Picnic Area #26 at Rock Creek Park in Washington, D. C.

LOCATION
Picnic areas #25 and #26 at Rock Creek Park are located at the southern end of Ridge Road at Equitation Field. See the Picnic Areas web page for an interactive location map.

PARKING
Parking is at a long roadside pullout that holds a dozen vehicles. This serves both picnic areas.

AMENITIES
Both Picnic Area #25 and #26 are located on the property surrounding Equitation Field. Picnic Area #25 is at the northern end of the parking area. It has two tables and what’s left of an old stone grill. Good luck cooking anything on it.

Picnic Area #25 at Rock Creek Park in Washington, D. C.

What’s left of a stone grill at Rock Creek Park’s Picnic Area #25

Picnic Area #26 has two wooden picnic tables (no grills). You will see what appears to be half a grill—and indeed that’s what most people think it is—but this is really a horse mounting step built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, an organization conceived by the Roosevelt administration to help young, unmarried men get back to work in the wake of the Great Depression (1929-39). It is now fenced off to prevent further damage.

Historic horse mounting step mistaken for a grill at Rock Creek Park’s Picnic Area #26

Historic horse mounting step at Rock Creek Park’s Picnic Area #26

There is one other picnic table located on the far side of the coral.

Picnic table near the corral at Equitation Field in Rock Creek Park

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.

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.

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