From Downtown through the suburbs to the mountains in the west and the marshlands in the east, the Washington metro area has something to offer anyone looking for a good hike. Part of the most comprehensive hiking series in print, the 3rd edition of 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Washington, D.C. is a complete revision by local travel writers Rachel Cooper and Renee Sklarew . The new issue features a wider collection of trails specifically designed for day trips. With options that range from easy to challenging, families and serious hikers will find both inspiration and detailed information to guide their exploration of the many trails within roughly an hour’s drive of the metro area. Get the most up-to-date hiking information in the new edition including: 23 new hikes including metro and wheelchair accessible trails - Revised routes with many loop trails - Updated maps and new photos - Detailed directions and information about hours, facilities and restrictions - Descriptions of flora, fauna and wildlife hikers are likely to see - Options for additional activities and points of interest nearby Readers looking for new places to explore will discover a bounty of sites, some well-known and beloved, while others remain hidden gems ripe for exploration. Renee Marchese Sklarew is a native Washingtonian who enjoys exploring her city’s many attractions, including its parks and trails. As a young girl, her father received a temporary assignment that took her family to Switzerland, and that’s where she began her passion for hiking and exploring. Today, her family makes surveying nature’s wonders a priority, and they love visiting America’s National Parks. Renee regularly contributes travel articles and photos to newspapers and magazines, including the Washingtonian, Northern Virginia Magazine, Boston Globe, and Washington Post . She is co-author of The Unofficial Guide to Washington DC and Fodor’s Washington DC Guidebook . Recently, she joined the team of “Oh Ranger!” editing guides to national, state, and local parks. Renee hopes readers will use 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Washington D.C. to discover new trails and meaningful destinations. Rachel Cooper is a freelance writer and has been the Washington, D.C., Expert for About.com (now TripSavvy.com) since 2004. Rachel is also the author of the book Images of Rail - Union Station in Washington, D.C., and has written numerous articles for local and regional publications. She especially enjoys outdoor recreation, including hiking, biking, skiing, kayaking, and stand-up paddle boarding. She met her husband, Brian, through a local windsurfing club, and they have spent more than 25 years together seeking new adventures as they travel across the region and around the world. Paul Elliott works as a writer/editor and plays primarily as a social and solo hiker. He has been leading hikes year-round in the Washington metro area and beyond since 1990, most recently for the Sierra Club and Appalachian Mountain Club. His forte is getting people with a taste for adventure to sample the pleasures and surprises of the area’s remarkable array of hiking opportunities. PISCATAWAY PARK LENGTH: 8.5 miles CONFIGURATION: Modified out-and-back DIFFICULTY: Easy–moderate SCENERY: River views, wetlands EXPOSURE: Mostly open; more so in winter TRAFFIC: Very light–light; heavier on warm-weather weekends, holidays at colonial farm TRAIL SURFACE: Chiefly dirt or grass; marsh boardwalk, short stretches of gravel, pavement HIKING TIME: 3.5–4.5 hours ACCESS: Open daily, dawn–dusk; entrance fee MAP: USGS Mount Vernon FACILITIES: Toilets, water at visitor center (near trailhead; closed on Mondays); toilets along Piscataway Creek trail In the late 18th century, the view across the Potomac River from George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate was one of woods and cultivated fields. More than two centuries later, it still is. A mix of private and public actions saved the developmentally challenged shoreline lying only 14 miles south of the White House. In the early 1950s, local groups and citizens launched an effort to protect it. Then, in 1961, Congress authorized Piscataway Park to preserve “the historic and scenic values . . . of lands which provide the principal overview.” Using more easements than ownership, the present-day park extends along the riverbank for about 6 miles and covers about 5,000 acres. This hike is a country ramble in an area where past and present mingle. It includes a reconstructed colonial-era farm featuring now-rare crops and livestock breeds, as well as a modern organic farm. Among its other attractions are views of Mount Vernon, a Native American ceremonial site, an arboretum, and a marsh. The mostly level, 8.5-mile hike is only partially blazed and signposted, so follow my directions closely, especially on the segment after the colonial farm. Also, expect little shade and a bit of mud. To get started from the trailhead parking lot