Resources by location
Do more of what you love
This section lists nature and park locations and details:
Hop on a bike and head to Arlington’s Central library where you can enjoy well-labeled native plant gardens that are situated between the library and the tennis courts, and by the main library entrance on Quincy St. Explore the plot that hugs the tennis fence line, the gardens winding toward the library doors, and those around the corner to the front. Bring your camera and a notebook, sketchpad or journal and start learning about your local native plants. You can also bike into Clarendon and pick up a slice of pizza or snack.
Balls Bluff Battlefield Regional Park
(40 mins in Loudoun Co.) I recommend this park along with nearby Red Rock Wilderness Overlook park for spring wildflowers starting in March. This park was also the site of a Civil War battle in October 1861. You will see many wildflowers here in the spring, including some with fun names: wild ginger, blue cohash, squirrel corn, trout lily, bluets, bastard toadflax, and the uncommon species of shooting star.
Big Schloss in Wolf Gap Recreation Area
This Recreation area hovers between VA and WV in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. Also here are the Tibbett Knob and Mill Mountain trails among others. This interesting mountain area is one of the closest to us. Bring your camera! You will see many photos of Big Schloss in books about Vriginia hikes, so you will want your own photos. The peak itself is evocative, reminding some German immigrants of an old castle, and the view the peak offers of surrounding valleys is beautiful too.
(34 mins. MD) This free public botanical garden in Montgomery County has a nature center and gorgeous gardens. Bring your camera for family photos and nature shots. Brookside Garden is Montgomery County’s incomparable, award-winning 50-acre public display garden. Included in the gardens are several distinct areas: Aquatic Garden, Azalea Garden, Butterfly Garden, Children’s Garden, Rose Garden, Japanese Style Garden, Trial Garden, Rain Garden, and the Woodland Walk. The Formal Gardens areas include a Perennial Garden, Yew Garden, the Maple Terrace, and Fragrance Garden. Brookside Gardens also features two conservatories for year-round enjoyment. Admission to the gardens is free.
Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve
Far and away the closest mountain in the Blue Ridge to Longfellow, this hike makes for a really nice mountain hike only 35 minutes away. This is a non-profit preserve and not a state or federal park, so leave your dog at home. It is open Friday-Sunday and there have been times in the recent past when the preserve was closed for various reasons, so check their website for schedule changes and closings before heading over.
This trail connects five parks! You can join the trail in the North from 66 West. There is no reason to feel you need to do this as the 17 miles point to point hike and instead you can go enjoy visiting the five parks within the system (Bull Run Regional Park, Hemlock Overlook Regional Park, Bull Run Marina, Fountainhead Regional Park, Sandy Run Regional Park). For example Hemlock Overlook Trail is recommended for “very different plants, more like the mountains.” Doing this as a point-to-point hike could be a fun outing with a group–some head to Bull Run and others to Occqouan, then meet in the middle.
When you arrive at the gatehouse ask for a map. This park is famous for its stunning expansive display of bluebells in mid-April. This park is in Centreville, VA and is a multi-use park (1,000 acres) with soccer fields, a water park, but also some great walking trails including the famous bluebell trail. You can see 150 acres of bluebells in a forested landscape. Bring hiking shoes because it can be very muddy! The Bluebell Trail along the stream also has trout lily, spring beauty, false mermaid, common blue violet and smooth yellow violet. In May the bluebells are gone but the area is full of jack in the pulpit and mayapple. There is another trail (the Yellow Trail) in the drier upland woods with yellow corydalis, early saxifrage, bluets, dwarf dandelion and plantain-leaved pussytoes. This is also the park with the massive Christmas light show. Finally, this is one of the parks in the five-park system that creates the Bull Run Occoquan Trail.
Rare old- growth forest–oak and tulip poplars. This is an important birding location with more than 200 species of birds and one of the largest concentrations of bald eagles on the East Coast. The main goal of this park is to preserve the habitat for the birds. This park and its visitor center may take more effort to get to because of its location off the coast. It is a long drive, so may not be for everyone.
C&O Canal Historic Park also known as Great Falls, Maryland side
(MD 17 mins.) Here you will find the Billy Goat trail, hikes along the canal, mountain climbing, river kayaking, and stunning views. You can also rent cabins along the C&O Canal with the National Park Service.
