Every now and then I have a realization that over all the years I’ve been publishing KFDC, I haven’t done a write-up about a place that we’ve been frequenting forever and is definitely deserving of its own post. This time it’s Theodore Roosevelt Island, a national park located on an actual 90-acre island in the Potomac River.
A recent visit with Sash
And one years ago with the fam
Roosevelt Island has been among our regular rotation of go-to spots for hiking and getting a nice, easy dose of nature in DC (despite accessing it from across the river, the island is part of the District) since before Levi and I even had kids. But with Owen and Sasha, especially when they were little, we’ve appreciated it even more. The park is ideal for family hikes with short, mellow trails; lots of great nature, wildlife sitings, even airplanes flying overhead; and a little history lesson, to boot, with a lovely memorial in the middle of it all dedicated to the president for which it’s named.
Teddy and little Owen on the Plaza
Younger Sash strikes a pose there
And fives years later
This is why I call it a very “DC” hike. The park’s Memorial Plaza is like a little annex to all of the other memorials on the National Mall. However, instead of the expanse of green grass or Tidal Basin to make it stand out grandly, woods and wetlands fittingly surround the stately granite and bronze tribute to Teddy Roosevelt, an early steward for conservation and the environment.
Trying to do some turtle spotting
From the parking lot, there is a long bridge to cross to get to the main part of park. We always stop on it to take in views of Georgetown in the distance and look for turtles in the water below. Once on the other side, three trails offer different hiking experiences. The short .3-mile Woods Trail leads through and right around the memorial on gravel and paved grounds. The .75-mile Upland Trail loops through the woods along the whole length of the island. And the 1.5-mile Swamp Trail includes both a dirt path that winds through woods and a boardwalk running over a swampy area lined by cattail, trees, and wild grass.
Kickin’ it on the Swamp Trail
When the kids were small, we’d pick one, but now we often do a combination of all three trails, starting at the plaza, then walking through the woods and on the boardwalk, before hopping on another path leading to the water and taking us around the island. Whatever you choose, you’re in for a nice hike.
Little Sash on the Upland Trail
On a recent visit with Sasha, we covered the whole island, enjoying its winter beauty. We loved seeing the leafless trees, the mess of branches and wild intertwining limbs. (Side note: Did anyone read The Overstory? While I found it kind of long and tedious, I appreciated the concept of communication among trees and always think about it when I’m among them.) But Roosevelt Island is great the rest of the year, too, with budding trees and views of the cherry blossoms in spring, lush green and lots of shade in summer, and colorful foliage during autumn.
Bare branches during winter
There are no tables for picnicking, but the Memorial Plaza has seating, and there are a few benches along the Swamp Trail where you could stop and snack. Another nice spot is a cluster of large rocks at the west end of the island. And there are restrooms down the Woods Trail shortly before it meets the Swamp Trail.
Hanging out in the shade during summer
The one negative of the park may be the parking situation. The lot is small, and fills up quickly, especially on a nice weekend day. There have been several times we’ve planned to go and have encountered a line of cars to get in. In those cases, we’ve headed to Turkey Run Park further down the GW Parkway in McLean or Potomac Overlook Park in Arlington. You can avoid parking altogether by riding bikes there instead — it’s right off the Mount Vernon Trail, and there are bike racks right at the entrance (biking is not permitted in the park). You can also Metro to Rosslyn then walk 10-15 minutes from there.
Theodore Roosevelt Island
Where: Potomac River | Washington, DC
Access: From the GW Parkway just before Spout Run
When: Daily year-round, 6am – 10pm
Admission: Free
Want even more suggestions for great local hikes with kids? This post has a bunch of them! And here are a few more pics from some visits over the years…
Welcome to the island…
Happy about her first visit to TRI
Leading the way on the trail
A little pop of color
View from a small beach
Teddy
Thanks for the reminder about this place. We haven’t been in a while. I was also wondering if you have any suggestions for good places kids can scoot along on their scooter while adults walk? Our three year old has lost interest in “hiking” but can scoot far distances on her little scooter. Though most nature places we go either scooters are not allowed or it’s just not a suitable trail to actually push a scooter over. Any suggestions? Thanks again for this website- we moved to DC when our daughter was 16 months and this site helped so much!
One place that comes to mind is the National Arboretum. People bike and walk on the road, so she could scoot there, too. Just be sure to watch out for cars, though most folks park in a lot then walk, so the roads aren’t busy. Ill think about some other “nature” spots to scoot and post them here! Also, happy to hear you’re enjoying my blog 🙂
Thank you 🙂
Is this place accessible for people who don’t have a car? I’d really like to take my daughter out somewhere more outdoor and that involves nature but since I don’t have a car it can be a challenge. thank you!
It is! You can take Metro to the Rosslyn Station, and it’s about a 10-15 minute walk from there. Per the NPS website: From the station, walk toward the Key Bridge. A short connecting trail leads downhill from the downstream side of the bridge, across the parkway, and into the parking lot at Theodore Roosevelt Island. You can also bike there if that’s convenient for you.