Theodore Roosevelt Island Trails

Theodore Roosevelt Island is an 88.5 acre island dedicated to the country's 26th president. It features mostly natural areas, trails, and a memorial plaza with a statue of Roosevelt. No cars or bicycles are allowed on the island, and it can only be accessed by a footbridge. Puppers are more than welcome to join their humans here! The trails are very pawpular among joggers and dog walkers. 

The footbridge and main entrance to the park can be accessed from a parking lot along the Virginia bank of the Potomac River, just north of the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge. Cars can enter this parking lot only from the northbound lanes of the George Washington Memorial Parkway. If you and your pal are walking to the park, you can get to the footbridge by following the Mount Vernon Trail south from Gateway Park. You can find all kinds of amenities in the park, including restrooms. They close for the winter, usually from October to April, during which time a porta-potty is located near the restrooms.

There are three main trails in this park that form a network of loops, and can be combined in any way you please. The trails are named after the habitat they pass through. The Swamp Trail is the longest at 1.5 miles of gravel and boardwalk that pass through swampy woods and cattail marsh. The Woods Trail is .3 miles long, and passes through the heart of the island, featuring the memorial plaza. The .75 mile Upland Trail traverses the length of the island, and passes through forests and the former site of the Mason Mansion. Maps of these trail can be found on the park's official website. 

Your four-legged friend is welcome to explore the island with you, as long as they stay leashed and picked up after at all times. Overall, exploring the Theodore Roosevelt Park is a great way to spend the day with your canine companion!