Following the Dumbarton Oaks Trail

TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, the island of Manhattan lacks any hiking trails that go through anything remotely close to being in the wilderness. Since the Washington area is considerably smaller than New York City, there is a lot more preserved forestland close to the center of the city. We all know about Rock Creek Park hiking (and if not, the sunny weekend ahead would be a good time to discover the park), but in honor of National Trails Day, (something we discussed on Tuesday), we thought we'd share with you one of our favorite hikes in the wilds of Upper Northwest D.C., the Dumbarton Oaks Trail.

This trail, which runs through Dumbarton Oaks Park, is actually part of the greater Rock Creek Park trail system. We've traced the trail's path and posted photos of it on our personal Wayfaring account (map is on the jump). It runs between Wisconsin Avenue at Whitehaven Street and ends up at the bottom of Lovers Lane, just below Montrose Park in Georgetown.
Photo taken in 2004 by Michael Grass via Flickr

There are three sections to the trail, which, like most of what we see in D.C., isn't marked all that well. Starting from the Wisconsin Avenue side, you must navigate a steep hill that is covered in ivy. The trail can sometimes get overgrown, but generally, it's passable. But watch your step and wear long pants. Once you get to the bottom, you get a beautiful view of the backside of the Social Safeway, neighboring office buildings and the verdant ridge below it.

After you clear the overgrown section, you end up in the heart of Dumbarton Oaks Park, which is a fairly open space and features a few benches if you need a quick rest. One trail will take you uphill to the gate of the Danish Embassy on Whitehaven Street, but the main part of the trail will follow a stream that heads toward Rock Creek. Some of the stonework along the creek is quite attractive -- in fact, you might almost be lulled into believing you're in an English garden rather than a wooded ravine in Northwest Washington.

At the eastern end of the trail, you have three choices: Go right and follow Lovers Lane up to R Street NW and Montrose Park in Georgetown; go left and head uphill to Massachusetts Avenue; or go left and then downhill to Rock Creek. Eventually you'll end up in Woodley Park at the foot of the William Howard Taft Bridge over the Rock Creek valley.

Please note that although Dumbarton Oaks Park is adjacent to the museum, gardens and libraries of the same name, they are not directly connected.

What's your favorite urban hiking trail in D.C.? Let us know in comments.