Pierce Mill – Peirce Mill loop from Washington National Cathedral

Running trails & routes

United States

District Of Columbia

Pierce Mill – Peirce Mill loop from Washington National Cathedral

Moderate

4.8

(2666)

9,327

runners

Pierce Mill – Peirce Mill loop from Washington National Cathedral

00:48

7.60km

50m

Running

Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 12, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Rock Creek Park

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

114 m

Pierce Mill

Highlight • Monument

Once a working gristmill in the 1800s, Pierce Mill offers a glimpse into early Washington industry amid the woodland calm of Rock Creek Park. Today, its restored stone walls and waterwheel stand as a quiet counterpoint to the city just beyond the trees.

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3.78 km

Joaquin Miller log cabin

Highlight • Monument

On Beach Drive, close to Military road. Picnic tables and rustic grill nearby. Bathroom and water fountain available. This is a picturesque cabin that reminds me of the little house on the prairie.

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3.85 km

Rock Creek Park bathrooms

Highlight • Rest Area

Flushable bathrooms with water for washing hands, accessible.

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7.45 km

Peirce Mill

Highlight • Monument

Peirce Mill, built in 1829 by Isaac Peirce on Rock Creek, once used water to power this mill that processed corn, wheat, and rye until its turbine shaft broke in 1897. Situated on a 960-acre plantation operated with slave labor, the mill became part of Rock Creek Park in 1890 through an Act of Congress. By the early 1900s, park managers enhanced the site with roads, bridges, and a dam. The New Deal legislation gave Rock Creek Park to the National Park Service in 1933, and the mill was restored. Today, visitors can explore the site, which includes parking, a visitor center, bathrooms, and a picnic area, as part of Rock Creek Park’s year-round attractions.

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