More than 60 miles away from the District, Harpers Ferry in West Virginia offers sights and sounds of nature around a historic town. Visitors can access the C&O Canal Trail and roughly 20 miles of trails, including some more challenging climbs.

Expect a wide variety of animals and flora in this Maryland location. You can scale nearly 1,300 feet to the summit of the mountain, although there are relatively flat trails around it.

With over nine miles of trails, this park is great for hiking, camping, and bird watching. It’s also Metro accessible and approximately 12 miles away from D.C.

You’ll find an escape from the high energy of the city on the Glover-Archbold Trail. It’s a great spot for picnicking and running, in part because it’s easily accessible.

Suitable for hiking or biking, the Capital Crescent Trail stretches from Georgetown to Silver Spring, Maryland across roughly 11 miles. It’s roughly split between D.C. and Montgomery County.

Located on the Potomac River, Theodore Roosevelt Island provides a quick retreat from the city and views of D.C.’s west side. (No bicycles and no cars are permitted.)

The 18-mile, multi-use Mount Vernon Trail can be reached by foot, bicycle, car, and public transportation. It provides impressive views of the D.C. skyline and extends through Alexandria, Virginia.

Spanning 80,000 acres, Shenandoah National Park includes a waterfall hike called Whiteoak Canyon and a rather challenging hike called Little Devils Stairs. It has more than 500 miles of hiking trails in all.

Take in the impressive waterfalls at Great Falls, situated a quick drive way from D.C. in Northern Virginia. It makes for a good day trip for families and a nice place to exercise.