Starting at the Chinatown Arch, this ride loops north to the D.C. ‘burbs on a mix of bike routes, lanes, and paths perfect for commuters, fitness enthusiasts, and recreational cyclists. After escaping city congestion on bike lanes, the ride turns prime at Rock Creek Park, the District’s favorite urban escape. Rock Creek Trail’s short hills provide a solid fitness test, and the creek flowing parallel to the route cools off even the hottest summer rides. After skirting Bethesda, the ride spits out onto the Capital Crescent Trail for nine miles of downhill rollers through C&O National Historic Park. The return-trip through downtown affords fantastic views of D.C.'s landmarks in Lafayette Park.
TIP: This route is designed for roadies, but a whole other world of options is open to knobby tires. An off-road, hard-pack path runs parallel to the route in Rock Creek Park, and there’s also a section of crushed gravel on the Capital Crescent Trail that this ride avoids (both marked on the map).
-Mapped by Andrew Matranga
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Datum: |
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Washington, D.C.: Rock Creek to Capital Crescent Trail
| Dist: 25.42 mi |
Points: 574 |
Calories: none |
| Time: none |
Speed: 0.0 mph |
Pace: 0:00 / mi |
| 0.00 mi |
Start |
7th St. NW |
Then go 0.84 mi |
| 0.84 mi |
Turn Left |
R St. NW |
Then go 0.53 mi |
| 1.37 mi |
Turn Right |
14th St. NW |
Then go 4.14 mi |
| 5.51 mi |
Turn Left |
Aspen St. NW |
Then go 0.47 mi |
| 5.98 mi |
Turn Right |
Beech Dr. NW |
Then go 2.62 mi |
| 8.60 mi |
Straight |
Jones Mill Road |
Then go 1.42 mi |
| 10.02 mi |
Turn Left |
Beach Dr. |
Then go 1.08 mi |
| 11.10 mi |
Turn Left |
Veer onto the bike path |
Then go 0.90 mi |
| 12.00 mi |
Turn Left |
Cedar Ln. |
Then go 1.28 mi |
| 13.28 mi |
Turn Left |
Old Georgetown Rd/Bethesda Trolley Trail -- sidewalk path |
Then go 0.47 mi |
| 13.75 mi |
Bear Left |
Path veers into the forest |
Then go 0.26 mi |
| 14.01 mi |
Straight |
Stay left on path |
Then go 0.16 mi |
| 14.17 mi |
Bear Left |
Stay left on the path |
Then go 0.11 mi |
| 14.28 mi |
Bear Left |
Stay left on the path |
Then go 0.16 mi |
| 14.43 mi |
Turn Right |
Bike path |
Then go 0.10 mi |
| 14.53 mi |
Straight |
Cross road, continue on bike path |
Then go 0.12 mi |
| 14.65 mi |
Bear Left |
End of Bethesda Trolley Trail; continue on Norfolk Ave. |
Then go 0.28 mi |
| 14.94 mi |
Turn Right |
Woodmont Ave. |
Then go 0.15 mi |
| 15.09 mi |
Straight |
Cross intersection, continue on Woodmont |
Then go 0.36 mi |
| 15.44 mi |
Bear Right |
Off Woodmont toward Capital Crescent Trail |
Then go 0.03 mi |
| 15.47 mi |
Straight |
Cross Bethesda Ave. and enter Capital Crescent Trail |
Then go 7.00 mi |
| 22.47 mi |
Straight |
Exit Capital Crescent to Water St. and continue straight under Whitehurst Freeway |
Then go 0.70 mi |
| 23.17 mi |
Turn Left |
29th St. NW (watch for cars) |
Then go 0.18 mi |
| 23.36 mi |
Turn Right |
Pennsylvania Ave. NW |
Then go 0.42 mi |
| 23.77 mi |
Straight |
Continue through Washington Circle Park |
Then go 0.11 mi |
| 23.89 mi |
Straight |
Continue on Pennsylvania Ave. |
Then go 0.56 mi |
| 24.45 mi |
Straight |
Continue on Pennsylvania Ave. NW |
Then go 0.33 mi |
| 24.78 mi |
Straight |
New York Ave. NW |
Then go 0.21 mi |
| 24.98 mi |
Turn Right |
H St. NW |
|
Chinatown Arch
Location: 38.899809°, -77.021917°
Dedicated in 1986, this traditional Chinese gate was designed by local architect, Alfred H. Liu. This public art piece features 7 roofs up to 60 feet high, 7000 tiles, and 272 painted dragons in the style of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The gate celebrates DC's friendship with sister city Beijing.
R Street
Location: 38.912583°, -77.022003°
R Street can get tightly packed, even though there is a continuous bike lane. Watch for delivery trucks and randomly opening car doors.
14th Street
Location: 38.912616°, -77.032040°
Start the climb into northern DC's Columbia Heights neighborhood. Intermittent bike lanes make for relative ease of travel. There are a few lights, so try not to get caught over-geared at a stop light near the base of a hill.
Uphill with false flat
Location: 38.962028°, -77.033354°
Rock Creek Park is to the west, and the hills begin rolling here in subtle waves.
Walter Reed Army Medical Center
Location: 38.972214°, -77.033419°
There is a small hill on the quiet side of this now infamous hospital complex.
