Theodore Roosevelt Island

Nice shady trail to walk on especially on a hot summer day. I didn’t like the fact that the trails weren’t marked. There needs to be more signs. I didn’t walk the whole loop, but I read somewhere that it’s about 30 minute walk.

This is a great little park that is easily accessible from the Arlington area. It’s a nice green space with running trails, short hiking, and nice scenery. My favorite, and this surprised me, was the Swamp Trail! It was nicely keptand ran through a very pretty part of the island. The Theodore Roosevelt memorial inside the park is also a great place to relax and reflect. This would be a great place to spend a quiet morning or afternoon. The only thing is that this park frequently has aircraft flying over it from the nearby airport traffic.

This is a great spot to get in some exercise, history, and great views!
The access is easy, walkable from the Rosslyn metro. This is the route we chose. We were able to get on the path right by the Key bridge. A huge bonus is that they have restrooms and water fountains!
Upon arrival to the island there is a welcome station with maps and informaion. There is a central plaza with a large statue of Theodore Roosevelt and other sculptures. There are spots to sit and visit, and enjoy the weather if it’s nice.
There are natural trails and a bridge path over some swampy area. I will warn that there is not any railing, so be cautiuos with pets/​kids.

One of D.C.‘s hidden gems that is definitely worth visiting if you enjoy nature walks and great scenery. Not too many bugs, park is very well maintained and not commercialised.
To get the best out of your visit, go on a warm day thats not too humid and BRING A CAMERA! No food on island — Bring a bottle of water and a snack if you’re staying a bit.
Make sure to visit the Theodore Roosevelt monument right in the middle of the island and take pictures with the man himself. Also take the path that goes around the island, you get to go see the Marshland through a elevated path. Around 1 mile and takes 30 min to walk.
You will hear airplanes occasionally, its not that intrusive.
Yes it would be great to bike on the trails and have food available on the island, but without these the noise and commercialization of the island decreases. This is the people’s island! Get ready to use those legs.
Things to note:
–no bikes
–no fishing
–yes dog friendly
–marsh pathway has no railings (careful kids)
Things to do:
–Walking
–Jogging
–Ranger programs for kids!
–Bird Watching
–Nature Photography
–Canoeing/​Kayaking around island
Take plenty of pics!

This is a great little spot to spend an hour or two exploring! Easy access can be gained from Rosslyn or from the Mt. Vernon Trail on the GW Parkway. Just be forewarned, if you’re biking as I was, you will need to leave your bike behind (there are bike racks) and explore on foot. Also worth mentioning, on this particular visit, the restrooms were non-​operational.
There are three different trials running through the par, the swamp trail, the woods trail, and the uplands trail. There is a map at the end of the bridge to cross into the park that can guide you towards your desired trail. We decided to take the Swamp Trail which is a loop around the island, and is the longest of the three at 1.5 miles long. Part of the trail is a boardwalk that passes through swampy woods, making this an ideal place for wildlife viewing. There are plaques scattered along the trail detailing some of the more common wildlife. If you go out on the rocks near the Potomac, you have an amazing view of the Washington Harbor and Georgetown across the river! You can also bring food and picnics into the park, and I witnessed several people taking advantage of that allowance. As there is quite a bit of standing water, I’d imagine the island is not ideal for visiting during the height of the summer, but definitely take advantage and visit during the spring or early summer!

A great spot to walk around for relaxation. it takes about 30 minutes to walk all around this island. Not so many people before sunset. Not so many bugs before summer. I saw some people ran around again and again…
Pets: OK.
Bikes: No no.
Location: Cool.
Parking: Free.

This island is kept well preserved.
When you walk across the bridge, it’s as if you walked into a enchanted forest. (you get my point) it’s clean. Great place for getting fresh air from the city, when I get married have kids, I would definitely take them here!

