August Encore Extravaganza: Cleveland Park, National Cathedral, Klingle Trail

Let's hike on Saturday up to the Cathedral from Cleveland Park. August is the best month to absolution at the Cathedral. Our hike will combine glorious architecture, one of the most expensive neighborhood in DC, the least-known best trail in the city, and a shortcut through the woods past the International School on to Macomb Street. This hike is almost too scenic for our own good.

We have tweaked this route over the past few months and it is now an even more photogenic route. The featured photo is from a hike earlier this Spring. John kindly updated the map to parallel the route we take.

There is an old-style Italian deli named Vace's a block from the hike start/finish point that has great pizzas by the slice.

❶ What we'll do:

• Let's meet at Cleveland Park Metro (on the TARGET side of Connecticut Ave NW) and walk down Connecticut Ave NW, cross at the Kennedy-Warren, follow Devonshire and Courtland Pl NW to 29th St NW, and follow 29th St south to Cleveland Ave SW. We'll turn right onto Cleveland Ave NW and follow in northwest to Garfield Ave NW, turn left, and follow Garfield to the cathedral grounds.
• After walking through the cathedral grounds we will exit on the north side, go down Woodley to Klingle, and then head down the Klingle Valley Trail. There is a dirt turnoff that leads via twists and turns up past the Washington International School and over to Macomb St NW, coming out very close to Cleveland Park Library. From there we will follow Connecticut Ave NW back to our startng point.
• Total distance is roughly 4 miles and should take slightly over 2 hours. The surface is mostly paved. It's uphill 266 ft to the Cathedral, fairly level in the Cathedral area, and then a downhill jaunt to Rock Creek and uphill 46 feet back to the Metro, for a total of 312 feet elevation gain.
• Google map: https://tinyurl.com/3zpy9aeh

❷ How to get there:

• Metro: Cleveland Park Metro Station is on the Red Line.
• Driving: The street address is 3599 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC, and there is parallel parking available on surrounding streets:
  ○ From the north, along the I-495 Beltway, take the MD-185S / Connecticut Ave exit and drive south 5.1 miles on Connecticut Ave. The meetup location will be on your left.
  ○ From south of the Potomac, cross Arlington Memorial Bridge, turning right onto the ramp for Rock Creek Parkway/Kennedy Center. Merge onto Ohio St and turn left onto Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway NW, staying to your left onto Rock Creek Parkway/Shoreham Dr and continuing onto 24th St NW. Turn left onto Connecticut St NW and the meetup location at Cleveland Park Metro Station will be on your right, just past the zoo.

❸ What to bring: Water, comfy shoes, and your furry friend if desired. Dogs must be leashed at all times.

❹ Weather: The forecast is sunny and 83. Updates here: https://tinyurl.com/mrywcdte

❺ Advisory: As a reminder, this is an adult group, and you are ultimately responsible for your own safety and well-being during events. No one under 18 years of age is allowed at this event, either as members or as guests, to include babies in carriers and/or strollers.

❻ Administrative stuff: There are restrooms near Cleveland Park Metro at Target. The National Cathedral has accessible bathrooms as well.

❼ Notes:

• Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016
• Vace Italian Delicatessen, 3315 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008, (202) 363-1999, https://vaceitaliandeli.com/