Old-growth forest with views of the Potomac. This park also holds historical significance. The state park preserves the mansion and grounds of Mount Aventine, the historic home of the Chapman family, who had significant ties to many of the Founding Fathers. The park's diverse, heavily wooded biosphere is home to many rare and disjunct plant and animal species. Several of the park's trees have been nominated for state and national big tree champion status. Recreational features include fishing, hunting, and several miles of hiking trails.
State forests will be more natural than some of the Fairfax regional parks. This park has 444 acres adjacent to Manassas Battlefield Park and Conway is considered an “urban oasis” with acres of pine plantation, mixed pine and old-growth hardwoods. It’s important as a research and educational tool demonstrating the value of forests to the community. Many people come to walk, hike, mountain bike or ride horses on the forest trails. Others come to learn about forest management or observe the birds, wildlife and trees that thrive here.
A 6.6 mile moderately used loop trail near Centreville VA.
This small park is an excellent starting point for young naturalists because the Nature Center provides a guidebook that will help you locate native trees, plants and animals. (You can print it here or have the link ready on your phone.) The guidebook will walk you through numbered sign posts in the park. Some of the numbers may be missing, so note which numbers you pass to keep track. This park is a good birding spot. You might see tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch, belted kingfisher, several woodpecker species, bald eagles, Cooper’s hawks, and barred owls. There is an upland oak-hickory forest with mountain laurel scattered throughout the sub-canopy. The open understory has good plant diversity. There are several seeps, a freshwater marsh and Holmes Run. The marsh provides habitat and breeding grounds for several species of frogs, toads, salamanders, and turtles. On an early spring evening, the mating calls from the spring peepers and wood frogs can be heard a mile away. Along the stream, riparian species such as river birch and American sycamore dominate the landscape. A small patch of green in an otherwise developed landscape can be a gold mine for hungry, insect-eating songbirds during spring. With regular invasive plant management, native wildflowers flourish including native orchids, trillium, and Dutchman’s breeches.
Off GW Parkway just south of the airport: not a lot of its own trails, but you can get out to the marsh & see different plants & birds there — and access the Potomac Heritage Trail (dodging bicycles at this point).
Earth Sangha’s Wild Plant Nursery
Earth Sangha is a non-profit that runs the Wild Plant native plant nursery in Fairfax VA, working for ecological restoration. You can come here to see a huge selection of native plants and start learning the common and Latin names. If you are interested in adding some native plants to your yard, schedule an appointment with a nursery employee online, then bring along some photos of the areas you want to plant. The nursery is located at 6100 Cloud Drive in Franconia Park (a recreation park) in Springfield VA. When you arrive at Franconia Park you will see community garden plots. Walk up the gravel road past those plots and you will see Earth Sangha.
This Fairfax regional park is in the process of completing a cool nature center.
Close by, and a good spot for birding because of the mixed habitats – trail through the woods, nice meadow in front of the Hendry House, proximity to the Potomac, etc. This is an interesting Civil War historic site as well.
Fort Marcy is only 10 minutes away. You can do a walk between Fort Marcy and Fort Ethan Allen.
Alternatively, you can walk along the Four Mile Run trail from Barcroft Park in Arlington. The Four Mile Run Trail is a 7-mile long, paved shared-use path in Arlington County, Virginia. It travels along Four Mile Run from Benjamin Banneker Park in Falls Church to the Mount Vernon Trail near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, where Four Mile Run empties into the Potomac River. The trail runs roughly parallel to parts of the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Trail as it follows Four Mile Run, sometimes on the other side of the stream. How about a water hike? “We’d be thrilled to help your kids explore the lower 4 Mile Run in kayaks. Close by and a wonderful experience. If you are interested go to this website. Fourmilerun.org.”
Near Great Falls, this park is a hidden gem! This is a protected area managed by The Nature Conservancy and volunteers. There is a tiny parking lot (239 Springvale Rd, Great Falls, VA 22066), so plan to get there early on a weekend or go on a weekday. You can park along the road leading into the preserve as long as you stay off private property. Within the preserve, there are about 2 miles of easy trails, including a long gravel road from the parking area to the main loop trail that winds through quiet forests. If you listen closely, you might hear Pileated Woodpeckers calling to each other over your head! There is a lot of wildlife here but you must look quietly and closely. Since this is a less-traveled park, the creatures are still skittish of people. The trail loops close to the Potomac River, and you will cross a creek, walk near boggy wetlands and ascend to an old camp with cabins used by Calvary Baptist Church. (Dogs are not allowed here to help preserve the preserve! :) )
Gettysburg National Military Park
There is a biking tour that lasts 1hour. 39 min. More details coming soon.