This is such a delightfully weird little spot. The memorial itself is basically super sexist and reminiscent of Nazi Germany («But it was the style back then!»), but the island is such a nice spot that it’s hard to complain. It’s a quiet getaway from the insanity of the Mount Vernon Trail, Georgetown, and National Mall, and it’s one of my absolute favorite spots in the dead of winter. Excellent for some light nature wandering, bird watching, and photography.
It’s a shame bikes aren’t allowed on the island (*cough*) because these trails would be amazing for some off-roading…if bikes were allowed. And if there were no rangers patrolling the island at night… which there never are…

This is a nearby, beautiful, wooded sanctuary that is great for a quick nature fix!
Great short loop for hiking, walking or running.
It gets four stars instead of five because it is in the flight path to Reagan National, and the noise takes away from nature.

This place is an oasis in the middle of city craziness…
A beautiful foot bridge connects the parking lot to this island. Trails encircle and traverse this beautiful island. There is plenty of flora and fauna to see, smell, and photograph on a lovely hike. There is a beautiful monument area in the middle, which has plenty of places to sit and have a lovely picnic with your family and/​or friends. The views from the DC side of the island are breathtaking. I highly recommend spending at least a couple of hours exploring this island! When you get to the Roosevelt monument, I hope you take a few moments to read the inscriptions and take them to heart.

I found out about the island several years ago, but finally went there for the first time a few days ago. I highly recommend it. The trails are excellently maintained and the landscape is amazing. Although it is still technically DC territory, it does a great job of temporarily removing you from life in the city. Additionally, it has a significant amount of interesting wildlife ranging from raccoons to water snakes (I was lucky enough to come across the later during my time of the island).
Also if you do go, I recommend going in the fall since it will likely be a bit less crowded. Plus the mosquitoes won’t be quite as bad.

Great little island right between DC and Arlington. Many people don’t know it exists, so if you’re new here it’s worth checking out.
Great place for a little stroll with Fido or your tot. Watch out, sometimes the wooden plank paths feel especially narrow when the park is busy, and it looks like an easy fall into the boggy marsh on DC’s Potomac.
Don’t miss the center of the island, where some thoughtful Roosevelt quotes are carved into stone.
If you drive, go early on the weekends bc the lots fill up quickly. There is a 2 hour limit to parking posted, though I don’t know how it’s monitored.

I writing this late but I remember having a great time with the family. This was our first hike. View was great, people were nice and friendly, and we enjoyed the pets.
I just live far but if I was near I would exercise here.

An outdoor oasis is a phrase frequently mentioned to describe this park area.
It’s a great place to run, hike or visit nature, especially during the spring and fall months. Also, while near Washington, D.C. or in the Arlington, VA areas, it’s a few minutes away for an enjoyable escape from the summer heat under ample tree shade.
I’ve spent plenty of time here running with people, going on nature photography walks, and bringing out-​of-​town family and friends to enjoy the views of the Capital city buildings and Rosslyn, VA. There are some good views of the Potomac River, the Kennedy Center and the Georgetown area from different points on the island.
I’ve seen folks fishing and/​or picnicking near or along the front entrance area. For those experienced and amateur birdwatchers (which I’m not), you’ll find cormorants, various ducks and other bird species on the island, but it’s an incredible surprise to watch a great blue heron or a great egret with their deep wings stretched out as they wade through the water or in mid-​flight. It’s spectacular to see them during my visits here. Also, the flora display in late spring/​early summer is awesome. Just mind those pesky bugs and the rocky areas.
I would give this place five stars if it weren’t for the more than occasional noise from airplanes (it’s close to the airport) or from city noise from either DC and Northern Virginia, but it’s still a good place for some quiet especially as you visit the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial area. This memorial area is a place where rest or contemplation are available for the casual visitor.
Also, there is limited parking which is both a good and a bad thing. Besides auto, you can get there from walking paths/​bike bridges from or along the Virginia side. If driving and if you’re not alert, you can miss the entrance to the parking lot. I’ve done that a couple times.
The park is maintained on a regular basis, and the bathroom area is not too bad for a park restroom area. Just don’t expect paper towels to be there as they run out pretty quickly. Bring some sturdy shoes, snacks & water if you plan to be there for more than hour. It’s been very safe every time I visit, but you may want to bring company if you go near/​at dusk or if you plan to explore the trails.

