Walks in Washington DC

Walking:: DC

Except for the stretch near Georgetown where the water is often low and the trash piles up, the C&O Canal on the Maryland side of the Potomac River is a splendid stretch.  You can walk nearly 200 miles without making a U-ey in this National Park.

The path along Great Falls Canal on the Virginia side of the Potomac isn’t as well known.  This canal was built on the instruction of George Washington and never completed.
Rock Creek Park, Seneca Creek Park, the WD&O trail, the trail from DC to Mount Vernon, the Anacostia Tributary Trails, Prince William Forest, Audubon Naturalist Sanctuaries, and the Capital Crescent Trail offer the urban hiker many choices.
Extend your range on segments of the Appalachian Trail, the Bull Run-Occoquan Trail in Virginia, the Rachel Carson Greenway and more. 

Though many of these trails are long enough for multi-day excursions with overnight stays in nearby inns, motels or camping.  Pick short segments suitable for half day and day hikes.