(Virginia side, though the Maryland side is great, & worth the trip if you can make it, especially the trail out to Plummers Island from Great Falls Tavern): more of the Potomac Heritage Trail, lovely views of the falls, special plants along the margins of the gorge, and additional trails farther from the river.
GSG has a lot of native plants labelled along its native plant trail: not extensive, but nice for slow walking and looking at all they’ve collected there. This is also a place where you can learn about gardening and find lots of resources in the Information Center in the park. This park is near Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Tech.
is still closed to the public due to the pandemic, but does have a barred owl housed outdoors, and staff are often present to answer questions and allow bathroom use if students knock on the door. The trail to the Potomac from Gulf Branch is a little more challenging than the trails at Potomac Overlook (crosses the stream, involves hiking over rocks).
Historic area run by the National Park Service. Has peregrine falcons and hiking trails. There are 22 miles of hiking trails. Visit the National Park Service visitor center or go online to get trail information. The Appalachian trail also goes through Harper’s Ferry and is home to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Headquarters and Visitor Center.
Hemlock Overlook Regional Park
(36 mins away) Located near Clifton, this park is known for its stand of Eastern hemlock trees, diversity of plants, and spring ephemerals. (This park is one stop on the point-to-point Bull Run- Occoquan Trail.)
(17 mins.) This park has a nature center and rangers available. This park hosts some of the activities from Fairfax Parktakes like campfires and flying squirrels at night. I’m told they have yellow lady’s slippers there.
(17 mins.) You can hike and follow the stream until it hits Lake Barcroft. It’s a nice quiet walk, particularly enjoyable in the fall.
32 mins (Enter the park through the Lockhead entrance.) This is the one of the best local places to go to see wildlife and a well regarding birding location. Leave your dog at home or you won’t be allowed on the boardwalk. This is a Fairfax County park located off Route 1 about 3 miles outside the beltway. You should enter the park through the Lockheed entrance. The other entrance offers more walking and less wildlife viewing. It's a short walk from the parking lot to the boardwalk, and the number of visible animals varies greatly but never disappoints. Otters have been very visible lately plus many, many wetland birds. There is a lovely boardwalk around the marsh area, but that’s far from the only trail. In addition to great birding, there are lots special wildflowers. "Huntley Meadows connects you to treasured homes and habitats. The park is home to a historic house, majestic forests, wildflower-speckled meadows and vast wetlands bursting with life. Some of the best wildlife watching in the DC Metro area is here."
Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens (Washington DC)
Operated by the National Park Service. This has the largest tidal marsh in DC, and you will see lotus, water lilies and wildlife. Bring binoculars and amble along the River Trail or the boardwalk, where you may see such birds as great blue herons, Canada geese, kingfishers, woodpeckers, and bluebirds. Look up to spot red-shouldered hawks soaring overhead. As you walk, you might also spot foxes, minks, or white-tailed deer. 1550 Anacostia Ave., NE; 202-692-6080.
24 min. Pros: This is a local hike with some phenomenal birding spots and a nice walk around a lake. You can rent boats. There is even a carousel. There is also some history to the park that is well marked on signs. It is also interesting to observe how plants grown in people’s yards escape easily into the park and infect it with invasives such as English ivy and bamboo. You can see how important public education is to protect parks. Cons: This park is nestled in a community, so it’s crowded even in the winter. As you walk around the lake (counter clockwise) you see into people's backyards on your left. For part of the trail you need to skirt around a public school and through neighborhoods to make a full circle which can be confusing. That’s why it’s not a bad idea to bring a map with you .
Lake Fairfax Park
18 min. A large wonderful park with many trails and one of the best sledding hills I’ve seen. In addition, while it’s not exactly natural, there is huge Western themed water park. The 18 acre lake offers pedal boat rentals, tour boat rides and fishing in both the lake and seasonally-stocked trout stream. There are 136 campsites (70 with electrical hookups, 15 and 30 amp), bathhouse with sinks, showers, and toilets, dump station, picnic tables and grills. The campgrounds are open all year.
Excellent trails that take you through the woods down to the Four Mile Run trail. There are ponds with turtles, frogs, tadpoles, etc. There is a nature center and rangers available to answer questions.
