Want to Learn More about Rock Creek?

American Goldfinch photographed in Rock Creek Park. Photo credit: Coral Keegan

While there is a plethora of resources out there that can educate you more on the wonders of Rock Creek Park, here are a few that I have found most interesting and helpful. 

1. A Year in Rock Creek Park: The Wild, Wooded Heart of Washington, DC by Melanie Choukas-Bradley

Naturalist, teacher, and author Melanie Choukas-Bradley documents a year spent visiting her favorite spots in Rock Creek Park, observing the changes in seasons and how they tie into the events of her own life. Through her journal-style notes, she imparts her knowledge of the park's history, culture, and nature. As someone who walks the park's trails frequently, I greatly enjoyed comparing Melanie’s experiences with to own, as well as discovering new details about the park through her eyes.  

2. Endemic Amphipods in Our Nation’s Capital by Diane Pavek

Learn about the only two endemic species found in Washington, DC - the Hay’s Spring and Kenk’s amphipods. 

3. Rock Creek Park Natural Resources Condition Assessment

This 156-page document provides an extensive amount of information on the park, including its history, habitats, geology, biodiversity, and the quality of its air and water resources. It provides an overall resource condition assessment and addresses current and potential threats to the park’s health. 

4. Rock Creek Conservancy

The Rock Creek Conservancy is the only organization dedicated solely to Rock Creek and its surrounding parks. To learn more about the Conservancy, see my post detailing the organization's activities or visit their website. 

5. National Park Service

The National Park Service page provides the most up-to-date information on Rock Creek Park, including any relevant alerts of which citizens should be aware. It also provides information that is useful in planning your visit to the park, how to get involved in park activities, and general park information including resident flora and fauna, park management policies, news articles about the park, etc.

6. Rock Creek Park Geologic Resources Inventory Report

This document details Rock Creek Park’s geologic history, its geologic features and processes, and the geologic issues that park managers should consider when planning future natural resource management activities.

7. Explore Natural Communities: Rock Creek Park

This website is absolutely jam-packed with information about Rock Creek Park. A particularly cool feature is the interactive map in which viewers can search for different natural communities, natural highlights, trails, hikes, recreational facilities, historic sites, and more. 

8. These Animals Live in the Most Powerful City in the World by Christy Ullrich Barcus, National Geographic Society

This article provides a good overall introduction to the park, and in true National Geographic style, is clear, succinct, and interesting to read. Fun teaser - did you know that Rock Creek Park is home to flying squirrels? Check out a video of them in this article!

9. Birding in Washington, DC by DC Audubon Society

Washington, DC is a great place to see many beautiful birds, especially in and around Rock Creek Park. The DC Audubon Society provides lots of information on the bird species you can find in the area, and often hosts birdwatching gatherings and educational events. I found this page particularly useful because of its interactive map highlighting top birding spots in the District, several of which are in the park.