Swamp Trail Map, Theodore Roosevelt Island (click to enlarge)

Length: 1.5-mile loop
Time: 1 hour
Difficulty: Easy

Of the three official trails on Theodore Roosevelt Island, the Swamp Trail is the longest and the most scenic. It runs around the perimeter of the island and passes through a marsh area on the south end. Here you may see waterfowl and blooming flowers, and it is your only chance to get out of the forest and into the sunshine. However, while the trail does skirt the perimeter, it is too far from the Potomac to get a continual view of the river. When designed, I’m sure the view was clear, but in the eighty-plus years since the island was landscaped by Frederic Law Olmstead Jr., son of the famed Frederick Sr., the trees have grown up and now the Swamp Trail is situated almost wholly in the woods. Any views of the river that you get today are from side trails that hikers have cut down to the shore.

As soon as you cross the footbridge that connects the island to Virginia and step onto the island, you will find yourself on a wide, gravel path: the Swamp Trail. To get your bearings, there is a trail map posted on a bulletin board. Take a photo of it with your phone and refer to it as you hike because there are no directional signs posted at any intersections. Being a loop, you can go around in either direction, and it makes no real difference, but I took the counterclockwise route and will describe the hike in this direction.

Footbridge to Theodore Roosevelt Island

No sooner do you turn right after crossing the bridge to start the hike than the trail splits. The rule of thumb is that since you are hiking counterclockwise around the island, always stay to the right at any intersection to remain the closest to the Potomac River. At this intersection the wider trail that goes to the left is the start of the Woods Trail. Take this to get to the Roosevelt Memorial, as well as to hike the interior of the island. The Swamp Trail is the narrower trail that forks to the right.

First fork the the Swamp Trail on Theodore Roosevelt Island

For the most part, the Swamp Trail is level and has a fairly smooth surface, though you do run into some rocks and roots on occasion. Shade is plentiful as well, for as mentioned earlier, the trails on the island now runs through a fairly mature forest. You will find plenty of people in the park, and with the Swamp Trail being the longest option, most opt to hike this over the two inland trails, the Woods and Upland Trails.

Typical terrain of the Swamp Trail on Theodore Roosevelt Island

A quarter mile from the start you will see another trail on your left that parallels the Swamp Trail and gets closer and closer as you proceed south. This is the Woods Trail, and you are approaching its end where it merges into the Swamp Trail at a V-shaped intersection. Unfortunately, the intersection is not as clear as it is shown on the trail map because the Swamp Trail itself forks just before this merger. The official route is to the left, up a slight hill. The narrow trail to the right is another social trail that runs a little closer to the river. Breaking with my rule of “always stay right,” I went left. I don’t think it really matters which trail you take because they both come out at the restroom building just another tenth of a mile ahead.

Split in the Swamp Trail right before the intersection with the Woods Trail

The restroom is the only building that has been on the island since it became a park. It was always part of Olmstead’s plan, dating back to the 1930s, but it wasn’t built until the mid-1950s. It is usually open from April though September. When closed, there is a portable toilet located near the building.

Restroom at the southern end of Theodore Roosevelt Island

Just past the restroom building is an intersection with a short trail that branches off up a hill to the left and connects to the Upland Trail, and just beyond this intersection is the end of the island. The bridge you see is the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge, which was built in the 1960s despite great opposition. The island was given to the U. S. government with the understanding that it would be protected as a natural area. Running a bridge across the southern end certainly seems in contrast to this idea, but Congress couldn’t find anything that legally bound the government to honor the wishes of the land donor, so the bridge was built.

Underneath the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge

The Swamp Trail curves east at the bridge and enters the marsh. To keep hikers out of the water, the National Park Service built an elevated boardwalk. This is the only section of the hike that is exposed to the sun.

Boardwalk through the marsh, Theodore Roosevelt Island

The marsh is the prettiest place on the island. You are likely to see waterfowl such as ducks and geese, and at certain times of the year flowers will be in bloom. Olmstead’s original plan was to fill all of this in to make room for more trails. However, the cost of doing so was way beyond any realistic budget, so it was left a marsh, and today we have this beautiful area to hike through.

Marsh at the southern end of Theodore Roosevelt Island

The boardwalk runs for a half mile, ending nearly three-quarters up the east side of the island. Along the way is a short detour to an observation deck that overlooks the marsh.

Just past the end of the boardwalk is a social trail that leads down to the Potomac shoreline. Such trails are the only way you can see the river on the hike. The social trail continues along the shoreline, but after taking a look at the river I turned around and got back on the official Swamp Trail. Turns out the shoreline trail reconnects with the Swamp Trail just fifty yards farther down.

View of the Potomac River from Theodore Roosevelt Island

As you work your way across the north end of the island, you will come to two intersections with trails that fork off to the left. The first is start of the Upland Trail. The second intersection leads up to the Roosevelt Memorial and is technically part of the Woods Trail, though there is no real connection between this segment and the trail you saw earlier.

Before curving south for the final leg of the journey, you do get a glimpse of the channel that runs between the island and the Virginia shoreline. There’s nothing picturesque about it, for all you can see is office buildings. Continue south and you’ll be back at the footbridge in five minutes or so.

View of office buildings in Virginia from Theodore Roosevelt Island

There aren’t too many options for hiking on Theodore Roosevelt Island, but if you have to pick one trail, this is the one to hike. You’ll see the marsh and get a few views of the Potomac. The Woods Trail and the Upland Trail are interior trails, and while I hiked both during my visit, they aren’t worth your time. Stick to the Swamp Trail and call it a day.

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