Milkhouse Ford Loop (Rock Creek Park) Hiking Guide
In under two miles, this Park Service loop passes a Civil War fort, a poet's log cabin and a concrete ford where drivers once crossed Rock Creek. It starts at the Nature Center, drops into the creek valley and climbs back on a path the park believes may be thousands of years old. It makes a good short outing for kids who like history.
Distance and Blazes
The Park Service calls it a 1.75-mile loop and marks it with yellow tape on signposts; Hiking Project measures 1.7 miles with 253 feet of climbing. Most of it uses bridle trails six to eight feet wide. The climbing is short but real, concentrated in the drop to the creek and the walk back up.
Route
From the Nature Center, take the paved Western Ridge Trail north and cross Military Road at the signal. About 250 feet on, turn right at the large Fort DeRussy exhibit sign (not the small sign on the corner), stay on the dirt trail past the fort's earthen walls and descend to the creek. Walk upstream about a quarter mile to the cabin, find the old road running into the creek at Milkhouse Ford, climb that roadbed about 100 feet and take the Cross Trail left beside a small tributary. It meets the Western Ridge Trail, which brings you back across Military Road.
History Along the Way
Fort DeRussy was one of the Civil War forts guarding Washington, and Hiking Project notes it saw use during the Battle of Fort Stevens. The poet Joaquin Miller lived in the two-room cabin in the 1880s, when it stood at Meridian Hill; it was moved into the park in the early 1900s. Milkhouse Ford was first paved in 1904, and the Park Service says people drove through the creek there until the 1990s. Archaeological evidence suggests the Cross Trail may be 5,000 years old, first used to reach a quarry and a spring.
Footing
The descent below Fort DeRussy gets slippery, and the park says loose gravel after rain can make it feel too steep; the paved multi-use trail is the fallback. A natural sand deposit at the ford can also be awkward to get past. Don't try the crossing on foot, since wading in Rock Creek is prohibited.
Parking, Transit and Dogs
Use the Nature Center lot on Glover Road NW. The building is closed until further notice, so bring water and snacks with you. The C81 bus from the Tenleytown-AU or Fort Totten Metro stops at Military Road near Glover Road and Oregon Avenue, a short walk up a paved path. Leashed dogs are fine here, as everywhere in the park.
Hiking tips for Milkhouse Ford Loop (Rock Creek Park)
- Follow the yellow tape on signposts to stay on the route.
- Use the signal at Military Road both times you cross.
- Take the paved trail instead of the dirt descent after hard rain.
- View the cabin from the trail side of the creek rather than wading over.
- Pair it with Boulder Bridge for a longer morning from the same lot.
Nearby trails to explore
- Boulder Bridge Loop (Rock Creek Park)
- Boundary Bridge Loop (Rock Creek Park)
- Fort Circle Hiker-Biker Trail
Hike this trail with TrailMates
A short history loop like Milkhouse Ford fits easily into a weekend morning. Find people for it on TrailMates, sort out the meeting spot in the event's group chat, and walk it together. Get TrailMates on the App Store or Google Play.