Ballston to Cleveland Park via Custis & Rock Creek Park Trails Hike

Kick off your Labor Day Weekend on Saturday August 30 with this imaginative and unusual hike from the heart of Northern Virginia to the middle of DC.

We will first walk to the paved Bluemont Junction Trail that starts near the Ballston Metro on Fairfax Drive at N. Wakefield street. We’ll follow this trail to the Four Mile Run Trail (next to the W & OD trail), which is heavily wooded (i.e., well shaded). We’ll walk northwest to the Custis Trail, the paved trail next to I-66, east to the Mount Vernon Trail. Bathrooms/water are available on the Custis Trail.

From the Custis Trail we'll head over to Theodore Roosevelt Island, where we'll briefly visit to see Teddy's Stalinesque monument. Next we’ll cross the Potomac via the TR Bridge's pedestrian walkway to the Rock Creek Trail, not far from the Kennedy Center. We’ll proceed north through Rock Creek to the Peirce Mill area (where Adventuring holds our annual picnics), and then exit the Park onto Connecticut Avenue close to the Cleveland Park Metro, which we should reach by 4:30. Beers & bar food at Nanny O’Briens on Connecticut follow for those interested.

Total length of this moderate to strenuous one-way hike is about 9.5 miles, with moderate elevation changes along paved/asphalt surfaces. Bring plenty of beverages, snacks, bug spray, sunscreen, and comfortable walking shoes. Your only cost is the $5 trip fee; cash (exact change appreciated) or Venmo; the trip leader will pay for financially challenged Adventurers.

Meeting Time & Place: Noon at the Ballston Metro Station (Orange/Silver Lines) at the top of stairs/escalators at street level on Fairfax Drive.

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