Went to check this place out cause the boyfriend was curious about the trail for biking and running. It’s about a mile and half around the island and has a nice peaceful lil park in the center with a statue of teddy roosevelt himself, some benches and fountains that are no longer running, which is kinda sad but it’s still nice to sit and watch/​hear the planes flying above which fly over probably bout every four minutes.
Plenty of people running along the trail and doing some light hiking into the woods that peer out to the river where you can get some cool views of the key bridge and Georgetown waterfront across the river. A couple of people doing some picnicking as well. There’s also a little marsh which is pretty cool. We’ll definitely be back for a nice jog around the island.

Three great things I enjoy about this park:
1 You have to cross a footbridge to get to it. It feels a little like you’re passing over a moat to get to Teddy’s secret castle on the far side.
2 The elevated boardwalk. Any time I can walk around the edges of an island and keep my tootsies dry, I’m happy.
3 In the center of this green, wooded expanse is a large, cobbled square. It seems like any area this wide and paved needs a parade or a spontaneous flash mob.

I love this trial when I don’t want to drive too far but feel like I’m miles away from the city. Great trail alone or with friends and easy to do with all ages and fitness levels.

This place is a must see if you enjoy the outdoors at all and live in the Arlington/​DC area. Sure lots of presidents have monuments but TR has an entire island. There’s a main path that goes about a mile around the island though and is raised as it goes through the marsh so you might see some wildlife and let’s hope TR doesn’t mind if we swat a few mosquitoes. Be sure to also check out the monument to TR on the center of the island.
There’s no bikes allowed so stick to walking or running but they do have bike racks at the entrance. This is a short walk from Rosslyn or get some exercise and take a nice walk from Crystal City along the Mt. Vernon Trail (about 4ish miles) that has excellent views of the Potomac and DC.

Nice spot of beauty in the middle of the city, and a surprising departure from the typical monuments around the area.
For the positives… there are several paths, all stroller accessible. Most of the paths have frequent spots of shade, for those visiting during the summer. And, the monument to Teddy Roosevelt is very nice.
On the negative side… mosquitoes, mosquitoes, mosquitoes, mosquitoes, mosquitoes, mosquitoes, mosquitoes, mosquitoes, It’s ridiculous. I’ve lived in some of the most mosquito infested places in America. This island ranks right up there. Its a shame. Its doesn’t have to be this way. There are ways municipalities in heavy mosquito regions deal with their infestations. Unfortunately, nothing seems to be done about it on the island. As a second negative, the visual beauty of the island is cut by the constant noise of the parkway nearby, and the commercial planes flying over every couple minutes.
Its a nice monument to visit, but there are other pretty parks just as good for walking/​exercising in places far less mosquito infested around the city.

I love the park is relaxing for do exercise parking during weekend is a little hard to find but for the rest u can go with ur pet and the park is exactly a quiet place

First of all, my dog loves visiting Roosevelt Island. The island is a total oasis tucked in the middle of the Potomac River between Roslyn & the Kennedy Center. There are never large crowds so it’s great for getting off the beaten path and exploring. The island is full of marshes, forest, marked trails, parks, and waterfront views. I particularly love the direct view of the Kennedy Center from the south side of the Potomac. It’s a very scenic stop, def make a trip!

