Best Hikes Near Washington, DC
15 summit hikes within 100 miles of Washington, DC, DC area — sorted by straight-line distance. The closest is Great Falls of the Potomac (Maryland), about 13 miles away. Every trail links to a full guide with maps, elevation profiles and parking info.
Hiking near Washington, DC at a glance
Distances are straight-line miles from Washington, DC to each summit, so driving distance is longer. 2 trails are within 25 miles, 7 trails are within 75 miles, and the farthest listed, Horseshoe Hill, is about 95 miles out. The trails fall in Virginia (9), Maryland (3), Delaware (2), Pennsylvania (1).
This page lists 15 summit hikes within 100 miles of Washington, DC from the Summit Seeker trail database, across 4 states. Summit elevations run from 150 ft (Great Falls of the Potomac (Virginia)) to 3,140 ft (Dark Hollow Falls).
13 of the 15 routes have a distance we can quote (12 from a published source, 1 estimated from the mapped track). The shortest is Great Falls of the Potomac (Maryland) at 1 mi; the longest is Hazel Falls at 5.3 mi. Elevation gain ranges from about 133 ft (Drummond Hill) to 1,291 ft (Overall Run Falls). Together the quoted routes add up to 35.7 miles of hiking. By their own ratings they break down as 4 easy, 4 moderate, 2 hard. 2 of the routes have not been verified against the summit yet, so those pages quote no distance or time.
11 of the 15 guides name a specific trailhead or parking area; the others give the summit location and route line only.
Figures are as recorded in each trail's own data and are planning estimates (≈ marks a figure estimated from the mapped track); confirm conditions and route length with the land manager before you go.
Every trail, with distance from Washington, DC and route facts
| Trail | From Washington, DC | Summit | Route | Distance | Gain | Time | Difficulty | Trailhead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Falls of the Potomac (Maryland) | 13 mi | 150 ft | Great Falls Overlook Trail | 1 mi round trip | — | — | — | Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center |
| Great Falls of the Potomac (Virginia) | 13 mi | 150 ft | River Trail | 3 mi round trip | — | — | — | Great Falls Park Visitor Center |
| Cunningham Falls | 55 mi | 1,280 ft | Lower Trail | 1.2 mi round trip | 142 ft | — | Easy | Day-Use Area parking at Hunting Creek Lake (William Houck Area) |
| Lands Run Falls | 62 mi | 1,710 ft | Lands Run Gap Road | 1.3 mi round trip | 325 ft | — | Easy | Lands Run parking area (Skyline Drive mile 9.2) |
| Kilgore Falls | 63 mi | 520 ft | — | 1 mi round trip | — | — | — | Falling Branch parking lot, 1026 Falling Branch Road, Pylesville |
| Overall Run Falls | 68 mi | 1,900 ft | Traces Trail | 5.1 mi round trip | 1,291 ft | — | Hard | Mathews Arm Campground Registration Parking Area (Skyline Drive mile 22.1) |
| Hazel Falls | 70 mi | 2,000 ft | Hazel Mountain Trail | 5.3 mi round trip | 1,070 ft | — | Hard | Meadow Spring Parking Area (Skyline Drive mile 33.5) |
| Whiteoak Canyon Falls | 75 mi | 2,630 ft | Whiteoak Canyon Trail | 4.6 mi round trip | 1,040 ft | — | Moderate | Whiteoak Canyon parking area (Skyline Drive mile 42.6) |
| Rose River Falls | 78 mi | 2,480 ft | Rose River Loop Trail | 4 mi loop | 910 ft | — | Moderate | Fishers Gap parking area (Skyline Drive mile 49.4) |
| Dark Hollow Falls | 79 mi | 3,140 ft | — | 1.4 mi round trip | 440 ft | — | Easy | Dark Hollow Falls Parking Area (Skyline Drive mile 50.7) |
| Lewis Falls | 81 mi | 2,770 ft | — | 3.3 mi loop | 990 ft | — | Moderate | — |
| Big Mountain | 87 mi | 2,428 ft | — | Not verified | — | — | — | — |
| South River Falls | 87 mi | 2,220 ft | — | 3.3 mi loop | 910 ft | — | Moderate | South River Picnic Grounds (Skyline Drive mile 62.7) |
| Drummond Hill | 90 mi | 289 ft | Chestnut Hill Connector | ≈1.2 mi round trip | ≈133 ft | ≈30 min | Easy | — |
| Horseshoe Hill | 95 mi | 331 ft | — | Not verified | — | — | — | — |
Route notes
- Dark Hollow Falls (79 mi from Washington, DC) — 1.4 mi round trip from Dark Hollow Falls Parking Area (Skyline Drive mile 50.7), 440 ft of elevation gain, rated Easy.
