Entrance to Dumbarton Oaks Park

Dumbarton Oaks Park became part of Rock Creek Park after it was donated to the National Park Service in 1940 by Robert and Mildred Bliss. They gave their house and formal gardens to Harvard University (now Dumbarton Oaks Museum and Gardens), and the rest of their property, a natural area, to the National Park Service (Dumbarton Oaks Park). The museum and gardens are fenced off by a tall, stone wall and there is a fee to enter. If you want to visit the museum, the entrance is on 32^nd Street NW near the corner of R. Street NW in Washington, D. C. For more information, visit the Dumbarton Oaks web page.

Dumbarton Oaks Park consists of the undeveloped land surrounding the museum and gardens. To get to the entrance, park on R Street between Avon Place and 31^st Street. Parking is limited to two hours. About halfway between Avon and 31^st is a side street called Lover’s Lane. As you walk down the lane the stone fence of the museum and gardens will be on your left and Montrose Park, another sub-unit of Rock Creek Park, will be on your right. The gates to Dumbarton Oaks Park are located at the end of the lane.

Unlike Montrose Park next door, which has tennis courts, a playground, and picnic tables, Dumbarton Oaks Park is completely undeveloped and is accessed via hiking trails—hiking is the only thing to do here. Read my review of the Dumbarton Oaks Park Loop Hike for more information.

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