Rock Creek Trail – Meadowbrook Stables loop from Friendship Heights
Rock Creek Trail – Meadowbrook Stables loop from Friendship Heights
4.9
(8875)
15,448
riders
Rock Creek Trail – Meadowbrook Stables loop from Friendship Heights
04:47
79.0km
470m
Gravel riding
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.
Last updated: April 30, 2026
Tips
Includes a segment that goes up or down a series of steps
You may need to carry your bike.
After 26.8 km for 12 m
Waypoints
Start point
Train Station
Get Directions
19.0 km
Rock Creek Stream Valley Park
Nature Reserve
22.0 km
To Lake Bernard Frank
Highlight (Segment) • Lake
Tip by
23.7 km
Lake Bernard Frank
Highlight • Lake
The main trail …
Tip by
28.1 km
Needwood Loop
Highlight • Trail
Tip by
32.4 km
North Branch Stream Valley Park
Nature Reserve
50.4 km
Lake Needwood
Lake
51.7 km
Lake Needwood Southeast Shore
Highlight • Lake
Tip by
52.4 km
Rock Creek Trail
Highlight (Segment) • Trail
Tip by
62.8 km
Beach Road - Garret Park Rd to Cedar Ln
Highlight (Segment) • Cycleway
Tip by
73.6 km
Meadowbrook Stables
Highlight • Structure
Tip by
79.0 km
End point
Train Station
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
52.8 km
18.4 km
3.32 km
2.07 km
2.06 km
255 m
< 100 m
Surfaces
48.2 km
26.8 km
3.36 km
305 m
221 m
< 100 m
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Elevation
Highest point (160 m)
Lowest point (50 m)
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Weather
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Today
Tuesday 7 July
28°C
22°C
80 %
Additional weather tips
Max wind speed: 9.0 km/h
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Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.
Description
If you're looking for a challenging and extensive gravel biking experience right outside the city, the Rock Creek Trail – Meadowbrook Stables loop from Friendship Heights delivers. This difficult 49.1-mile (79.1 km) route, with 1539 feet (469 metres) of elevation gain, will take you around 4 hours and 46 minutes to complete, offering a significant day out for experienced riders seeking a long-distance urban escape.
What to expect on Rock Creek Trail – Meadowbrook Stables loop from Friendship Heights
Expect a journey through a verdant urban oasis, primarily on paved multi-use paths, so while your gravel bike's wider tires will handle the varied surfaces and occasional bumpy asphalt, don't anticipate extensive unpaved sections. The trail winds through a wooded corridor, following the Rock Creek stream valley, where you'll find lush hardwood trees and bubbling brooks. A unique charm awaits at Meadowbrook Stables, a peaceful equestrian escape where you might see horses grazing near the path. The route includes some hilly parts, particularly the return trip uphill to Chevy Chase, making it suitable for cyclists comfortable with sustained effort and varied terrain.
Planning your visit
The trail is easily accessible from Friendship Heights, a convenient starting point for this loop. Parking near Friendship Heights is available, but be aware that much of Beach Drive within Rock Creek Park is regularly closed to vehicular traffic on weekends and holidays, creating wide, car-free zones ideal for cycling. This makes weekends a prime time for a more relaxed ride, though it can also mean more fellow cyclists. Public transport options are also available to the Friendship Heights area, making it easy to reach the trailhead without a car.
Trail details
- Distance: 49.1 miles (79.1 km)
- Elevation gain: 1539 feet (469 metres)
- Difficulty: difficult
- Estimated time: 4 hours and 46 minutes
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