- Lewis Falls (81 mi from Washington, DC) — a 3.3-mile loop, 990 ft of elevation gain, rated Moderate.
- Whiteoak Canyon Falls (75 mi from Washington, DC) — 4.6 mi round trip via the Whiteoak Canyon Trail from Whiteoak Canyon parking area (Skyline Drive mile 42.6), 1,040 ft of elevation gain, rated Moderate. Parking: An entrance fee is required to get into Shenandoah National Park..
- Rose River Falls (78 mi from Washington, DC) — a 4-mile loop via the Rose River Loop Trail from Fishers Gap parking area (Skyline Drive mile 49.4), 910 ft of elevation gain, rated Moderate. Parking: An entrance fee is required to get into Shenandoah National Park..
- South River Falls (87 mi from Washington, DC) — a 3.3-mile loop from South River Picnic Grounds (Skyline Drive mile 62.7), 910 ft of elevation gain, rated Moderate. Parking: An entrance fee is required to get into Shenandoah National Park..
- Hazel Falls (70 mi from Washington, DC) — 5.3 mi round trip via the Hazel Mountain Trail from Meadow Spring Parking Area (Skyline Drive mile 33.5), 1,070 ft of elevation gain, rated Hard. Parking: An entrance fee is required to get into Shenandoah National Park..
- Overall Run Falls (68 mi from Washington, DC) — 5.1 mi round trip via the Traces Trail from Mathews Arm Campground Registration Parking Area (Skyline Drive mile 22.1), 1,291 ft of elevation gain, rated Hard.
- Lands Run Falls (62 mi from Washington, DC) — 1.3 mi round trip via the Lands Run Gap Road from Lands Run parking area (Skyline Drive mile 9.2), 325 ft of elevation gain, rated Easy. Parking: An entrance fee is required to get into Shenandoah National Park..
- Cunningham Falls (55 mi from Washington, DC) — 1.2 mi round trip via the Lower Trail from Day-Use Area parking at Hunting Creek Lake (William Houck Area), 142 ft of elevation gain, rated Easy.
- Kilgore Falls (63 mi from Washington, DC) — 1 mi round trip from Falling Branch parking lot, 1026 Falling Branch Road, Pylesville. Parking: Reservation fees are $3.00 per person for Maryland residents or $5.00 per person for non-residents, plus a processing fee..
- Drummond Hill (90 mi from Washington, DC) — an estimated 1.2 mi round trip via the Chestnut Hill Connector, about 133 ft of elevation gain, about 30 min, rated Easy. Figures are estimated from the mapped track.
- Great Falls of the Potomac (Maryland) (13 mi from Washington, DC) — 1 mi round trip via the Great Falls Overlook Trail from Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center. Parking: An entrance fee is required to enter the park at Great Falls..
- Great Falls of the Potomac (Virginia) (13 mi from Washington, DC) — 3 mi round trip via the River Trail from Great Falls Park Visitor Center. Parking: Great Falls Park charges a $20 parking fee..
Not yet verified against the summit, so no distance or time is quoted: Big Mountain (87 mi) and Horseshoe Hill (95 mi).
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