Dumbarton Oaks Park With Small Dogs: A Hidden Woodland Walk
A hidden woodland valley tucked into the heart of Georgetown.
Tucked away on the northern edge of Georgetown is a place that feels worlds away from the busy streets below. I don't often bring Archie and Saydie into Georgetown because, as beautiful as it is, it can feel like a lot for small dogs. The shopping streets are almost always busy, and even the quieter residential streets can feel a bit stressful to navigate. We're usually paying more attention to cars and pedestrians than simply enjoying the walk.
But Dumbarton Oaks Park is different.
Once we step onto the trails, it no longer feels like a city park. The winding paths, stream, and thick canopy make it easy to forget we're still in Georgetown.
Getting There: We started from the Whitehaven Street entrance, just off Wisconsin Avenue NW. If you're using GPS, navigate to Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC rather than simply searching for Dumbarton Oaks Park. As you follow Whitehaven Street, watch for the Dumbarton Oaks Trail sign on the right-hand side. This was the easiest entrance we found, and we were able to find street parking nearby.
The Whitehaven Street entrance was the easiest trailhead for us to find.
Our Walk Through Dumbarton Oaks Park
Within a few minutes, it no longer felt like we were in Georgetown.
It only took a few minutes before we were walking on winding dirt trails beneath a thick canopy of trees.
Stone bridges crossed the stream, and the winding trails made us want to keep exploring. At one point, we found a small path leading down to the water, where Archie and Saydie carefully climbed over the rocks and explored along the stream.
Archie and Saydie couldn't resist climbing down to explore the stream.
Archie and Saydie were much more interested in sniffing every inch of the trail than covering ground. It's hard to believe you're still in the middle of Georgetown.
Even though the park isn't especially large, it feels much bigger than it is. With so many intersecting trails, we occasionally had to stop and think about which path we'd come from.
What I Like About Dumbarton Oaks Park
The intersecting trails make every walk feel a little different.
If I'm looking for a walk where we can feel truly immersed in the woods without leaving the city, Dumbarton Oaks Park is one of my favorite places to go.
Just minutes after leaving Georgetown's busy streets behind, we're surrounded by trees, a winding stream, and quiet woodland trails. Unlike many parks where there's one main path to follow, Dumbarton Oaks Park has a network of intersecting trails, making every walk a little different. The scenery changes often, taking you through the woods, across stone bridges, alongside the stream, and into open meadows before leading back beneath the trees.
It isn't the place I'd choose for a long hike or sweeping overlooks. But when I'm in the mood to spend a couple of hours surrounded by trees without driving outside the city, this is exactly the kind of walk I'm looking for.
Things to Know Before You Go
We've entered from both the Whitehaven Street and Lovers' Lane entrances. The trails connect, but if it's your first visit, we found the Whitehaven Street entrance easier to locate and were able to find street parking nearby.
Dogs are welcome in Dumbarton Oaks Park as long as they're on leash.
Don't confuse Dumbarton Oaks Park with Dumbarton Oaks Gardens. Although the names sound very similar, they're two separate places. Dogs are welcome in the park, but they aren't permitted in the gardens.
Just beyond the trees, you're back in the neighborhood.
Some days I'm looking for a long hike. Other days I just want to spend a couple of hours in the woods without a long drive. Dumbarton Oaks Park is exactly the kind of place I have in mind.
One of the things I noticed most was how relaxed Archie and Saydie seemed. Once we left Georgetown behind, there was very little of the stimulation that usually comes with walking in the city. During our visit, we only passed one other person, giving them plenty of time to sniff, explore, and simply enjoy being out on the trails.
As we made our way back toward the entrance, the trees suddenly opened up and the surrounding neighborhood came back into view. It was a reminder that we'd spent the last couple of hours feeling completely immersed in the woods, even though Georgetown had been just beyond the trees the whole time.
If you're looking for more places like this, I've shared several of our favorite woodland walks in my guide to 5 Dog-Friendly Places Near Washington, DC We Keep Coming Back To.
