The hikes surrounding Washington DC are nothing short of spectacular. Just a short drive from the nation’s capital, you will find some of the most beautiful and challenging trails that the east coast has to offer. If you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a day, consider one of the following hikes.

Best Hikes Near Washington, DC

• River Trail (Great Falls, VA)
• Billy Goat Trail (Potomac, MD)
• Maryland Heights (Harpers Ferry, MD)
• Annapolis Rock (MD)
• Scott’s Run Nature Preserve (McLean, VA)
• Big Schloss (Hardy County, WV)

Favorite hike near DC: River Trail Loop

Location: Great Falls, VA

Distance from DC: 30 minutes

Hike Distance: 4.6mi

Elevation: 479ft

Difficulty: Moderate

Starting off strong with my personal favorite hike near DC! River Trail is located within Great Falls Park on the Virginia side (more on the Maryland side below). Note that to enter, the fee is $10 per vehicle, or you can get in for free with your America the Beautiful national parks pass. This trail is ranked moderately difficult by AllTrails, but I would say it is more on the easy side. 

My favorite thing to do on this trail is to pack a picnic, find a quiet spot near the edge of the rock cliffs, and look out over the water while enjoying my meal.

Most popular trail near DC: Billy Goat Trail

Location: Potomac, MD

Distance from DC: 30 minutes

Hike Distance: 4.3mi

Elevation: 157ft

Difficulty: Moderate

On the opposite side of the Potomac River from our previously mentioned hike, you get the Billy Goat Trail! This trail is within the Maryland side of Great Falls Park. Again, the fee to enter will be $10 per vehicle which you can purchase here, or free entry with your America the Beautiful national parks pass. If you don’t wish to hike the whole trail, you can opt to hike different sections. All Trails recognizes three sections: Section A, Section B, and Section C. My personal favorite is section C.

Maryland Heights

Location: Harpers Ferry, MD

Distance from DC: 1.5 hours

Hike Distance: 4.5mi

Elevation: 1,079ft

Difficulty: Moderate

Ranked as a moderately difficult hike, this one left me breathless! The climb to the top was steady, but so worth it. From the top, the overlook was stunning. Make sure to pack lots of water and snacks! 

Best hike in the Fall outside DC: Annapolis Rock

Location: South Mountain State Park, MD

Distance from DC: 1.5 hours

Hike Distance: 5mi

Elevation: 797ft

Difficulty: Moderate

This is a great trail to visit in autumn, because the fall foliage is incredible at the top! The parking lot does tend to fill up, so if you’d prefer a similar yet less crowded hike, check out Black Rock Cliffs.

Best hikes near Washington DC for short trips: Scott’s Run

Location: McLean, VA

Distance from DC: 30 minutes

Hike Distance: 1.4mi

Elevation: 147ft

Difficulty: Easy

Looking for an easy hike with a waterfall near DC? Scott’s Run comes in as the shortest hike on this list. It’s a short 0.75 mile walk to the waterfall, with some fun river crossings along the way. Double that distance since this is an out and back trail, and you come in just shy of a mile and a half. If you’d like to extend this hike, you can follow the Outer Loop traill to make it 3.1 miles. 

Big Schloss

Location: Wolf Gap Recreation Area

Distance from DC: 2 hours

Hike Distance: 4.3mi

Elevation: 1,053ft

Difficulty: Moderate

This hike is the furthest on this list from DC, but oh so worth it! Along the way you can stop at the famous Red Truck Bakery for their delicious pastries, and pack a few for the hike up. The Big Schloss parking area (which includes pit toilets – a rarity!) is located in West Virginia,while the summit of this trail is actually in Virginia. At the top, you can enjoy 360 degree views of both states.

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