Backpacker Magazine – August 2012

From The Field: East

Our trail scouts' top local hikes

by: Sarah L. Stewart

Tags:
• FromTheField
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• Destinations
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• West
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• August
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Rapids Bridge Trail, Rock Creek Park, Washington, D.C.
Tony Linforth Washington, D.C.

This urban oasis offers sanctuary for deer, foxes, and even a family of barred owls. “Near dawn and dusk, you’ll potentially hear the owls’ ‘Who cooks for you’ call,” Linforth says. Spotting tip: “If the crows seem agitated, that’s a good indication the owls are nearby.” On this 2.7-mile loop (which you can extend for miles in either direction), get your best shot at seeing a fox along shaded Rock Creek; the trail parallels the stream for roughly a mile. Trip ID 802431

“Just before you cross Ross Drive, keep an eye out for an obvious trench, a remnant of a Civil War-era Union rifle pit.”



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