Picnic Area #17 at Rock Creek Park in Washington, D. C.
LOCATION
Picnic Areas #17 and #18 at Rock Creek Park are located on Ridge Road north of the intersection with Ross Drive. See the Picnic Areas web page for an interactive location map.
PARKING
There are two roadside pullouts that fit three to four vehicles each.
AMENITIES
Picnic Areas #17 and #18 are side-by-side on a narrow strip of land alongside Ridge Road. Nothing separates the two. There are two tables at #17: one at the edge of the forest and the other actually in the forest at the bottom of a steep hill. There were two tables at #18, but they are located on the opposite side of the road from the parking area.
There is a fire pit at #17. You might be able to make a bonfire in it, but you won’t be cooking anything. Bring your own grill if you want to cook.
NOTE: Table and grill count may vary due to theft, breakage, or the addition of new tables and grills. If you plan on hosting a group picnic, be sure to stop by and check out the facility in advance to make sure it will fit your needs. You are allowed to bring your own grill. Used charcoal must be disposed of in the trash cans, not dumped onto the ground.
Fire pit at Rock Creek Park’s Picnic Area #17
RESERVATIONS
No reservations are accepted. All tables are taken on a first come, first served basis. If you wish to reserve a picnic area for a large group, try Picnic Areas #1, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #13, or #24.
For complete picnic area rules, see the National Park Service’s official Rules and Regulations web page for Rock Creek Park.
With a few exceptions, use of any photograph on the National Park Planner website requires a paid Royalty Free Editorial Use License or Commercial Use License. See the Photo Usage page for details.
Last updated on January 11, 2022
