The M@Deads run together almost every Saturday morning at 8:00 at Pierce Mill, within Rock Creek Park in Washington, DC. The runs are as long and as short as desired. The roadway is closed to traffic and there are miles of excellent off-road trails to explore. The  closed roadway provides a clear, safe paved surface that is free of cars, however, look out for bikes and other trail users.
One main feature of running in Rock Creek is the trail system. A series of horse trails, combined with foot paths make for a wonderful off-road urban run. Deep into the trails, you will have problems believing that you are still in the city. One of the beauties of the Rock Creek trails is that it is extremely difficult to get lost. The trails basically parallel Rock Creek stream valley, up the hills on both sides of the creek. Looping around on the trails will eventually lead you back to the centrally located Rock Creek Parkway.
The trails can either be flat (alongside the either side of the creek bed), or hilly (up either side of the valley). Many of the trails are not marked, but through experimenting you can fashion some excellent loops in the woods. The trails expose
the real wide side of DC, with deer, foxes, and other animals being frequently sighted. The trails pass over-grown Civil War forts, 1800's mill works, and deep forest that is extremely rare within the bounds of most American city borders.
Wildlife is frequently sighted as nearly frequently as other trail users, even without looping through the adjoining National Zoo. Running through the Zoo is an interesting diversion, but is usually too much of a diversion to avoid stopping to look at the animals.
An excellent topographic map (Map N) specifically of Rock Creek Park is available
at REI. The map was compiled and published by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club. The Rock Creek Park map covers "some 50 miles of interconnecting hiking opportunities over foot, horse, and bicycle trails." You can connect, using city streets, to the Capital Crescent Trail.
Alternative Trail Run in DC
Like to run trails Saturday morning but can't keep up with the group at Pierce Mill? There is a small group running from the Meadowbrook horse stables a couple hundred yards north of Candy Cane City in Rock Creek. The run last about an hour, depending on who shows up and how hot it is. The pace and most of the terrain is easier than what you will encounter at Pierce Mill. Start time is 7:30a.m. every Saturday.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
From Virginia
From the Memorial Bridge:
At the end of the bridge, take the first ramp on the right, to Rock Creek Parkway. Follow RCP north, and follow the curves, and you will pass the Kennedy Center on your right and the Potomac River on your left. If this doesn't happen and the Kennedy Center is on your left, you took a wrong exit and you are in construction hell and will have no hope of making it on time to Pierce Mill ;-)
Continue up the RCP. When you get to the Calvert St/Beach Drive split (about three miles up from the Kennedy Center), stay in the right lane and follow the Beach Drive/National Zoo exit. You will pass through the Zoo tunnel and the Zoo will be on your left. About 1.5 miles from the Zoo, you will come to a traffic light at Tilden St./Park Rd. Turn left, cross the bridge and you will see parking lots on either side of the road. This is Pierce Mill. We usually meet in the north lot (on the right).
From the Roosevelt Bridge:
You will take the left exit at the end of the bridge. I believe it is marked as the E Street Freeway or Whitehurst Freeway. Take this exit and stay to the left. You will see lane signs for RCP. Stay to the left. You will come to a stop sign after a sharp left turn. Turn left. A block down is a light and the Watergate. Turn right (it's Virginia Ave.). Take the next immediate right onto RCP. From there, follow the directions above for the Memorial Bridge (you have already passed beyond the Kennedy Center at this point).
From the 14th Street Bridge:
Before the 14 Street Bridge on I-395 is a left lane exit for the Memorial Bridge. Take this exit to the Memorial Bridge and follow the directions above for the Memorial Bridge.
From Maryland:
Western Montgomery County:
Take the Beltway to Connecticut Avenue. Go south on Connecticut Avenue toward Chevy Chase, MD. Eventually you will come to Chevy Circle at the DC/MD border. Continue through the circle and stay on Connecticut Avenue. Follow Connecticut until you reach Tilden Street (the next light after Van Ness St. and the Van Ness Metro Station). Turn left at Tilden and follow the road down the hill. At the bottom of the hill are the parking lots for Pierce Mill. We meet in the north lot (on the left).
Silver Spring/Takoma Park:
Take 16th Street into DC. Follow 16th Street until you get to Park Road (which is the 3300 block of 16th). Turn right onto Park Road (and don't be turned off by the neighborhood ;-) Follow Park Road and stay to the right when you get to the split at Klingle Street (the third traffic light after 16th Street). You will pass by some bridge construction and head downhill into the park. At the bottom of the hill is a traffic light (Beach Drive). Pass through the light and cross the bridge (the street has changed names to Tilden Street). You will see parking lots on either side of the road for Pierce Mill. We meet in the north lot (to the right).
From Hyattsville/College Park:
Take Queens Chapel road into DC where the road changes names to Michigan Avenue. Just pass Catholic University, take a right onto Irving Street, where it becomes a short four lane highway. Continue straight at the end of the highway, which becomes Harvard Street. Go through the neighborhood. After 13th Street, N.W. take the split to the right. This is Park Road. Follow the directions for Silver Spring from this point on at Park Road.
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