Northeast DC
Pedal Past Petals
US National Arboretum
Distance: 3.5-mile loop or nine-mile ride.
The arboretum, which comes alive with blooms from spring through fall, has nine miles of quiet roads to cycle. For a relatively easy loop with just a few hills, start at the R Street gate and go counterclockwise: Take Azalea Road to Crabtree Road, then Hickey Hill and Meadow roads for a 3.5-mile loop. Along the way, stop to see the bonsai exhibit, the boxwood collection, or other gardens; you can picnic at the National Grove of State Trees. To make it a longer ride, wind through connecting roads including Ellipse Road, which leads to the National Capitol Columns, freestanding Corinthian columns removed from the Capitol during a renovation. Open Friday through Monday. For more, visit the National Arboretum website.
See the Trail
