Safety

Know Before You Go!

• These trip planning principles will help you plan your trip to Rock Creek Park (or any national park).

 

Know who to contact

Emergency - Contact the United States Park Police at 202-610-7500.

Non-emergency - Contact the United States Park Police at 202-610-7505

• or (for non-law enforcement matters) contact Rock Creek Park at 202-895-6000 or [e-mail].

 

Plan like a park ranger

What should you keep in mind when visiting Rock Creek Park?

Hydration

1. Pack and carry enough water with you to support your day in the park.
2. Rock Creek is not a suitable water source for treatment and consumption.
3. Water fountains are sometimes turned off for maintenance emergencies or for the season. 
4. There are no vending machines or concession stands in the park 

Sun Protection

Sun protection is necessary to protect your skin and eyes against harsh UV rays that are responsible for sunburns and skin cancer. Consider using sunglasses, sunscreen, and hats. Sun-protection clothing such as pants and long sleeve shirts can also help minimize your exposure to the sun.

Nutrition

You should always be prepared for the possibility of changes to your trip plans. Salty and easy to digest snacks (e.g. trail mix, nuts, and granola bars) work well for outdoor activities

Remember, there are no vending machines or concession stands in the park. Depending on where you are in Rock Creek Park, the closest restaurant could be up to 5-miles away.

Vehicle Safety

1. Park Vehicles in designated parking areas or pull-outs. Do not park on grass or on gravelly shoulders.
   • Parking on shoulders reduces lane widths and forces hikers, bikers and other vehicles into oncoming traffic.
   • Parking in the grass can start a grass fire and can damage archeological resources beneath the surface.
   • If a pull-out area is full, then that area is at capacity. Choose a different location for your activity.
2. Do not leave valuables in your vehicle--plan to keep them with you at all times.
3. Lock your car when you leave it in a parking area.

Navigation

1. The NPS App can help you navigate to sites in the park
   • Select a pin
   • Scroll to the "Maps and Directions" section.
   • Tap the 'bent arrow' icon and open the navigation app of your choice.
2. Hard copy maps are available at the following locations
   • Rock Creek Park Nature Center and Planetarium (map boxes are next to the front door)
   • Peirce Mill (during operating hours)
   • Old Stone House (during operating hours)
3. We can mail you a copy of the park map 
   • Use the contact us feature and submit a request to have a map mailed to you.
4. High-quality, weather-resistant, topographic maps are available at the bookstore at the Nature Center (during operating hours) or online through the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club store.

First Aid

Be prepared for emergencies by packing first-aid supplies with you. Start with a pre-made kit and modify it to fit your trip and your medical needs. Check the expiration date on all items and replace them as needed. Consider including an emergency guide in case you are faced with an unfamiliar medical emergency.

Ticks

Ticks can be found in the park. The small deer tick can carry Lyme Disease, and the dog tick can carry Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

Dress for success in the woods:

• wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks, and a hat 
• Consider spraying your clothing with insect repellant containing DEET or other EPA-approved repellent.
• Take a shower after a hike, check your entire body for possible ticks, and change your clothes immediately to make sure you didn't take home any unwanted travelers!
• More info on tick-borne diseases can be found here.

Pets

Pets are allowed on trails and in picnic areas in Rock Creek Park.

Learn more and B.A.R.K. in the Park.

IMPORTANT: Do not let your dog swim in, or drink from, Rock Creek. There are water-borne illnesses that can make your pet very sick!

Stay Dry, Stay Safe

Rock Creek, part of the Potomac watershed and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay watershed, originates near Lake Needwood in Laytonsville in Montgomery County, Maryland. Multiple streams on park land feed into Rock Creek. We understand that it is hot and sticky outside, and Rock Creek and nearby streams look cool and inviting. Unfortunately, they're not. Stay dry to stay safe! 

• The water might look clean and clear, but it’s hiding a lot of bacteria like fecal coliform, giardia, and other potential waterborne illnesses.

• Chemicals flow into streams and into the creek from surrounding communities through storm drains and rainfall. These contaminants, among others, can make your family members, your furry four-legged friends, and you sick.

• Heavy rains drain into local streams and Rock Creek causing flash floods. Even with blue skies overhead in DC, a storm upstream can increase the water’s speed to dangerous levels. Be aware of changes in the color of creek water. When water in the creek changes from clear to a murky brown, it’s a good idea to go to higher ground.

• When playing in the park, please stay away from the water’s edge--it can be slippery at any time--and footsteps can damage streambanks and harm small plants and animals.

Poisonous Plants

Visitors could encounter poison ivy in Rock Creek Park. 

• Stay on existing trails and out of brushy areas to avoid this plant. Poison ivy loves moist wooded areas but can be found anywhere in the woods.
• Wearing long sleeves and pants will help keep this plant from brushing directly against your skin. 
• Change your clothes and wash potentially affected areas as soon as possible after a hike. 
• Poison ivy is a native species that feeds park wildlife. Do not cut it down!
• Poison oak and poison sumac may grow in the park, too.