Baltimore Washington Parkway

Baltimore Washington Parkway A beautiful scenic parkway that connects Washington, D.C. and suburban Maryland. Official page of the Baltimore Washington Parkway.

This 29-mile highway connects Baltimore, MD and Washington, D.C. The parkway has carried visitors to and from the capital city since 1954. The Baltimore Washington Parkway is a part of the National Park Service.

Join us for a Campfire Program tomorrow on "Beautiful Butterflies!". Campfire starts at 7:45 and the program begins at 8...
06/12/2026

Join us for a Campfire Program tomorrow on "Beautiful Butterflies!". Campfire starts at 7:45 and the program begins at 8:00 PM.

Program is located at the Greenbelt Park Loop B Campfire Circle - located at 6565 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, MD 20770. Upon arrival, please follow signs to the campground.

Image: Library of Congress/Carol M. Highsmith

🗺️ Choose your own adventure as a Trail Ambassador! 🗺️ Volunteer to help care for the Civil War Defenses of Washington T...
06/10/2026

🗺️ Choose your own adventure as a Trail Ambassador! 🗺️

Volunteer to help care for the Civil War Defenses of Washington Trail—and choose the section you want to work on!

This 6.5‑mile trail connects five Civil War–era forts across southeast/northeast Washington, DC, offering a mix of scenery, history, and outdoor exploration.

As a Trail Ambassador, you’ll select, monitor, and maintain your own trail section. Tasks include trimming overgrown vegetation, removing litter, noting trail conditions, and helping visitors.

Which fort calls to you?

- Fort Stanton, with its original masonry bastions?

- Fort Davis, lined with splendid, towering trees?

- Fort Dupont, home to summer concerts and rolling hills?

- Fort Chaplin, a peaceful green pocket in a busy cityscape?

- Fort Mahan, full of hidden-gem walking paths?

Whichever you choose, you’ll play an important role in conserving the Civil War Defenses of Washington Trail for everyone who enjoys it. Show your fort-itude and apply today: https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volopprecord?listing=a09SJ00000NJkd1YAD

Photo: NPS / Conall Rubin-Thomas

If you look at a black cherry tree (Prunus serotina), you may notice web-like structures typically located where the bra...
06/06/2026

If you look at a black cherry tree (Prunus serotina), you may notice web-like structures typically located where the branches form joints (also referred to as branch crotches). However, these structures are not the workings of a spider but rather an insect during its larval stage. That insect will one day become a moth but the structure is a result of eastern tent caterpillar activity.

Come spring time, eastern tent caterpillars emerge from an egg mass located on a branch of a host tree which is typically a type of cherry or crabapple. With the objective of increasing its size several times over, the eastern tent caterpillar will immediately begin to consume the foliage of the tree. Using silk as a construction material, a tent structure is built where the caterpillars will congregate. As the caterpillars increase in size, they will add layers to their tent to accommodate their growth. The tent also allows for temperature regulation which is an important part of the digestive process and moisture regulation which can help with several molts the caterpillar will go through prior to pupation.

As summer approaches, the eastern tent caterpillar will form a cocoon where it will pupate. After a period of about 2 weeks, it will enter its final life stage as it exits the cocoon as a moth.

As a moth, it is mainly nocturnal and short-lived with its adult life spent mating and, if it is a female, depositing a mass of eggs around the twig of a host tree branch. The eggs will remain dormant until the following spring season where the life cycle will begin anew.

Both the caterpillars and the moths provide invaluable food sources for migratory birds and other animals in the food web.

Photos: NPS / T. Ozerol

This Week's Campfire Programs!Friday - "Welcome to Washington" - The tips and tricks of visiting Washington, DC! Talk wi...
06/04/2026

This Week's Campfire Programs!

Friday - "Welcome to Washington" - The tips and tricks of visiting Washington, DC! Talk with a ranger to learn about the special events and activities happening within Washington, DC this week!

Saturday - "The Virginia Declaration of Rights!" - Join us for a special program on the document that helped to create our Declaration of Independence!

