National Capital Parks - Fort Dupont

Map of TRACK Trail through National Capital Parks - East

The National Capital Parks-East TRACK Trail is in Fort Dupont National Park in Southeast Washington, DC. The National Capital Parks-East TRACK Trail adventures were designed to be used on the Turkey Trot Trail. The Turkey Trot Trail is a flat, dirt-surfaced trail that is 1.25 miles round-trip.

The National Capital Parks-East TRACK Trail is in Fort Dupont National Park in Southeast Washington, DC. The National Capital Parks-East TRACK Trail adventures were designed to be used on the Turkey Trot Trail. The Turkey Trot Trail is a flat, dirt-surfaced trail that is 1.25 miles round-trip.

Fort Dupont is one of 68 forts built during the Civil War. Today visitors can visit Fort Dupont and six near-by fort sites via the Hiker/Biker trail. Fort Dupont had six sides, each 100 feet long, protected by a deep moat and trees felled side-by-side with branches pointing outward. It was named for Flag Officer Samuel F. du Pont, who commanded the naval victory at Port Royal, South Carolina, in November 1861. In the 1930s, the National Capital Planning Commission acquired the old fort and surrounding land for recreation. Where once the Civil War fort looked out over farmlands, city dwellers now grow vegetables in community garden plots.

Track an adventure here
Collectible Sticker for National Capital Parks - East

Location Details

Recreational Features: Birding
Amenities:
ADA Compliant: No
Seasonality: Open all year
Kids and Ranger in front of TRACK Trail sign
Trail through forest
Lawn  and trees
Wide gravel path through woods
Shaded path through trees
Fenced garden
Ft. Dupont Summer Theater stage

Adventures for National Capital Parks - Fort Dupont

Hiking

Animal Athletes

Difficulty:
Moderate
Trail length:
1.25
The Animal Athletes adventure challenges kids to exercise with the animals. This brochure gives kids eight different animal exercises they can do along the trail. From hummingbird hand-swings to frog hops, kids are sure to have fun getting in shape with the animals during their outdoor adventures.
Hiking

Nature's Hide & Seek

Difficulty:
Moderate
Trail length:
1.25
The Nature's Hide & Seek brochure is designed so that kids of all ages can walk along the trail and discover common things that are often overlooked in nature. Some of them are hard to find, others are easy. Best of all, the adventure never ends because every time you walk the trail you will discover new things hiding in nature.
Hiking

Nature's Relationships

Difficulty:
Moderate
Trail length:
1.25
In the Nature's Relationships brochure you will discover how everything in nature is connected... even us. As you walk along the trail, the brochure will tell you a story about a few of the relationships that can be found. Many more relationships exist, so keep your eyes and heart open and you will discover many of nature's relationships - even yours.
Need for Trees brochure thumbnail
Hiking

Fort Dupont Need for Trees

Difficulty:
Moderate
Trail length:
1.25
By following the picture and textual clues found in "The Need for Trees" brochure, you will discover six of the more common trees found in Fort Dupont National Park. During your adventure, you will learn about the need we, and other animals, have for trees and about the roles they play in the forest.

Directions

Fort Dupont Drive SE
Washington, DC 20019
Latitude: 38.878171500000
Longitude: -76.954143700000

Fort Dupont Park is located in Southeast Washington, DC., east of the Anacostia River. It is not near Dupont Circle.

The Park is bounded by Minnesota Avenue to the west; Ely Place and Ridge Roads to the north; Alabama Avenue to the east; and Massachusetts Avenue to the south. The main driving entrances to the park are Fort Davis Drive and Ridge Road; Fort Davis Drive and Massachusetts Avenue; and Randle Circle and Fort Dupont Drive.

Parking:

Please park all vehicles at the Activity Center. During special events, please park at the "F" Street Lawn parking lot. Click here for a parking map.
 

Partners

The TRACK Trail program is sponsored by the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation.

The National Capital Parks - East TRACK trail was made possible by a partnership between the National Park Service and the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation's Kids in Parks program. This project was financed in part by the National Park Service’s CONNECT TRAILS TO PARKS program, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the National Trails System in 2018.