George Washington Memorial Parkway · District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia

Potomac Heritage Trail

9.7 mi of trail, end to end · Hike between Scott's Run Nature Preserve and Theodore Roosevelt Island: 2 mi loop in the Service's write-up · about 850 ft of climbing · 4 ft–253 ft · native surface · trail class Minimally Developed · hiking

Views

9 ft 60 ft · 7.9 mi high 239 ft

Along the way North Donaldson Run Overlook

Hike between Scott's Run Nature Preserve and Theodore Roosevelt Island 2 mi loop · the Park Service's write-up

4-7 Hours · dogs allowed

Start trailheads for Scott's Run Nature Preserve and for Potomac Heritage Trail/Theodore Roosevelt Island/Mount Vernon Trail

a wooden sign for the Potomac Heritage Trail in a forested riparian area

This 10-mile PHT within George Washington Memorial Park and a 2-mile loop within Scott's Run Nature Preserve--connected by a 1-mile path along Live Oak Lane--are unusual for the relatively wild character of these places in such close proximity to urban environments. While one can, of course, travel in an upstream direction, we are considering this hike as one in a series of hikes travelling in a downstream direction from points north. The trailhead for Theodore Roosevelt Island /Potomac Heritage Trail/Mount Vernon Trail can be accessed from the Roslyn Metro and a pedestrian-bicycle facility, but you will need to set up a vehicle shuttle for travelling in one direction only. See a map of the corridor on the "Maps" page and review the hike as described in Potomac Heritage Trail: A Hiker's Guide .

A map of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail from Theodore Roosevelt Island to Scott's Run

Accessibility The trail surface varies from flat paved asphalt to native material with tree roots and moderate inclines.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

All 79 trails in George Washington Memorial ParkwayFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.