zerg-free hiking, june 2013 edition

May 25, 2013 8:01 AM

I'm going to be in DC in mid-June, and me and a pal who'll be staying in Falls Church would like to go hiking somewhere nearby for around half a day. Does anyone have any scenic cicada-unscathed trails to recommend? Neither of us have a car but we can rent if necessary.

Perhaps somewhere near Arlington might work, since that's in between DC and Falls Church. I've checked this page: http://www.everytrail.com/best/hiking-arlington-virginia (looking for up to half-day hike, with up to moderate-level difficulty). But I can't find many options there.

At the same time, I've also been trying to eyeball this cicada coverage map. But I'm not very familiar with the geography there so it's not as easy as I thought it'd be to figure out where we can go.

Is there anyone relatively familiar with the area and able to help with picking out a trail? Would be very grateful for any and all recommendations, even if it's a bit further away from DC or Falls Church. As long as it can be done within a day easily. We like scenic views and are relatively fit.

Thanks!

posted by swimmingly to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (8 answers total)

Check out the AT and the Antietam National Battlefield. Both are roughly between Frederick and Hagarstown, and well north of reported cicada sightings this year. Both are also under an hour's drive (excluding traffic near DC).

Antietam will be a one-stop shop for you, as you can just park and walk around to your heart's content. Even take in some history if you've a mind to. But the AT doesn't really loop back on itself, so you'll either need two cars--one at either end of your route--or just be willing to turn around and hike back the way you came.

Antietam should be pretty well self-explanatory, and they'll have a visitors' center. The AT is self-serve though, so you'll need to muck about with this. Looks like there's parking right off I-70, and I'd bet there's access from both state parks in the area. There are even reports of a good vista if you heard north from I-70 a ways. Looks like a mile or so, but that's gonna be pretty much straight up that hill--call it a 500' climb in a mile--so know what you're getting into.
posted by valkyryn at 8:10 AM on May 25, 2013

The best hike that's close to Falls Church (9 miles away) is in Great Falls, and it's called the Billy Goat Trail.

There are three sections of the trail; Billy Goat Trail A is a pretty rough rock scramble for most of it's length and it takes us around 3 hours including lunch to hike its 1.7 miles. B and C are both very easy hiking if you finish A and want a bit more of a walk afterward. It also falls outside of the cicada range, while Falls Church is right on the edge. We love this hike and go at least once a month!

If you want to go out a bit further, the Shenandoah Valley has lovely hiking through the AT. White Oak Canyon has beautiful waterfalls and Old Rag is the area's "room with a view" in Shenandoah, if you end up renting a car.

Have fun!
posted by horizonseeker at 8:25 AM on May 25, 2013

Sorry, but you can pretty much assume all of Northern Virginia will have equal levels of cicadas. But don't worry about them: they're noisy, but they don't bite and they're not poisonous or anything --- you can safely eat them if you wanted. They're annoying, but all they're looking for is a cicada of the opposite sex.
posted by easily confused at 9:12 AM on May 25, 2013

I also came in to recommend the Billy Goat Trail, which is a great few hours of hiking. If you want something a bit less challenging, the Virginia side of Great Falls has some easy trails as well along the Potomac.

There's also some good hiking at Sky Meadows state park, which will also give access to the AT.
posted by gemmy at 9:15 AM on May 25, 2013

Sugarloaf Mountain is not too far a drive up I-270 and has a few loops and good views.

Cicadas are fun! It's not like a swarm of gnats, they fly slow and in straight lines. More like being at a busy airport.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 9:27 AM on May 25, 2013

There is also Great Falls.
posted by empath at 11:14 AM on May 25, 2013

Today the Capital Weather Gang wrote a bit of an overview about the Brood II situation and commented

If you don’t see or hear cicadas in your backyard then you probably in live Brood X territory and you are spared from the current class of Brood II cicadas. If, however, it sounds like an alien spacecraft is landing in the trees above your house then you live in Brood II territory and cicadas are abundant.

I can tell you that here in North Arlington I've seen no signs of them, so the Federal park in Great Falls mentioned above is probably going to be a cicada-free location as well. For a more leisurely but equally attractive wander you might go over to Theodore Roosevelt Island.
posted by phearlez at 7:14 AM on May 29, 2013

Yes, the CWG's Brood II map gives a clear sense of where you should aim for hiking - many areas including the city proper, and areas north, northwest and northeast of the city, are completely clear. But west- southwest of the city, and a pocket in far southern Maryland, are being hit hard. So if you want mountains, the Virginia mountains are probably a worse bet than going northwest up 270 to Frederick MD and into the mountains at Thurmont or similar. But the (tame, hiking-wise) DC destinations like Roosevelt Island, the walking path along the Potomac, the C&O canal towpath, Great Falls, Rock Creek Park, etc will be fine.
posted by LobsterMitten at 8:13 AM on May 29, 2013