DC Area Wilderness Areas

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Duzzy

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Sep 1, 2009
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Kind of a redundant title I suppose...

Anyways, I'm looking for a place near (within 2 hours) ye olde District of Columbia where I can do weekend trips. Preferably, a place where I can hike in a few miles, set up shop, and spend part of a day and a night learning, hiking, exploring, etc. before heading back in the morning.

I'm not from the E. Coast, so I don't know how the people behave. Can I leave a tent set up and wander for a few hours? Or will it be gone? Can I leave gear? Or do I need to pack light enough to haul everything with me at all times?

What would be really nice is a mentor of sorts. I love the outdoors, but no one in my family was ever into camping or hiking. So if anyone in the area is in need of a woods bumming buddy... But I'll settle for some recommendations for the moment.

Thanks.
 
It has been many years since I lived in that area, but at the time some of my favorite areas were the upper parts of the C&O Canal and section hiking parts of the Appalachian Trail.
 
Being a native of the area, I can tell you there's plenty of out of the way places in both local state parks, as well as national Parks. One and a half hours west is the Shenedoah National Park that has over a hundred miles of the A.T. Theres a great section of trail starting at the Gravel Springs shelter and going north to Big Devil stairs with a great view of Wolf mountain. Then there's the National Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Park, that starts in D.C. and ends 180 miles later in Cumberland Maryland. It's a hiker/biker trail with camping areas about every 12 to 15 miles in wooded surroundings. Has parking areas up and down the trail for access. It's a fun trip to have smeone drop you off in Cumberland and ride a mountain bike back down to D.C. Should take you a few days.

The Potomac River above Washinton is great for canoe/kayak camping on the small islands in the river. Particurly around Edwards Ferry and north of Nolands or Whites Ferry. Spending a night on one of the islands is a very neat experience.

Outside of Thurmont Maryland is the Catoctin State park with hiking and camping. Northeast of Frederick is Gambrill State park witch the A.Y. cut through in hilly semi mountainous woodland.

Up the road from me in Montgomery county is Little Bennet state park. Good for hiking, not so much for backpacking.

At several points in Frederick and Washinton county, there is access tot he A.T. where it goes through Mayland. On the A.T. people are pretty decent, but i wouldn't leave expensive gear laying around. Make your camp out of site, and it will be okay.

On Marylands Eastern shore is Blackwater Wildlife Refuge, and Assateague Island national park on the coast. Assateague is a barrier island with woods, dunes, and salt marshes, and canoe in or backpack in camp sites. The islands back country can be very remote. It's a favorite of mine to use a canoe or kayak to paddle back to a back county site and set up and then explore around. Just don't feed the wild ponies or you won't get rid of them.
 
I don't know about Maryland, but norther Virginia's become pretty developed. Most of the smaller parks won't allow camping. There are a few that do, like Burke Lake Park in Fairfax, but the population around the Burke area has grown so much that it won't be as secluded an experience as you would hope (lots of families picnicking around, lots of teens hanging out and making out, etc). For a lone person Burke Lake would be nice for a half-day or day hike.

Without going too far, you might try Prince William Forest Park in Prince William County. It's next to Quantico Marine Corps Base, and getting there is easy since it's straight down I95. It's large enough that it could offer some seclusion. I haven't been to it myself, since I moved from the area more than 25 years ago and back then I wasn't interested. On the Regional Northern Virginia map that I have (for when I visit family), it does have camp grounds within. Don't know about people's behaviors though. Maybe ask a ranger on your way in.
 
Check out http://www.hikingupward.com/
It has almost a hundred hikes in Northern Virginia and a little in West Virginia. Each one he gives rankings for camping, difficulty, solitude, etc. I'd recommend the National Forrest hikes. A lot less rules than the National Parks.
 
jackknife said:
Being a native of the area, I can tell you there's plenty of out of the way places in both local state parks, as well as national Parks. One and a half hours west is the Shenedoah National Park that has over a hundred miles of the A.T. Theres a great section of trail starting at the Gravel Springs shelter and going north to Big Devil stairs with a great view of Wolf mountain. Then there's the National Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Park, that starts in D.C. and ends 180 miles later in Cumberland Maryland. It's a hiker/biker trail with camping areas about every 12 to 15 miles in wooded surroundings. Has parking areas up and down the trail for access. It's a fun trip to have smeone drop you off in Cumberland and ride a mountain bike back down to D.C. Should take you a few days.

The Potomac River above Washinton is great for canoe/kayak camping on the small islands in the river. Particurly around Edwards Ferry and north of Nolands or Whites Ferry. Spending a night on one of the islands is a very neat experience.

Outside of Thurmont Maryland is the Catoctin State park with hiking and camping. Northeast of Frederick is Gambrill State park witch the A.Y. cut through in hilly semi mountainous woodland.

Up the road from me in Montgomery county is Little Bennet state park. Good for hiking, not so much for backpacking.

At several points in Frederick and Washinton county, there is access tot he A.T. where it goes through Mayland. On the A.T. people are pretty decent, but i wouldn't leave expensive gear laying around. Make your camp out of site, and it will be okay.

On Marylands Eastern shore is Blackwater Wildlife Refuge, and Assateague Island national park on the coast. Assateague is a barrier island with woods, dunes, and salt marshes, and canoe in or backpack in camp sites. The islands back country can be very remote. It's a favorite of mine to use a canoe or kayak to paddle back to a back county site and set up and then explore around. Just don't feed the wild ponies or you won't get rid of them.
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What jackknife said :thumbup:. Check out Washington Monument SP, in Boonsboro, the AT goes right through.
 
This might be a bit out of the way, but Douthat State Park around Lexington VA is nice. Not too sure about the camping, but it's a beautiful hike.
 
Thank you all so much. I especially appreciate the specifics on where to go, and where not to go. I don't get opportunities often, so I'd like to make sure I'll end up some place I'll enjoy.

I tried to climb Old Rag with my Uncle, and the trail was so backed up at the first choke point we ended up just leaving. I think we moved 20 feet in about half an hour; so I'd like to avoid things like that.

Either way, I appreciate any and all suggestions so thank you.
 
Duzzy said:
What would be really nice is a mentor of sorts So if anyone in the area is in need of a woods bumming buddy...

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I'm a biologist in Maryland. I work for a project that takes me all over the state and to several dozen parks. Feel free to email me if you're looking for people to join up with for hikes.
 
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