Small, but gets you access to Holmes Run Stream Valley Park, with a long trail along the stream that leads you to Lake Barcoft. That trail can also be accessed from Providence Rec Center or from Roundtree Park.
Manassas National Battlefield Park
Has 40 miles of hikes such as one forested trail called the Unfinished railroad loop. Here is a hiking idea for a 3.5 miles hike. Pull up this map of the Manassas Battlefield and print it for your hike.
Go to Manassas Battlefield (30 mins off of 66 West) and use Waze to search for the Deep Cut Loop Trail parking lot. We parked and walked to the Unfinished RR Loop Trail (the Unfinished RR Loop Trail is through the woods) The first part was muddy so wear hiking boots if you can. We skipped the Deep Cut trail itself (too muddy) and stayed on Second Manassas Trail and walked up that to the Unfinished Loop Trail. I thought this was a good walk because we were in fields with nice mountain views and then we were in the woods. (You could also make this shorter and less muddy if you park at the Unfinished RR Loop trail parking lot and just did the walk in the woods.)
You could also stop by the visitor center and get a map there and a lot more information about the history of the battles. If you have never been to Manassas for the history part, in March they will reopen their guided history tours. You can tag on another trip to Conway Robinson State Forest which is adjacent to the battlefield and has 444 more acres of land.
Not extensive hiking, but overseen by Earth Sangha and they sometimes have invasive removal or native planting events there. Nice bit of woods and meadow, so you can see both kinds of plants.
Walk along the mile-long Bay View loop trail late in the day to catch a stunning sunset and listen for barred owls. While exploring the wildlife refuge, between Occoquan and Belmont bays, you might also see sparrows, great blue herons, kingfishers, and, if you’re lucky, a bald eagle. 7301 High Point Rd., Lorton; 703-339-2385.
Mount Catoctin (PA). National Park Service
Start your visit at the Visitor Center where you will get trail maps. 25 miles of hiking trails ranging for easy to strenuous. This is also the location of Camp David, The President’s Retreat.
33 mins. Walk through a forested area from Mt. Vernon over to the Colonial farm area. Enjoy views of the Potomac from the mansion. Take a 45 minute boat trip from Mt. Vernon along the water and learn more about the history and ecology of the area. Enjoy the kitchen gardens and see how the farm planted food to feed by (not native plants but interesting). George Washington purposefully left much of his property forested because the wood was valuable and necessary for fuel and building. The plants were used for medicine such as witch hazel (inflammation), sassafras bark (fevers) and bloodroot (skin cancer). The wild game was hunted and the forests were also a source of recreation foxhunting). Now there is only a small part of the forested area but it gives you a sense of what it had been like. You will still see hickory trees and oaks like Washington did but the American Chestnut trees that were also common are missing because of a fungal blight in the 20th century. There are garden tours where you can learn about how the fruit and vegetable were grown.
Occoquan National Wildlife Refuge
The refuge offers mostly flat terrain, over 600 acres, and a breadth of experiences from woodland to pond to wetland to banks of the Potomac. Over four miles of wide trails in excellent conditions. Nesting eagles and turkeys are commonly seen.
Old Rag Mountain
(1 hour 53 mins) This trail is a workout, has great views, scrambles, and is fun but read many on-line reviews to get a sense of what it is like. Don’t go if it’s been rainy or icy. Start the hike early in the morning - before 7am is great. If you go later you will still have fun but may encounter a lot of people and sections of the hike where you have to wait because it’s one way or a narrow pass. Also the parking lots may be full but people offer paid parking on their property so look around if that happens. Bring a lot of food and water. You can leave some food in your car because you will be hungry when you finish. This is a 9.4 mile heavily trafficked loop. I thought this review did a good job explaining it: “Bring lots of water, snacks and some determination! The hard part is really only between mile 3-4 and will require some upper body strength. If you make it through the first four miles (going clockwise) you got this! The 6 miles downhill is a lot easier and the steepness levels off after mile 5. There is a little bit of uphill at mile 9, but it’s short.” From March-November 2022, a single-day hiking pass is required. Check the website for details and plan ahead!
Pimmit Run Stream Valley Park
(3 mins.) This park has multiple entrances in our area. One entrance is close to Longfellow Middle school and another is near Franklin Sherman.
