Battery Kemble Park

While others visit Battery Kemble Park for the sledding and dog-​watching, I visited for something more historical. As the name implies, this park was once a military outpost — one of 68 fortifications which defended Washington during the Civil War.
I *think* I located the remnants of the Battery, but there were no signs stating that so I can’t be 100% positive. But for those who’ve visited places like Ft Ward, Ft Macy, Ft Totten & Ft Stevens, if you walk along the park’s northern boundary at Chain Bridge Rd you’ll find a familiar view of a dry ditch in front of a large tree covered mound of dirt. Probably not coincidentally, this location also has excellent visibility of the surrounding area… the type of view you’d need if you wanted to shoot artillery from that spot. This very likely is the remnants of the battery. The existence of an NPS-​sign which had been knocked down right in front of the ‘ditch’ further confirms my suspicions.
As for the park, I can attest this was doggie-​palooza. Unleashed pooches were running happily; if you don’t have a dog of your own but enjoy the sight, this is definitely the place to fulfill your quota of doggie belly rubs. While according to park regulations dogs are supposed to be on a leash, that isn’t stopping visiting owners from letting their dogs run free.
Parking didn’t seem a huge problem. I was initially worried because as I walked down the road I only saw a pair of 3-​car parking spaces, but at the base of the park there is a much larger lot.

I can unleash the dog without any issue. I love it. so private. not so crowded… beautiful trees, grass.
i feel like I am in another country.

4.25 stars.
I like this more than Glover Archbold trail.
Same thing I said about G-​A Trail applies here:
Either people can not read or they choose not to and just abandon all common sense. LEASH YOUR DOGS! You might have the «friendliest» dog in the world but a stranger does not know that. Plus that very same stranger might have a dog that does not take too kindly to unleashed dogs approaching them. I have seen some really nasty stuff between two dogs that are strangers. I mean, it really is just common sense. Plus dogs chase after critters and trample on fragile wild life. Plus, someone who sees a huge dog running towards them might do what they can to defend… JUST. LEASH. THE. DANG. DOG.
Otherwise, this is a nice trail that is easy to walk. If you are not used to hiking, be sure to prepare for the occasional slight inclines and declines. I feel this path is better maintained than Glover Archbold but is shorter. I would highly recommend bringing lunch with you, as there are plenty of quiet places in open fields and along little streams to enjoy it. I also recommend adding a hike through here with a trip to Kreeger Museum as there is an exit off of Kemble not too far from the museum. You can hop back on after and finish your hike.
Enjoy!

This is my favorite park to run in. I love seeing other runners here too. I went sledding here as a kid. It’s the absolute best. So many great memories. Now, the only way I go over the hill is up! I start on MacArthur, stay low, run up the hill and run around the side, trying to stick to the top path and hit the road for a little where it’s overgrown… or a little in the middle path if it ends up that way.

Great place to bring your dog. Just don;t get caught with your dog off leash. The cops come by to enforce the law occasionally.

One of the best dog parks in the DC area. It’s worth the special trip from Alexandria to see the look of glee on my dog’s face as he dashes up and down the grassy hills and sunny trails.
The low dog density in this popular but expansive park means that the delicious urine order common to NoVA parks is minimal here. It’s majority grass, not gravel or dirt, so unless it’s been raining, your dog will stay clean. Dog owners are for the most part friendly professionals and diplomats – intelligent and interested in dogs, but not passive-​aggressive or overprotective of their little shnookumses.
Docking a star for one reason: that guy who thinks it’s a good idea to come here with his non-​neutered adult bull mastiff. WTF? Dog and I walked in yesterday to see other owners crowding around the guy, who had gotten a borderline-​hospital-​visit bite wound trying to get his dog off of another one it was attacking. Uh, probably shouldn’t be bringing Mr. Chomps to a dog park, buddy.
This is the only park in the area where I’ve run into an antisocial dog like that… but that could just be luck on my part. Oh, and yes, best sledding in the DMV when it snows.

Once again, a bit of green space in the DMV jumps out and surprises me. I didn’t realize that Battery Kemble — a modest litlte mile-​long, quarter-​mile wide spot administered by the NPS — was nestled in the Palisades.
Field tripped up to BK with a group of kiddos on a gorgeous Spring afternoon for a park clean-​up and picnic. The park preserves a Civil War defense and battery, with the original parapet and gun positions still standing. The land also encompasses a network of hilly but well-​graded walking/​running trails, Maddox Branch stream, a sizable bamboo grove, and one of the highest elevations in DC at 380 feet. According to the other Unilocal reviews — as well as the true authorities on the subject, the kiddos — BK is some of the best sledding in the city when it snows. We saw walkers and joggers, as well as fellow picnickers, taking advantage of this beautiful area on an even more beautiful day. There’s a gravel parking lot within the park, as well as picnic tables and water fountains, but no restrooms.
If you plan to visit, note that BK has essentially become a de facto dog park in the city. On our visit on a weekday afternoon, there were dozens of dogs — mostly large breed retriever and shepherd types — running around off-​leash, chasing each other or tennis balls on the open tract of space near the parking lot. Most of of the dogs and owners were quite friendly, and most of the kiddos were out of their minds with delight to interact with them. But if you or your little one have a fear of canines, especially big ‘uns, it’s something to keep in mind.

As promised by other Unilocalers, this is a great place to sled. After last night’s 5 inches of new snow, this awesome 100 – 150 yard slope is a great place to sled. Yes, there a zillions of dogs, but it’s a friendly spot and is easy to get to from downtown DC.

best sledding in NW

This is one of the best parks in western part of NW DC. Like other posters have said, the sledding is excellent. There are multiple trails through the woods and picnic tables. It has become almost exclusively a dog park and that has not been 100% good. It would nice if dog owners were better at cleaning up dog mess: consider yourself warned.
Open from dawn to dusk, about 15 parking spaces available. Access from Chain Bridge Road.

Best. Sledding. Evar.
(At least it was 20 years ago.)

Battery Kemble is a hilly paddock of parkland. It has become a de-​facto dog park, but given the terrain’s steepness in most parts, this suits the land well. There are a couple of picnic tables in the flat area by the parking lot. The best part of the park may be a trail that follows the creek. Even in summer this is a shady, wooded trail perfect for a short hike with dogs or companions of any leg count. It’s also neat knowing this was the site of a defensive artillery position to protect the city’s western flank from those infidels of the Army of Northern Virginia :)