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United States

District Of Columbia

Rock Creek Park – Peirce Mill loop from Columbia Heights

Routes

Running trails & routes

United States

District Of Columbia

Rock Creek Park – Peirce Mill loop from Columbia Heights

Hard

3.0

(28)

runners

Rock Creek Park – Peirce Mill loop from Columbia Heights

01:46

16.0km

120m

Running

Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: April 30, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Rock Creek Park

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

2.65 km

Bluffs Footbridge

Highlight • Bridge

The bridge leads from the Pierce Estate to the Jusserand Memorial.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

3.34 km

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.

Tip by

7.09 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.

Tip by

7.65 km

Rock Creek Park

Highlight • Forest

Rock Creek Park, spanning 1,754 acres, is a natural escape from city life, offering trails, wildlife, and historic landmarks. Founded by Congress in 1890, this national park features not only natural beauty but also family-friendly activities. Visitors can explore its flat paved trails, visit the Smithsonian National Zoo, or learn about history at the 19th-century Peirce Mill. Families can enjoy the Nature Center, and Discovery Room. The park also hosts stargazing at its planetarium, guided ranger walks, picnic spots, and opportunities to visit historic sites like Fort Stevens, where Lincoln stood during the Civil War.

Tip by

9.05 km

Rock Creek Park bathrooms

Highlight • Rest Area

Flushable bathrooms with water for washing hands, accessible.

Tip by

12.6 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.

Tip by

16.0 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

12.0 km

3.67 km

223 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

6.63 km

4.38 km

3.76 km

1.22 km

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Today

Wednesday 20 May

34°C

21°C

59 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 20.0 km/h

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Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

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Rock Creek Park – Peirce Mill loop from Columbia Heights

Bluffs Footbridge

Pierce Mill

Joaquin Miller log cabin

Rock Creek Park

Rock Creek Park bathrooms

Peirce Mill

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