Soapstone Valley Trail


This rugged 1-mile trail follows along Soapstone Creek and makes a nice add-on to a hike in Rock Creek Park. Access the trailhead on Ablemarle St NW, about one block east of Connecticut Ave.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens

0.37 MILES

The former estate of Marjorie Merriweather Post of Post cereal fame, this lavishly decorated 1920s mansion showcases her extraordinary collections of…

2. Peirce Mill

0.48 MILES

Alongside Rock Creek, the 1829 Peirce Mill is a beautiful fieldstone building that houses a recently restored gristmill – the last of the mills that once…

3. Rock Creek Park

0.95 MILES

At 1700-plus acres, Rock Creek is twice the size of New York’s Central Park and feels wilder. Terrific trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding…

4. Nature Center & Planetarium

1.06 MILES

The Nature Center & Planetarium is the main visitor center for Rock Creek Park. Besides exhibits on park flora, fauna and history, it can provide hiking…

5. Smithsonian's National Zoo

1.16 MILES

Home to more than 2700 animals and more than 390 species in natural habitats, the National Zoo is famed for its giant pandas, Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and Bei…

6. Washington National Cathedral

1.21 MILES

Constructed between 1907 and 1990, this huge neo-Gothic cathedral blends the spiritual with the profane in its architecture. Most of its richly colored…

7. Mt Pleasant Street

1.57 MILES

Mt Pleasant St is the corazón (heart) of DC’s Latino, largely Salvadoran community. Many businesses advertise money-transfer services to San Salvador or…

8. Kahlil Gibran Memorial Garden

1.7 MILES

Located within a wooded ravine known as Woodland-Normanstone Park, this garden memorializes the arch-deity of soupy spiritual poetry. Its centerpieces are…