DC's Most Beautiful Runs That'll Make You Actually Want to Work Out

Unless you ’re a grizzled Caranx crysos , it was basically unacceptable to even think about jogging this summer . August is our one-year reminder that this urban center was construct on a swamp ; it ’s insufferably hot , and if you had n’t already sweated every drop of fluid out of your body , the humidity would make you cry . But pristine running conditions has finally arrived , and now ’s the meter to find some salutary run routes . There ’s nothing to make a run elapse more quick or agreeably than a spectacular vista or a break from the common concrete uneasiness , so we ’ve snipe up the most beautiful run DC has to offer . Aiding us in this task is the Columbia Heights running club theCardozo Crawlers .

C&O Canal Towpath

stretch from Georgetown to central Pennsylvania , the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal vaunt 184 miles of trail . Suffice to say , that ’s plenty of real estate for even the most ultra of marathon runners . Regardless of your level , the nine unpaved miles of dirt and crush stone between the Key Bridge and Carderock are lovely ; the old canal hugs you on one side , inhabit with sunbathing turtles and house of waterfowl . On the other , the Potomac rumbles , overseen by some of the most enviable riverfront house Virginia has to propose . In the full prime of spring or the burnt hues of fall , it ’s a gorgeous panorama to take in . The terrain is flat , too , and each naut mi comes marked with a signpost , so it ’s easy to mentally check out and slide . I ’ve probably logged more miles on the C&O than any one route over the last ten , and I ’m not even close to sick of it . Just the other mean solar day , I spotted a baby castor idling in the channel , and then no less than a quarter - mile afterward , a blue heron plunged its head into the water and returned with a fish breakfast . Come on , where else are you going to find that ?

Embassy Row

Outside of the Tidal Basin and National Mall , few routes feel as quintessentially DC as the two - mi reach of Massachusetts Ave between Dupont Circle and the Washington Cathedral . Along what ’s ordinarily know as Embassy Row , you ’ll return the diplomatic missions for over 40 countries . Some embassy have assumed older townhouses ; others occupy more of late erected and lavish structures . extend up this strip is a tour through 110 long time of architectural history and political projection . ( I ’m still discover things . ) You ’ll also pass the Naval Observatory , where you’re able to wave to the residence of the Vice President … just do n’t do it enthusiastically enough to pull the Secret Service ’s aid . Just as importantly , the sidewalks that run along this stretch are gracious , permit for minimal pedestrian froggering , and are line with trees that gift spook . And if you ’re looking for a temperate challenge , the one - naut mi incline from Whitehaven St to Wisconsin Ave for sure portray one . Of naturally , it ’s play to run down it , too . All in all , this four - international nautical mile loop might not be enough of a workout on its own , but approached from any way , it ’s a nice hyperkinetic syndrome - on to any discharge .

Rock Creek Park

The National Park Servicetouts Rock Creek Parkas " a gem in our nation ’s capital letter . " It also allege the 2,000 Acre of trees , lead , and tributary supply visitors with " the chance to ponder and soothe their intent through the smasher of nature . " That ’s deep , federal regime ! But whether you jog to Enya or not , there ’s no deny the first assertion : Rock Creek Park is a muffin for local runners . Sprawling from the northerly tip of the District down to the Kennedy Center , the ballpark cuts vertically across the integrality of Northwest quadrant . That make it easy for inhabitants from over a XII neighboring neighborhood to get at the parkland ’s handful of trails . And once inside , Rock Creek is a veritableChoose Your Own Adventureof paths . " It ’s beautiful in all seasons and has mile of track , which range from flat and wide , like Western Trail , to more technical with elevation , like Valley Trail , " says Cardozo Crawler Julie Dickerson . " On the weekend , they also close section of Beach Drive , which is great for route runner who need lot of outer space and nature without losing their basis . "

The National Mall

It does n’t get any more iconic than the National Mall . The four - mile closed circuit between the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial is lined with a treasure treasure trove of landmarks : the Reflecting Pool , the World War II Memorial , the Washington Monument , the National Gallery of Art , all 34 Smithsonian Museums . Is it a small touristy ? Well , yes , obviously ; this is precisely what most of DC’snear-20 million annual visitorshave come to see . But there ’s nothing wrong with indulging your inner tourist ; it ’s easy to take the monuments and computer architecture for granted , so go for a running around the Mall and make the movement to look around a piddling . The route itself go on to be a good one , too . Along the Reflecting Pool ’s sidewalks , shade comes from the canopy of sturdy trees , including a fair number of grand , old American elms . On the other side of the Washington Monument , special - wide dirt paths let for rockers , joggers , holidaymaker , and the occasional member of Congress to coexist peacefully . Of of course , if you want to avoid most of them whole , get out there while the sun is just rising , and perhaps assemble on a White House jog - by while you ’re at it . " It ’s good to do early in the morning while the metropolis is still sleeping , " Cardozo Crawler Caroline Mosley says of the route . " run past the Washington Monument and around the White House so early in the morning gives you a rarified glimpse of an eerily quiet DC . "

Roosevelt Island

" Roosevelt Island is a small oasis in the city , " say Cardozo Crawler Amy Harder . A memorial to our twenty-sixth Chief Executive – Teddy , not Franky D – the 88 - acre island baby-sit in the eye of the Potomac River , just across from the Kennedy Center . While technically part of DC , it ’s only accessible from a footbridge off the Mount Vernon Trail in Rosslyn , VA . The plus side : that means no cars to revere as you chug along any of itsseveral pathways– just undecorated , unagitated nature . A mix of woodlands and sloppy lowland , Roosevelt Island is also famed for itsdiverse population of birds … so if you ’re a long-distance runner ornithologist , holy crap , you ’ve just stumble pay turd . For the rest of us , Roosevelt Island is simply a bully way to step outside DC , and a fitting tribute to one of chronicle ’s great conservationists .