A wonderful park neighboring other great parks. You have water access, camping sites, cabin rentals, and you are next to George Mason’s historic home Gunston Hall as well so stop by. You can get a ground pass only to visit the property and soon there will be at Riverside Garden planted here. This is extremely close to Mason Neck State Park as well. There is canoeing, paddle boarding, and kayaking.
Also known as the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail or the PHT, is a designated National Scenic Trail. In our area, this is a long trail that hugs the Potomac River on the Virginia side and runs through many area parks including Riverbend down through Potomac Overlook in Arlington. It could be tricky to stay on the trail so bring a map and be prepared to ask local hikers for help. Wonderful views into DC in the fall and winter.
This trail is part of a much larger trail system that isn’t as well connected as the part that covers our region and spans parts of the mid-Atlantic and upper southeastern regions of the United States that will eventually connect various trails and historic sites in the states of Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia. The trail network includes 710 miles of existing and planned sections tracing the outstanding natural, historical, and cultural features of the Potomac River corridor, the upper Ohio River watershed in Pennsylvania and western Maryland, and a portion of the Rappahannock River watershed in Virginia. Unlike many long-distance hiking trails such as the Appalachian Trail, the Potomac Heritage Trail is a general route with numerous side trails and alternatives, some in parallel on each side of the river. Currently, many of these are separate, connected to the others only by roads. Potomac Heritage Trail: A Hiker's Guide is a guidebook addressing the PHT's various sections. The C&O Companion guide book is useful for this major section of the PHT. The PHT crosses another National Scenic Trail – the Appalachian Trail – near Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. The PHT also coincides with the American Discovery Trail along the portion of the C&O Canal Towpath from Oldtown, Maryland, to Washington, D.C.
Potomac Overlook Nature Center
Visitors can go indoors to use the restroom, ask questions, visit animals, etc. They have a larger park with trails that take you through the forest.
A national park that has a long hiking trail of 14.6 mile loop (taking about 5 hours to hike) but there are also many shorter trails too around a mile long so don’t be intimidated. The park straddles the fall line which marks the change in landscape from Virginia's coastal plain to the Piedmont. You will find cascades, wildlife and historic ruins and camping sites. Go to the park website and see the listing of hikes to get a sense of all the options. There is also a geology e-walk where you can learn about Virginia geology by traversing the park. This is on the website too.
Red Rock Wilderness Overlook Regional Park
(35 mins in Loudoun Co.) This park is on the Potomac River near Leesburg and is very close to Balls Bluff park. This park is a beautiful old farm with rolling hills and mature forests. Over the river looking towards Maryland you will see Sugarloaf Mountain and Catoctin Mountain. I recommend this park adn Balls Bluff in March through May for spring ephemerals. You will find dutchmen’s breeches, squirrel corn, star chickeweed, rue-anenome, cut leaved toothwart, trout lily, wild blue phlox, smooth rockcress, plantain leaved pussytoes, wild pink and more! (See also the entry for Balls Bluff.)
Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area
Go in April for the wildflowers blooming. This is an important native plant site and one of the richest botanical areas in Virginia. There is a lake with fishing and primitive camp sites. This park is near Sky Meadows. You’re also close to the gorgeous VA caverns so think about visiting those. (Skyline Caverns)
Upstream of Great Falls: good for bluebells and birding, trails by the river and uphill, another access to Potomac Heritage Trail. This is very close to Great Falls, but it is free! Trails wind along the Potomac River and you will see many native plants and trees including a little grove of skinny Paw Paw trees! There are even kayak rentals (check before to make a reservation due to Covid-19) and you can explore the river, look for Double Crested Cormorants (birds) sitting on the rocks in the middle of the river, and lots of turtles if it is warm enough. There's plenty of hiking in the park, and the Potomac Heritage Trail runs through Riverbend. The 1.8 mile walk from Riverbend's visitor center to the cascades and the visitor center at Great Falls National Park takes about 45 minutes.
It’s 24 minutes to the Nature Center and you can park. There are many entrances to this park however and you can use street parking and walk into the park. The 10 mile long park twists through DC and is full of bikers and walkers (and skirts near traffic). Parts of the roads are closed on weekends so you can enjoy a nice bike ride. Using iNaturalist or Seek you may find Yellow Poplar, American beech and Black Walnut, Green Ash, and American Elms. Plan ahead and think of an unusual place to eat in DC. Towards the north part of the park there is Deli Dish and Parkway Deli (but these are not by the Nature center - they are near the Rock Creek Shopping Center.)