The island itself is a nice little wooded oasis, very close to the city. There is a fairly well maintained, short trail (just over a mile) that takes you around the whole island. At parts the trail is elevated on boardwalk, which for some reason I always find charming. But that boardwalk is there because there is a lot of standing water, so in the summer that means there are a lot of mosquitos.
TRAILS ON TRAILS ON TRAILS: The best part about Teddy Roosevelt Island, as far as I’m concerned though, is that you have so many options for trails to run (or bike) once you’re there.
The parking lot is a great place to catch the Mount Vernon Trail. You are at the far northern end, so you have 18 miles of smooth, well maintained, paved trail to your south.
You can also take the ramp and bridge over the highway into Rosslyn, cross the Key Bridge, and then loop down onto the Canal Towpath or the Capital Crescent Trail.
And if you want some more trail running you can take the Potomac Heritage Trail north out of the parking lot. Stay to the right of the ramp that would take you over the highway, the trail is not clear at first, but it will be. I would not recommend the Potomac Heritage Trail for running alone though. It is isolated and appears to be popular with squatters. The part of the trail that is closest to this parking lot is often littered with trash. Plus it gets fairly technical at parts (lots of rocks and uneven surfaces), so bring a friend.
DOWNSIDE: There is no bathroom and no water fountain near the parking lot. The closest facilities are on the Island. Once you cross the little foot bridge, take the trail to the right, and they are about a half mile down on the left hand side.
ACCESS: You can only access the parking lot from the northbound lanes of the GW Parkway.

I have been here a couple of times now. Once in the winter, and yesterday. Yes, it is September, but it was 94 degrees. I got a good sweat on while I ‘jogged’. More like heavy walking, but whose judging? QUIT JUDGING! I tried.
I made my way around the island pretty good. I made it to where Mr. Roosevelt stands pretty tall along with his two dried up fountains, and major area with all of his famous quotes from through out the years from his 4 term presidency. Furthermore, I went to the back of the island where I saw kayakers, Georgetown waterfront, and the Kennedy Center. It was a nice experience. I went later in the afternoon so the heat wasn’t at its worse. Humidity was horrible though.
The area is well maintained. I even saw a DC maintenance truck roll through while I was on my trek. All in all, it is a great area. It takes you away from the city even though you are still in the city (Virginia side of the Potomac River).
You guarentee I will be returning when the leaves change.

Theodore Roosevelt Island is a great place to go for a run, bike ride, or picnic. The view is really great and the ambiance is quiet and relaxing.

A great way to spend an afternoon with friends, family and nature. Great walking paths to walk. Bring water and snacks. No bikes allowed on the island but strollers are ok.
Don’t forget bug repellant.

«Hitch-​hiked her way across the U.S.A…
Candy came from out on the Island…
Said, Hey, babe
Take a walk on the wild side»
–Selected lyrics from Lou Reed’s Walk on the Wild Side
Hitchhike through Roosevelt’s wild side. No, I’m not talking about some kind of presidential indiscretion that we’ve grown accustomed to in this town. Roosevelt Island is a place to hike the trails that lead nature enthusiasts along city views and into the swamplands that were once more prevalent in these parts.
It’s only fitting that the first presidential nature conservation advocate be awarded his own monument. It seems appropriate that his monument finds his likeness surrounded by what he loved most and alongside the city that made him famous.
It’s nearly impossible to enjoy an immersive nature experience with the cacophony of city sounds that emanate from the D.C. and Virginia sides of the Potomac River. I like to think of this spot as a Washington speedpass getaway from the concrete jungle.
I’ve previously accessed the island by kayak, bike and by car. Driver’s should be aware that parking is scarce on weekends with sunny days from early spring through the warmer months. If you’re willing to freeze your acorns off, I’m sure parking won’t be an issue. No matter the mode of transportation, it’s a worthwhile venture for me in the spring, summer and fall.
So, get one with nature, admire the Neo-​Romanesq/​Neo-​Mideval Georgetown University architecture, watch kayakers paddle the Potomac, glimpse the Washington Monument from a swampy retreat or just come for a picnic next to towering Teddy Roosevelt on a pleasant day. This is a doable experience for those looking to kill 20 mins or for those looking to spend a couple of hours.
**As others have indicated, creepy crawlies come free of charge and bug repellent is not included.