Starting location: Northern end of Archbold Glover trail in NW DC --UPton St, just west of Wisconsin Ave. -- see map below. Park in surrounding streets-no zone restrictions on weekends--

The map shows the trail, starting at the northernmost end of Archbold Glover Park (please ignore the "A" on the map)

Some of you will remember that we did this hike in December -- it will be a lot warmer this time around! I'm aiming to start at 5 PM to beat the heat.

The full hike is about 4.5 - 6 miles depending on whether you do a loop to return through some neighborhoods or retrace the trail to the starting point.

This hike combines pleasant wooded trails (mostly closed canopy with trees up to 200 years old, a few stream crossings over rocks or small wooden bridges (feet could get wet), a few road crossings and some open parkland (great doggy playgrounds). The last segment of the loop cuts through the ritzy Wesley Heights neighborhood in NW DC, but those who prefer can avoid this by retracing the trail back to the starting point instead of making a loop. Archbold Glover park and Battery Kemble park are less-known, less-frequented off-shoots of Rock Creek Park. AG park is a bird sanctuary; BK park is a popular informal local dog park. Expect a few joggers and hikers along the trail but no bicycles. These parks are part of the National Park system so leash laws apply.

The Archbold-Glover trail lies in a stream valley of the Foundry Branch of Rock Creek and stretches about 4 miles from Van Ness St., NW in the north to the Potomac River in the south. It's fairly easy hiking, much of it relatively flat with short steeper sections. Water-loving dogs might want to take a dip in the creek here and there - the water quality isn't great but I haven't heard of any dogs getting sick from it.

The really ambitious can go all the way to the southern end of the AG trail at Canal Rd and make a large loop westward along the C&O canal to the southern tip of Battery Kemble Park, then north through the whole length of the park (makes for a 9-10 mile hike). But most of us will cut across the Wesley Heights trail to the mid-point of Battery Kemble Park (where we can hang out for a little while at the picnic tables and let the dogs rest or play) and then northward through the park to the intersection of Nebraska Ave. and Foxhall Rd. From Van Ness to this point is about 3 miles. The street route through Wesley Heights back to the Van Ness trailhead is about 1.5 miles making this about 4.5 miles if you do the loop, or about 6 miles if you choose to retrace the trail instead. Since my canine pal Spencer's been a bit under the weather and not eager to walk long distances I might pre-position my car at Battery Kemble Park and drive back -- could take a couple of other people/dogs with me.

At the end, if people are up for it we can stop in at the Cafe Ole Mediterranean Bistro for a late lunch, early dinner or whatever you want to call it. Located just about 2 blocks from the starting point. Great food and very dog-friendly (on the terrace).