Park is truly a gem in our nation's capital. This 1,754 acre city park was officially authorized in 1890, making it the third national park to be designated by the federal government. It offers visitors the opportunity to escape the bustle of the city and find a peaceful refuge, recreation, fresh air, majestic trees, wild animals, and thousands of years of human history.
Plan a Visit
Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.
Weather & Conditions
Weather in D.C. is often erratic. Spring: Pleasant, Avg. High: 67° Avg. Low: 44.3°, Avg. Precipitation: 12.1” Summer: Hot & Humid, Avg. High: 87°, Avg. Low: 66°, Avg. Precipitation: 12.7”, July is the hottest month Fall: Pleasant, Avg. High: 69°, Avg. Low: 48.3°, Avg. Precipitation: 11.6” Winter: Mild, Avg. High:…
NPS Reference Location
Park state / territory membership: District of Columbia. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.
Operating Hours
Unless otherwise designated, all park land is open sunrise to sunset. Roads are open 24 hours unless posted otherwise.
Activities
Current Alerts
The planned roadway closure has been temporarily postponed after crews discovered a large early‑1900s utility line during preliminary excavation. The construction team is evaluating the line to determine necessary steps before work can safely proceed. This precaution will help minimize disruptions and avoid unnecessarily extending the roadway closure. We will share an update as soon as more information is available.
The Nature Center and Planetarium building is closed until further notice due to continued remediation. Check the park's calendar for changes to ranger programs and locations.
Out of an abundance of caution, Fort Totten Park will remain closed east of Fort Totten Drive, south of Gallatin Street/Metropolitan Branch Trail and north of Brookland Ave NE/Farragut St. due to the investigation involving two WWI-era munitions found.
Getting There
Ample parking for hiking, biking and visiting the Nature Center is located at 5200 Glover Road NW. Rock Creek Park is a large urban park stretching from the Maryland - DC border to the Potomac River. Rock Creek Park also administers 99 separate neighborhood small sites. A large network of public roads provide access to all points administered by Rock Creek Park.
View Official DirectionsContact & Address
The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.
Topics & Themes
Things To Do
Tennis in Rock Creek Park
Open play courts are available at Montrose Park, Francis Field off of 23rd St NW, as well as being the…
Horseback Riding in Rock Creek Park
For the horseback rider, 13 miles of dirt and gravel bridle paths crisscross the park.
Multi-Park Loop
Park your car and stretch your legs! Visit four different National Parks in Washington, DC and begin logging miles on…
Boating in Rock Creek Park
Rent kayaks, canoes and stand up paddle boards from one of two boat houses along the Potomac River.
Explore the Georgetown Waterfront
Explore the Georgetown Waterfront and imagine the changes the space has gone through.
Biking in Rock Creek Park
Bicycling is permitted on paved surfaces in Rock Creek Park.
More Things to Do
Additional activities and experiences from the National Park Service.
Red Line - DC Metro
Embrace the outdoors, explore interactive exhbits and stand where history happened by taking the Red Line to visit some of DC's National…
Discover Meridian Hill Park
Meridian Hill Park was designed and built between 1912 and 1936, and has been under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service…
Golf in DC's National Parks
Visit one of three golf courses at National Parks in Washington, DC
Rapids Bridge Hike
This 2-mile loop hike takes you through the forest and then parallels scenic Rock Creek before heading back uphill.
Boulder Bridge Hike
Hike the 3.5-mile Boulder Bridge Loop from the Rock Creek Park Nature Center to one of the most iconic places in Rock…
Survey Fort Stevens
Take a step back in time and imagine the sights and sounds of the Civil War at a Civil War Defense of…
Wander Through Georgetown Waterfront Park
Georgetown Waterfront Park stretches along the banks of the Potomac River
Visit the Planetarium
Learn about the night sky in the Rock Creek Park planetarium.
Milkhouse Ford Hike
This 1.75-mile loop hike offers a glimpse into Washington, DC’s history—a Civil War fort, poet’s cabin, and historic creek crossing (or ford).
Hike the Southern Loop in Rock Creek Park
The Southern Loop provides visitors with an almost 5-mile loop to explore the deciduous forests of the Western Ridge and provides numerous…
Hike the Northern Loop in Rock Creek Park
Enjoy an easy 5-mile round trip hike around the northern section of Rock Creek Park.
Hike the Valley Trail
The Valley Trail stretches for five miles down the east side of Rock Creek Park from Boundary Bridge to a spot near…
Showing 18 of 25 NPS Things to Do records available for Rock Creek Park.
Visitor Centers
Old Stone House
Built circa 1765, Old Stone House is the oldest structure on its original foundation in Washington, DC. Old Stone House is open for visitors at…
Nature Center
The Nature Center is home to our Planetarium and nature exhibit area which features displays of plants and animals that can be found in the…
Peirce Mill
Peirce Mill, built in the 1820s, is the last operational grist mill along Rock Creek. The grounds are open according to general park hours.
Nearby National Park Service Sites
These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.
Nearby Cities for Trip Planning
These cities are ordered by straight-line distance from the NPS reference coordinate. They are comparison starting points, not official park gateways or road-distance estimates. Trails and other distributed units may extend far beyond this reference point.
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