Nice little surprise. Was looking for a trail for fun with my six year old and it’s beautiful and quite. Yuh can heat the water flowing and saw some garter snake and lizards.Good thing is you don’t have to pay for it. Bring water and food.

Carderock is a great recreational area to spend some time outdoors, whether hiking, biking, or climbing. Such a great resource for so many who live close by or far away. If you need to get away from the rat race, I recommend spending some time in this quiet and refreshing place. Pro Tip: you can have the place almost to yourself if the weather is a bit off.

Right off I 495, this area overlooks the Potomac River. Its an excellent spot for families and friends to picnic on a warm day. One can also enjoy a short hike along the Billy Goat Trail Section C. The trail is dog and kid-friendly. Theres a climbing area as well for climbers to practice.

Great hiking getaway just outside the DC Beltway.

Very nice park. One side had a pavallion with tables and a bathroom and grills and the other side was a large grassy field.

Don’t go there! Leave this place only to me :) One of the best places to relax in MD area... Go elsewhere!

Attractive, shaded picnic grounds with plenty of parking and nearby indoor restrooms. Close to the trailhead for the Billy Goat trail and next to the C&O Canal towpath.

Very peaceful next to the river. Excellent hiking area.

Attended a family reunion in the Pavilion. Great spot for that type of activity. Parking is convenient and the space is well kept. It was a very hot day and the Pavilion provided much welcomed shade for the entire day!! The restrooms are a short walk from the site.

Gorgeous and easy to get to!

One of the local crags can be accessed by the most upstream parking lot (turn right at the T and go to the last parking area). There are picnic and day use areas as well, including a couple of full flush toilet facilities. Easy access to C&O Canal towpath and Billy Goat trail section C. A very popular, well kept and easily accessible recreation area.

Great hiking place near by DC!

Great place for walking, relaxing and climbing. Very accessible with free parking.

The entire area is filled with great biking hiking and kayaking. Its the potomac. And since your in DC. Light it up. Ganja friendly. Just stay away from the virginia side. They still need to see the light. They are smothered in darkness and reckless driving tickets. Keep it under 80 or youll be sorry

A good place for hiking

Great place for a morning run!

A very nice trail (gravel/dirt) to run and bike on. Beautiful greenery

Is situated on Bear Island in the Potomac River, and Ive liked all Bear Islands Ive heard of, real or fictional.

Couldnt find the parking areas from Calderock. No signs to indicate where to go. When we finally did find one, we couldnt find the tow path trail to go cycling, as there were no signs there either. Once on the towpath, it was so crowded with throngs of people that it wasnt enjoyable to ride. Bah!

Great trails for younger kids, there are some Creek crossings that are a bit more difficult. Trails are along the river- nice scenery especially during lower tides. Lots of birds, ducks, frogs, deers and other wildlife. Ample parking-a great place to spend your weekend.

Trails with different difficulties, nice view, hiking, biking or canoeing

Beautiful area for hiking. Plenty of parking

Free parking and great access to the C&O trail and Billy Goat trail.

Free parking is nice. Easy and short trails or connect to the Billy Goat trail.

Nice scenery along the river but the lawn needs to be mowed in the picnic area. I didnt use the bathroom but I was told that they were fairly clean. No trash cans - bring your own trash bag or grab the plastic bags provided.

Connects to the billy goat trail along the potomac river. Great intermediate hiking trails that allow dogs to be un-leashed. Pavillion and picnic tables with shade for resting between hikes and grilling

Ample parking and picnic tables. Good location near town to get a nature fix. Nuthatches.

Nice place for hiking. Trails are well kept & difficult without being extreme. It would have been nice to have a bit more signage though.

Nice place to climb in the DC area

Two great short hikes from the parking area. Billy goat trail 2 and 3. Nice year round. Views of Potomac river.

Close and easy access from the Capital Beltway. Has a Pavilion with electricity, a large picnic bench seating area, 3 large grills and a stone fireplace that is often rented for family events. Nearby public restroom open year round.C&O Canal and Section C of Billy Goat Trail pass through the park. 3 parking areas, 2 with bathroom facilities..No admission fee. Large open fields with scattered picnic tables and BBQ grills. Dog friendly. Note that this is a take your trash back with you park. Rustic comes to mind. Cant find the park? Its opposite the David Taylor Naval facility.

Great hikes or bike rides along side the old Potomac canal system. Lots of parking. Bathrooms. Access to the best climbing in the immediate DC area.

A fine park for a picnic. There is also access to Part C of the Billy Goat Trail. Bathrooms and parking are available. A picnic pavilion is provided by reservation. Be sure to pack out all of your trash. There are no trash cans in the park.

Lovely hike

Nice trails. Beautiful views

Great spot for a morning or afternoon stroll. Awesome place for organized bike rides or runs.

Three trail loops for all levels. Dogs, even on leash, not allowed on A though...

Difficult to find and poorly signed once you get there. The trails are right next to the Potomac River, but you never get to see it because the trail is hidden behind trees.Ended up going through the woods and walking back to my car along the highway thanks to poor signage.Go just down the road to the Great Falls park. Much better signed, more interesting trails and better views,

Beautiful place and so peacefull

Very special place for a relaxing hike

Very nice place to hike with family. Even though it was muddy and wet the trail was well set up.

The garden is colorful and the view offered by this park is truly incredible.

Great place to picnic

Very good to walk.

Great place to take a hike or for a picnic!

So good and good for retirement and hiking without any restroom but a lot of parking lot s

Great place to run!

Just had my wedding reception at the pavilion. Beautiful park with easy access to the river, hiking, and a well kept lawn for bacchi, lawn darts, and corn hole. Also if you bring your own wood you can start up a fire in the fireplace and roast some marsh mellows for smores.

I just love this trail. Right amount of inclines...hills. Nothing difficult. Beautiful sites.

Not too many people. Good place for BBQ.

Not so crowded on weekdays

National Park Service keeps this area well maintained.

Wonderful, friendly and family oriented with great water views.

Great place for a picnic. Got to watch the Potomac river flow by and people have fun.

Carderock Park offers some slippery rock, but fun top-rope rock climbing routes. Located across the river from Great Falls Park in Virginia, Carderock is busy on the weekends, but fairly open for climbs during the week.

Good beginners top-roping climbing crag

Distance runners paradise

Nice place to hike alone or with friends

Best place to enjoy the nature. Billy Goat Trail and C&O Canal

Great place for parties and family fun

Good climbing for how close it is to the DC metro area

Nice park

I love this place

Beautiful and challenging trails

Nice place to hike with family, its hidden gem.

Beautiful, well-maintained park with easy parking.

Free entrance, nice place for walking

Great park

Good place to enjoy the sun, river and bbq.

Beautiful!!!!!

C&O Tow Path trail, hiking, biking

Nice area

Love running the Billy Goat Trails

Peaceful and safe

Great place for camping or a picnic

Climb on.

Loved it

Great place to get back to nature

Great place!

Prime spot to access the C&O canal and the Billy Goat trail.

Great hike,playground area

Best place for kabob, bbq, 13bedar

Bear Island knows no state but the state in the north whose name is Maryland

Off beaten path and quite park.

Nice hiking place