Best lakes around Fort Washington are found in a region characterized by its natural waterways and recreational areas. While Fort Washington State Park features the Wissahickon Creek, nearby Montgomery County offers Green Lane Park with its three distinct water bodies: Green Lane Reservoir, Deep Creek Lake, and Knight Lake. This area provides opportunities for boating, fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing around its lakes and creeks. The landscape combines forested areas with open parklands, offering diverse outdoor experiences.
Last updated: June 29, 2026
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This scenic route winds around the lake, where you can take in the beauty of nature. The trail, a mix of paved, dirt, and gravel, offers a peaceful and leisurely stroll with some nice benches along the way. Keep an eye out for an abundance of turtles, cormorants, frogs, and fascinating mushrooms along the way.
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This 690-acre park offers a variety of outdoor activities, including a beautiful lake surrounded by a nice trail, picnic tables and restrooms, great hiking trails through the expansive wooded area, paddle boats, campsites, and picnic shelters. The park also features a playground and a nature center where you can see wild birds of prey, including a bald eagle. Additionally, there's a tennis bubble, skate ramp, baseball fields, playgrounds, and cookout sites. It's a favorite spot for dog owners, with dog-friendly facilities and pleasant trails to walk your pets.
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Belle Haven Park is a small park along the banks of Cameron Run. This park is operated by the National Park Service and houses sections of the Mount Vernon Trail and the Dyke Marsh Trail.
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There is a MTB highlight here, but the route is paved throughout and therefore has nothing in common with a MTB route. The surface may not be perfect for a racing bike, but the trail would be rideable even with it. The surroundings, the nature in the bay are very scenic, such a quiet corner I would choose in the middle of D.C. not expecting.
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Oxon Cove its a low transit trail part of the PHT. Its great for a quite ride or hike, with chances to see ducks and fish moving around the cove. You can either cross the Oxon creek using the Oxon Farm Trail Bridge or keep going north in a grass trail heading into the Bell Acres Park.
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On Daingerfield Island you can have an outdoor picnic, watch sailboats and windsurfers go by. It is a mostly forested flat park. Right here was the first settlement of Alexandria, founded by Simon Pearson in 1696.
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The water fountain is almost always in service; the restrooms are as well.
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While Fort Washington State Park features the Wissahickon Creek, Green Lane Park in nearby Montgomery County offers three distinct bodies of water: Green Lane Reservoir, Deep Creek Lake, and Knight Lake. This park provides a wide range of activities including boating, fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing. For more details on Green Lane Park, you can visit their official website: montgomerycountypa.gov.
Yes, several spots are great for families. Cosca Regional Park features a beautiful lake, a playground, picnic tables, and a nature center with birds of prey. Belle Haven Park offers picnic areas and restrooms with views of the Potomac River. Deep Creek Lake within Green Lane Park also has playgrounds and primitive family campsites.
You'll find a variety of hiking trails. Oxon Cove Park Trail is a paved route perfect for a quiet walk or ride. At Cosca Regional Park, there are extensive wooded trails and a scenic route around the lake, known as the Blue Trail, which is a mix of paved, dirt, and gravel. Green Lane Park also boasts over 20 miles of multi-use trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. For more hiking options, explore the Hiking around Fort Washington guide.
Absolutely! Cosca Regional Park is a favorite for dog owners, offering dog-friendly facilities and pleasant trails. The Blue Trail around the lake in Cosca Regional Park is also dog-friendly, providing a scenic walk for you and your pet.
Yes, boating and fishing are popular activities. At Green Lane Park, Green Lane Reservoir and Deep Creek Lake both offer boating opportunities, with rentals available seasonally. Private boats may require a permit and quarantine period. All three lakes in Green Lane Park (Green Lane Reservoir, Deep Creek Lake, and Knight Lake) are suitable for fishing, with Deep Creek Lake known for bass and trout stocking.
The lakes and surrounding areas are rich in nature. At Oxon Cove Park Trail, you can spot ducks and fish. Daingerfield Island is a forested bird sanctuary. Green Lane Park is recognized as a vital bird sanctuary by the National Audubon Society and is home to bald eagles, deer, fox, and beaver. Along the Blue Trail, you might see turtles, cormorants, frogs, and various mushrooms.
Cosca Regional Park is noted for being wheelchair accessible, offering trails and facilities that cater to visitors with mobility needs. The Oxon Cove Park Trail is also paved throughout, making it generally accessible.
You have several excellent options for picnicking. Belle Haven Park provides benches and tables with views of the Potomac River. Daingerfield Island is a forested area perfect for an outdoor picnic. Cosca Regional Park also offers numerous picnic tables and shelters around its lake.
Yes, Green Lane Park, which is home to Green Lane Reservoir, Deep Creek Lake, and Knight Lake, features over 20 miles of multi-use trails suitable for mountain biking, in addition to hiking and horseback riding.
Visitors appreciate the diverse outdoor experiences. Many enjoy the quiet natural settings, opportunities for wildlife viewing, and the variety of activities like hiking, biking, and picnicking. The scenic views, especially along the Potomac River at spots like Belle Haven Park and Daingerfield Island, are also highly valued.
Yes, there are several cycling opportunities. The Oxon Cove Park Trail is paved and suitable for a quiet ride. Green Lane Park's multi-use trails are also open to cyclists. For more dedicated cycling routes, you can explore the Road Cycling Routes around Fort Washington guide, which includes routes like the Fort Hunt Park – Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve loop.
Yes, camping facilities are available. Cosca Regional Park offers campsites. Additionally, Deep Creek Lake within Green Lane Park provides primitive family campsites.


Still not found your perfect lake around Fort Washington? Check out the guides of these regions to see even more beautiful places.