Ah, fall! Time for pumpkin spice lattes, warm sweaters, and leisurely nature hikes to enjoy the changing of the seasons. But when you’re in a concrete jungle like Washington, D.C., where should one go to enjoy nature and all its beauty? Why, any of the following five spots will do! Lace up your shoes, zip up your jacket, and read on.
Leesylvania State Park near Woodbridge, Virginia, is listed on the National Register of Historic Landmarks and was once visited by Captain John Smith (of Disney “Pocahontas” fame). Just 25 miles outside of D.C., this ancestral home of the Lee and Fairfax families has two miles of hiking trails up to a panoramic view of the Potomac River and fall foliage. The trail is easy and workable for nearly everyone.
Great Falls Park, near McClean, Virginia, is only 40 minutes away from D.C. The scenic views along the paths in the park are simply stunning. Stand out on the rocks, listen to the free-flowing stream, and take in the dazzling fall colors of the foliage all around you. You’ll feel secluded and safe among nature.
The Bull Run Mountains Conservancy is a nonprofit organization with the mission of protecting “the Bull Run Mountains through education, research and stewardship.” The conservancy has several trails that cut through the mountain foliage, but the most popular is Thoroughfare Gap. The trees start to show stunning fall colors early. Enjoy them as you walk through the many oaks and pines.
Frequent D.C. hikers will tell you that the Old Rag Mountain hike in Shenandoah National Park is one of the most popular, and most rewarding hikes in the mid-Atlantic region. While the views are breathtaking and the colors serene, its popularity means you’ll likely be sharing the hike with a few dozen of your favorite strangers. For solitude, head up before 7 a.m., or during a weekday to take on the eight-mile hike.
Maryland has no shortage of wonderful hiking trails, but Annapolis Rock stands out as one of the most popular. Hikers will reach incredible vistas after hiking through a dense, wooded forest, getting up close and personal with the changing leaves. Once you get through the forest and climb the rock, you’ll be rewarded with a 180-degree view of the Greenbrier Lake to the south, and the entirety of the splendid multicolored leaves.
