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Kingman And Heritage Islands Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 305 Google reviews · Running trail in Washington, District of Columbia · Dawn to dusk

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Mixed
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Dawn to dusk

Confirmed from Kingman And Heritage Islands Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

MixedScenicDog-friendlyTrailhead parking

Man-made island in the Anacostia River offering rustic trails & an annual bluegrass festival.

What runners say about Kingman And Heritage Islands Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (305 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 4 mentions

“The sunsets on the river are beautiful, there's so much nature watching to do on the islands, and it's never really crowded so no issues with social distancing.”

Great gem of a park so close to DC. Great for walking and kids. Trail around Island Heritage trail is great. Parts of the trail is on wooden board walk. There are great places to sit and also has picnic tables.

★★★★★ — Mj , Mar 2023

A treasure tucked away on the east side of DC. A great close by place of respite from the urban streetscape. A place of seclusion for couples and lovers. A family friendly place too. Its proximate to the Anacostia river walk bike trail system.

★★★★★ — Critical , Mar 2022

Lovely little trail oasis in the middle of the city! You can go here and catch lots of wildlife - turtles and birds. Near to RFK park and stadium, almost interconnecting to the track and soccer fields.

★★★★☆ — Rachel , Apr 2021

My kids (5yo and 2.5yo) went to Kingman for nice walk. We truly enjoyed it! We went on a late Saturday morning, it was quiet and barely any foot traffic. This place is a nice little gem that I didn't know existed. My 2.5yo walked it for 1hr before she got tired. My 5yo walked the entire place.

★★★★★ — Kadijat , Sep 2024

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 305 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 6 mentions

“The sunsets on the river are beautiful, there's so much nature watching to do on the islands, and it's never really crowded so no issues with social distancing.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 4 mentions

“Parking is easily found in the RFK parking lot, and we really enjoy coming here when the weather is nice.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 4 mentions

“I take my dogs walking here every day and it's done wonders for my physical and mental health.”

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🪵 Boardwalk

“Nice wide boardwalk to the island.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 2 mentions

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🌲 Natural surface / singletrack 2 mentions

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Plan your run at Kingman And Heritage Islands Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
  • SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitekingmanisland.org
  • Phone+1 202-488-0627
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 7 am–8 pm
Tuesday 7 am–8 pm
Wednesday 7 am–8 pm
Thursday 7 am–8 pm
Friday 7 am–8 pm
Saturday 7 am–8 pm
Sunday 7 am–8 pm

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Kingman And Heritage Islands Park

575 Oklahoma Ave NE, Washington, DC 20019

Get directions

Running trails near Washington

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Kingman Island Trail

4.4 ★★★★☆ 40 reviews

Washington, DC

under a mile away

River Trailhead

4.5 ★★★★★ 6 reviews

Washington, DC

Mixed

1.9 miles away

Fort Circle Park Hiker-Biker Trail

4.1 ★★★★☆ 27 reviews

Washington, DC

2.0 miles away

Metropolitan Branch Trail

4.8 ★★★★★ 40 reviews

Washington, DC

Scenic

City park for biking, walking, and enjoying works of art.

2.1 miles away

East Potomac Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 5,082 reviews

Washington, DC

Scenic

Storied, 395-acre park with a golf course, fishing & picnic areas, plus tennis courts & ball fields.

3.5 miles away

Melrose Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 35 reviews

Hyattsville, MD

3.7 miles away

All running trails in Washington, DC →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.