The recently started Beach Drive project will result in a better Rock Creek Park Trail, and though sections of Beach Drive will be closed for long periods of time, the trail should (mostly) stay open.
The trail will be adjacent to the construction site, and at various stages, the trail may be detoured or shifted. Be alert for any construction-related changes. Wear reflective clothing, turn on your lights (safety first!) and enjoy the scenery.
The Rock Creek Trail along Beach Drive will remain open and accessible to bicyclists and pedestrians during Segment 1A construction.
Biking
To ride across the park from East to West, use Calvert Street (signed bike route), Tilden St NW, Klingle Rd NW and Porter St NW. Use Rock Creek trail (parallel to Beach Drive) for a direct route, about 2.6 mi, 18 min biking. Wear reflective clothing, turn on your lights (safety first!) and enjoy the ride.
Capital Bikeshare – Get a Bike for $2 Per Trip More Info
For one of the most convenient ways to get around the city and park, get a red bike for $2 per trip.
Remember, the National Zoo Trail gate (near the Zoo Tunnel) closes at 7pm and the tunnel is closed througout this phase, that means that the trail between Klingle and Calvert is effectively closed between 7pm and 6am.
On the East side, you can get around by going up Columbia or 18th to Adams Mill Road, then down to Harvard. Take a left on Harvard, which will take you to Klingle. On the West, take Connecticut to Tilden.
Posted by: Crickey7 | October 03, 2016 at 08:55 AM
just ride through the damn tunnel, as ive done numerous times now, day and night. dont be a retarded rule follower in the bureaucratic oligarchy the usa now is! the NPS and construction workers dont care, and are your friends. theyre not the ones with the mba's and the forestry degrees, etc.; they dont plan the construction and sit in offices making big salaries. they dont give a shit what the NPS office worker or employee says or does. so, be friendly to them and they let you do what you want while the construction goes on...
Posted by: grownup | October 03, 2016 at 10:43 AM
Once you have gone through the tunnel, its an awesome car free ride on the road.
BTW: given the importance of the route, why can't NPS be a bit more flexible regarding times?
Posted by: SJE | October 03, 2016 at 12:58 PM
I don't think the National Zoo gate to the trail at Beach Drive is open at all. It wasn't last week during the day when I rode.
Posted by: viennabiker | October 04, 2016 at 07:30 AM