"In the Washington, DC, region, there are two parks named Rock Creek. Rock Creek National Park is in the District of Columbia and has been owned and operated by the National Park Service since 1890. Rock Creek Regional Park is in Montgomery County and is owned and operated by Montgomery Parks. Both parks are buffer zones for Rock Creek and provide ample recreational opportunities for area residents: biking, hiking, fishing, picnicking, kayaking, canoeing, golfing, and horseback riding.

Both parks also have nature centers, which provide educational opportunities for families. Lake Needwood offers 7 miles of trails around its 75-acre dammed lake. This 2.2-mile hike along the west side of Lake Needwood loops through upland forests. The trails are blue-blazed, and every trail inter-
section is clearly marked with signed posts."

--Jennifer Chambers , Best Hikes with Kids: Washington, DC, the Beltway & Beyond (The Mountaineers Books).

"Lake Needwood trails consist of woods and open fields with near-constant views of the man-made, recreational lake fed by Washington’s Rock Creek. This popular park offers a scenic shoreline trail in protected parkland nestled in the heart of suburban Maryland.

Lake Needwood is a 75-acre lake surrounded by parkland where visitors can rent rowboats, canoes, and paddleboats. The covered pavilion and snack bar also rents pontoon boats and picnic areas. People also come here to fish (you need a license) or play golf. The Rock Creek Hiker/Biker Trail begins at Lake Needwood and extends 14.5 miles into Washington, D.C. Go Ape Treetop Adventure has a few climbing platforms and zip lines (for ages 10 and older) built within the park. You are likely to see geese, chipmunks, squirrels, and deer."

--Renee Sklarew and Rachel Cooper , 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Washington, DC (Menasha Ridge Press).