Rock Creek Park: Deer Mountain

This post is a first in a series about some of my favorite Rock Creek Park trails.  Please click here for more information.

Trail name: Deer Mountain

Highlights of this trail: deer sightings, feeling cool running over a fallen tree, no horses allowed.  
Cons of this trail: fear of falling when running over a fallen tree, parking is difficult certain times.

Entrance Location: Put in 2020 Park St NW into your GPS.  Park on the street.  Walk over the bridge to reach path.

Distance: 2 miles

Technical Comments: You’re mostly on dirt.  The tricky part is crossing the fallen tree or going under it. 

Dog Suitability: There are no horses on this trail (a big plus).  You will often run into other dogs near the houses.  The two points of concern are crossing the driveway and at certain points you are somewhat close to the road.

Description: Neil and I named this part of the park Deer Mountain because this is where we have seen the most deer (especially at “off peak” times to see them).  This trail is not very rocky, but you will be going up or down most of the time. 

After crossing the bridge and entering the trail, you will reach a fork in the road.  Veer to the right (opposite of where Leela is pointing).  You’ll go right along side a fenced off mansion.  With a pool.  Be jealous. 

At the top of the hill past the house, veer to the right.  After that, you are essentially following a large loop that will bring you back to the house. 

Once you reach the original fork in the road, head to the right instead of going back to your car. 

There is a dried up creek, which you can cross going over a fallen tree.

You will cross a driveway, and get jealous of more rich people.

Then take a sharp right to go up a very steep hill.  Keeping up a decent pace on this hill is a challenge!

At the top of the hill, you can take a left to loop back around towards where you started.  Or, you can keep going straight (as I did in the map above) and turnaround when you start getting close to the road again.  Then, on your way back you can turn right for that last loop.

Here is what it looks like in the summer – amazing.