Hains Point

Whether it ’s the product of a honest cool gentle wind or a worldwide sense of leaving the concrete swamp that is DC , it ’s gruelling to beat a ravel along the water . If you ’re coming from Downtown , Hains Point should be your go - to escape point ; the manmade island is approachable from both West Potomac Park and fourteenth St , and from there project out to the concourse of the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers . The joggable circumference add up to a four - Roman mile loop topology that ’s popular with bicyclist and runners alike , for the most part because the low amount of road dealings allows for uninterrupted cardio bliss . But Hains Point is popular with everyone come late March and early April , when its many cherry tree trees blossom into nosegay of pink flower petal . Other time of the year , you ’ll have to finalize for the sight of plane land at National Airport across the Potomac , and the company of grilling and sportfishing locals along the more contiguous shoreline . Be warn , though : come winter , the twist can be a little less " cool breeze " and a little more " inexorable blasts , " but who does n’t like a little challenge ? It does n’t seem to deter the Charles James Fox and raccoon that add up out of the woodwork after sunset to roam the island with impunity . The ingathering of waterfront attribute is not lost on them , either .

Capital Crescent Trail

The Capital Crescent Trail begins like the clean - cut sibling of the C&O Canal Towpath . The paved path starts near the Georgetown waterfront and continues northwest along the Potomac River , running parallel to the C&O at a slightly lower altitude . After about two miles , though , things get interesting . Just past the boathouse at Fletcher ’s Cove , the way of life veers bequeath , and then cuts back to cross a overcrossing over the canal . From there , the Capital Crescent Trail maneuver through the Palisades and up into Maryland . And I do meanup : once on the other side of the epithelial duct , the track is 4.5 miles of near uninterrupted side until its ending in Bethesda . So , add up prepared for a workout . Along the climb , you ’ll get a gracious advantage of the Potomac , and then a trip through some of Montgomery County ’s swankiest backyards . As a side note , it ’s deserving mention that the park services plow the track after a snowstorm , which provide the chance to take in the wintertime wonderland on a jog that wo n’t go away your feet frigid and blotto .

National Zoo

A zoo may seem like an unmated lieu for a lope , but DC ’s is a favourite of orbit Caranx crysos . In fact , it ’s so democratic that the National Zoo had tocut its minute of operationafter one too many near collisions with maintenance vehicles . direction to go , iPhone jogger ! The parking area ’s modified 8 am chess opening may not be idealistic for the weekday runs , but if you get there on the earlier side on Saturday or Sunday , you could avoid the mass and work through the 2.5 nautical mile of paseo with relative ease . Those miles are lined generously with tree , and boast a unnerving climb when you ’re guide in the focal point of Woodley Park . ( If you ’ve never been to this zoological garden or get word the grumble of baby carriage - pushing tourist , it basically occupy a liberal J. J. Hill . ) And if you feel like taking a breathing space , you could do so in front of an creature exhibit . The C&O Canal Towpath ’s deer are cool and all , but they have nothing on a blood-red cat bear . Or a family of giraffe . Or even those disgruntled emus . " manifestly , you wo n’t get a gross ton of miles in , but it ’s fun to have the post mostly to yourself , and it allow for an soft way to connect to the Rock Creek Park trails , " enjoin runner Julie Henderson .

Anacostia Park

genuine story : Anacostia Park is home to the only roller skating marquee in a national park . I imagine it would be easy to roller skate to and from such a pavilion , too , because Anacostia Park also contains several miles of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail , a savorless and freshly paved pathway that will someday imprint a uninterrupted 20 - mi loop on both sides of the Anacostia River . ( For now , 12 miles are loose to the populace . ) The beauty of the park ’s open fields is n’t start to bowl you over , but it ’s immature and on the water , and sometimes that ’s secure enough . As someone who spent my first year in DC melt down loops around the bricks of Capitol Hill ’s Lincoln Park , I wish I had live there was such a pleasant alternative a mile and exchange away . Unsurprisingly , the two - mile strip of pavement on the Southeast side of the city is the emplacement for a identification number of races throughout the twelvemonth , admit the ACLI Challenge wherethe fastest member of Congressis coronate .

Glover-Archbold Park Trail

Glover - Archbold Park is one of Rock Creek Park ’s " finger park " shell out by the National Park Service . That ’s a nice way of life of saying it ’s a JV Rock Creek Park . Fortunately , a JV Rock Creek Park is still a beautiful place to splash mud up your sura and all over your sneaker . Glover - Archbold ’s rugged dirt track stretches almost three mi , from Tenleytown down to the Potomac , where it connects with the C&O Canal Towpath . Along the path , the route steadily declines some 300 ft , which makes the getting even tripper a bit more of a challenge . The heavy wooded lead furnish refuge from the summertime sun – an even more valuable attribute on morning time when you do n’t get up quite as early as you should . And much like Rock Creek , the lankiness of Glover - Archbold allows for easy availability for a horde of neighborhoods .

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Chesapeake & Ohio Canal