The George Washington Carver Nature Trail is a half-mile loop, adjacent to the Smithsonian Anacostia Museum, through Federal parkland on the north side of Suitland Parkway. The trail and the forest it passes through are a model for our vision of what woodlands throughout Ward 8 could look and feel like. The forest here is dominated by mature oaks, with mountain laurel scattered about the mostly open understory. The area is largely free of trash and invasive species and the roadway is visible from only one segment of the trail, giving you the sense of being far from the busy city. 

Pick a morning or afternoon to experience some of the best natural beauty Ward 8 has to offer. Start at the Anacostia Museum, located at 1901 Fort Place SE in the Ft. Stanton neighborhood.  Walking through the picnic areas to the rear building, you’ll see a metal sign at the edge of the woods that marks the trailhead.  The easy half-mile loop takes about 20 minutes at a leisurely pace.