If you park in the larger, farther west lot, there’s a trail down along Scott’s Run that lets you cross the stream on bollards: fun for kids. Again, lovely spring woodland wildflowers, access to Potomac Heritage Trail, and upland areas with mountain laurel. Varied woodland and stream habitat leading to the Potomac, offering a range of hikes, from easy to challenging, through mature forest. Very popular park, so early arrival is advised. Scotts Run is on of many streams joining the Potomac but it’s special because of its 30 foot multi level waterfall. This preserve is now linked with Riverside and Great Falls parks in the Potomac Gorge biological system which is home to globally rare plants and animals. https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/scotts-run
Near Paris, VA. (54 mins) There are two main highway routes to this (66 versus 267), so check which is fastest. It's a great place for family hiking. Dogs on a leash are welcome. It's also great for seeing red headed woodpeckers and zebra swallowtails (in summer), and fun to hike all seasons. There is plentiful grass parking, but it can get crowded on a nice weekend. There is a basic walk-in campground, over 12 miles (19 km) of hiking trails and 6 miles (10 km) of bridle paths. The horse trails are east of US 17 and the hiking trails (and most of the park) is west of US 17. With a combination of meadows, grazed fields, forest, scrub, and streams, it has a wide variety of ecological zones.
Most of the year, there are monthly "astronomy nights" where amateur astronomers bring their telescopes and use them to show attendees various celestial objects. Typically, an astronomer from the Smithsonian Institution is among the leaders. Sky Meadows is a year-round bird watching site. It is known for a colony of red-headed woodpeckers that live in an oak grove just past the contact station. Depending on the time of the year, it is almost certain that this and the other six species of woodpeckers—downy, hairy, red-bellied, yellow-bellied sapsucker, pileated, and northern flicker—commonly found in this part of Virginia will be present. Except for "astronomy nights", the park closes at dusk, and campers must be in the park and others out of the park at that time.
3 min. A small one acre park with an ornamental garden near Minor Park. There is some fun Washington DC history to these parks.
State Arboretum of Virginia (aka Blandy Experimental Farm)
(1 hour 15 mins towards Winchester VA) There are self guided and guided garden and native plant tours from April to October and the arboretum is open every day from dawn to dusk. Check the website to schedule a guided tour. Be sure to pick up maps and brochures once you arrive or print them in advance from the website.
(51 mins north) Located north of us, the peak of this low mountain is about 800 feet higher than the surrounding farmland (total elevation is 1,282 feet). The views are best in winter before trees have leafed out. The spring will give you a chance to enjoy wildflowers. The dominant trees are oaks, black gum, tulip, black birch and eastern hemlock. There are deer, red foxes, flying squirrels, and racoons, many songbirds, horned owls, pileated woodpeckers, wild turkeys and red shouldered hawks.
This memorial island offers a quiet place for reflection. Through the trees when the leaves are gone, you’ll enjoy views of the Potomac River, Key Bridge, Georgetown, and Rosslyn. One downside: The restrooms are closed in the colder months, usually October through April, though there’s a portable toilet. This is a fun place you can bike to.
On the George Washington National Parkway: There is a lovely loop hike here, leading from a headland over the Potomac River, down a steep embankment, to the trail along the river bank, and back up the stream valley of Turkey Run. This setting hosts a significant range of wildflowers in spring, along trails that change from cove to riverine and floodplain habitat. Be prepared to cross streams. Enjoy the Potomac River at the bottom of the Great Falls gorge. Lots of trails, including access to the Potomac Heritage Trail along the river. Especially in April, park in the first lot and go down the (steep!) zig-zag trail to the river for lovely woodland wildflowers.
United States Botanical Garden
The large space is divided into separate rooms, each simulating a different habitat and includes rare and endangered plants, an orchid house, Hawaiin plants and jungle plants among others.
United States National Arboretum
(446 acres in NE DC) You can walk, bike, or drive around. The Arboretum functions as a major center of botanical research conducted by the USDA, including applied research on trees, shrubs, turf, and the development of new ornamental plants. In addition to a library and a historical collection (archive), the institution also has an extensive herbarium of over 800,000 specimens documenting wild and cultivated plant diversity. Bring your camera because there are stunning views of the old pillars from the Capitol building.
Windy Run Nature Park and Trail
There is a waterfall and spring wildflowers and visitors can take the trail out to the Potomac Heritage Trail.