Head into Rock Creek Park
Location: 38.972155°, -77.036691°
Watch your line as you bomb down the first sharp downhill into Rock Creek; cars will make erratic turns. Tip: On the weekends, the northern section of the park is closed to vehicle traffic, so you can spin to your heart's content.
Beech Drive
Location: 38.972839°, -77.040768°
When you reach the bottom of the hill, you'll start climbing through the high, dense canopy of the Rock Creek forest. The soft-flowing waters of the creek parallel on your right.
Y-intersection
Location: 38.983749°, -77.042871°
This can be a busy spot during the week: Keep an eye out for turning cars.
Welcome to Maryland..
Location: 38.986384°, -77.052838°
The DC-Maryland state line. If you're riding knobbies, you'll have an option to enter the Rock Creek off-road path here. Otherwise, continue on the street, a designated bike route in its own right.
East-West Highway
Location: 38.992772°, -77.063567°
This is a busy thoroughfare. Continue north on the signed Rock Creek Trail (this is the road portion of the trail; an entrace to the off-road path for hikers and fat-tire riders is just to the east at Meadowbrook Lane).
Capital Crescent Trail Junction
Location: 38.997841°, -77.065744°
'Cross/MTB option: To cut 4 miles off this ride, turn left on the Capital Crescent Trail and rejoing the return route just outside Bethesda. This section of the CCT is crushed gravel, a bit of an adventure for road bikes.
Left onto Beach Drive
Location: 39.012565°, -77.063985°
Here the Rock Creek Trail parallels Beach Drive, but the road is the best bet under most conditions, especially if you're looking to pick up speed.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Location: 39.012823°, -77.067214°
To the north, catch a glimpse of DC's Mormon temple.
Veer onto the path
Location: 39.008914°, -77.078490°
Avoid the light at Connecticut Avenue by cutting left onto the bike path and continuing to Cedar Lane.NOTE: If the creek is up, the path might be very muddy--not advisable for road bikes.
The Cedar Lane Junction
Location: 39.012073°, -77.090710°
Get ready for a short, punchy climb as you turn left on Cedar Lane: You'll be standing for sure.
Rockville Pike/Wisconsin Avenue/MD-355
Location: 39.006538°, -77.097416°
This is a busy intersection. If you want to bail on the ride, there's a Red Line Metro Stop a few blocks south of here. A nice, sustained climb past the north boundary of the National Institutes of Health lies ahead.
Left onto Old Georgetown Pike/Bethesda Trolley Trail
Location: 39.004395°, -77.110527°
This section is signed as the Bethesda Trolley Trail, which is actually just the sidewalk here.
Veer left
Location: 38.997616°, -77.109014°
The Bethesda Trolley Trail leaves the sidewalk and becomes an asphalt path winding through the southern section of the National Institutes of Health.
Watch for pedestrians and tight, blind curves.
Gate
Location: 38.993635°, -77.099902°
After turning right, you'll cross a bridge and pass through a vehicle barrier.
End of the Trolley Trail
Location: 38.990822°, -77.100318°
Enter downtown Bethesda and make your way to the Capital Crescent Trail via Norfolk Ave.
Bike lanes return
Location: 38.986259°, -77.096804°
Bike lanes return on this stretch of Woodmont.
If you're ready for a quick snap or cup of java, there are a few spots along both Woodmont and Bethesda Avenue (ahead).
Capital Crescent Trailhead in Bethesda
Location: 38.980838°, -77.095667°
Enter the Capital Crescent Trail for nine miles of riding through a wooded watershed.
This rail-trail is often crowded on weekends, but you can still get some speed and make some nice turns.
Griffin Cycle
Location: 38.980855°, -77.100015°
Need a pit stop? Check out Griffin Cycle at
4949 Bethesda Avenue.
Little Falls Parkway
Location: 38.973565°, -77.101203°
Use caution crossing this busy road.
Cabin John Trolley Trestle
Location: 38.943998°, -77.115872°
Ride into the tunnel.
Montgomery County-D.C. Line
Location: 38.937514°, -77.115784°
Fletcher's Cove
Location: 38.919370°, -77.101590°
Fletcher's Cove, C&O Canal National Historic Park
Capital Crescent Trailhead at the Canoe Club
Location: 38.904589°, -77.071345°
The southern terminus of the Capital Crescent Trail
The Whitehurst Freeway
Location: 38.904384°, -77.070248°
Ride under the Whitehurst Freeway near the Potomac Boat Club
Original Big Wheel Bikes
Location: 38.904430°, -77.065983°
Another pit-stop option: Big Wheel Bikes at
1034 33rd St. NW.
C & O Canal in Georgetown
Location: 38.903975°, -77.058063°
Historic, preserved locks hearken back to the shipping heyday of the District.
The World Bank
Location: 38.899617°, -77.041766°
DC views from Lafayette Square
Location: 38.898916°, -77.037302°
The White House
DC views from Lafayette Square
Location: 38.898916°, -77.037302°
The White House from the North Lawn and Lafayette Square
DC views from Lafayette Square
Location: 38.898916°, -77.037302°
A view of the obelisk from Lafayette Square
Fletcher's Cove
Location: 38.919370°, -77.101590°
The Potomac River is visible from Fletcher's Cove
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