Both programs are open to all ages. The program begins at 8:00 PM at the Loop B Campfire Circle - Greenbelt Park - 6565 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, MD 20770

Come to Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens and join us as we begin our late hours beginning June 3rd through Sept 6th. Wednesday...
06/03/2026

Come to Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens and join us as we begin our late hours beginning June 3rd through Sept 6th.

Wednesday - Sunday:

The parking lot is open from 8am to 8pm.

The Visitor Center is open from 9am to 7pm.

The boardwalk to the wetlands closes at 7pm.

Monday - Tuesday:

8 AM - 4 PM

Take a look at the pictures below taken after hours and come enjoy the view and listen to the frogs sing in the cattails and birds sing in the trees.

For more information operating hours, please visit: https://www.nps.gov/keaq/planyourvisit/hours.htm

Photo Credit: NPS/J. Bucknam

This weeks campfire programs at Greenbelt Park:Friday: "Welcome to Washington!" - 8:00 PM at the Loop B Campfire CircleS...
06/03/2026

This weeks campfire programs at Greenbelt Park:

Friday: "Welcome to Washington!" - 8:00 PM at the Loop B Campfire Circle
Saturday: "The Virginia Declaration of Rights" - 8:00 PM at the Loop B Campfire Circle

Join us for under the stars as we learn about the document that formed the ideas for what would become our Declaration of Independence!

Learn more about our upcoming evening campfire programs at: https://www.nps.gov/gree/planyourvisit/campfire-programs.htm

Applications are open to become a Civil War Defenses of Washington Trail Ambassador! In this position, you’ll help conse...
06/01/2026

Applications are open to become a Civil War Defenses of Washington Trail Ambassador! In this position, you’ll help conserve the historic pathway by joining a group of volunteers to care for an specific section of the trail.

Trail Ambassadors visit their selected trail portions at least once a month to trim vegetation, record data, note issues, clean up litter, and assist visitors! 🌿🗒️🚮ℹ️

Ready to join? Visit here to learn more and apply ➡️ https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volopprecord?listing=a09SJ00000NJkd1YAD

Photo: NPS/Conall Rubin-Thomas

The One Man Irish Band returns this Saturday at 8 PM at the Greenbelt Park Campfire Circle! Join us for a night of fun a...
05/29/2026

The One Man Irish Band returns this Saturday at 8 PM at the Greenbelt Park Campfire Circle! Join us for a night of fun and Irish folksongs under the stars and by the campfire! Loop B Campfire Circle at Greenbelt Park - 6565 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, MD 20770!

Learn more about our upcoming evening campfire programs at: https://www.nps.gov/gree/planyourvisit/campfire-programs.htm

Photo: NPS / Nick Hall NH

Greenbelt Park is an urban oasis located just off of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway and the Capital Beltway. With over...
05/27/2026

Greenbelt Park is an urban oasis located just off of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway and the Capital Beltway. With over 160 campsites, we are the closest and most convenient location for your stay during the upcoming America 250 celebrations in Washington, DC.

Located a short distance from the Metro and just 12 miles from downtown, Greenbelt Park is the best selection for your camping and stay needs for the coming holiday and special event season!

To reserve a campsite, please visit: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232474

Photo: Barred Owl at Greenbelt Park/ G. Wilson

National Capital Parks - East is excited to announce a brand-new Trail Ambassador volunteer position! This role involves...
05/26/2026

National Capital Parks - East is excited to announce a brand-new Trail Ambassador volunteer position! This role involves monitoring and maintaining sections of the Civil War Defenses of Washington Trail in southeast/northeast Washington, DC.

The trail winds 6.5 miles from Fort Mahan Park to Fort Stanton Park through other Civil War-era forts and can be traversed in either direction. As a Trail Ambassador, you’ll select a portion of the pathway to regularly walk, report on, and conserve, proving indispensable in:

--Informing Park Service staff of trail conditions 🌱
--Actively working to improve trail quality ⛏️
--Assisting visitors and answering questions 🙋
--Removing litter & invasive species 🗑️🥀

Eager for some adventuring? Learn more about being a Trail Ambassador and apply to join 👉 https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volopprecord?listing=a09SJ00000NJkd1YAD

With your help, the trail shall prevail!

Photo: NPS / Conall Rubin-Thomas

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Greenbelt, MD
20770

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+12026905127

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