Do you need the latest, most expensive gear to feel like you belong? Team Potomac weighs in

photo by jason vines via flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Outdoor recreation can be joyful, challenging, and deeply rewarding—and comes with incredible physical and mental health benefits that everyone should have the opportunity to experience. In fact, just last year, the United Nations General Assembly even adopted a resolution officially proclaiming ‘access to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment’ to be a universal human right.

But, is spending time outside for fun truly accessible to everyone?

According to the Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful Report, about one out of every three Americans doesn’t have access to a park or green space—including nearly 28 million children. And, this disparity in access to the outdoors disproportionately impacts low-income communities and people of color.

In the Potomac River region, both Washington, DC, and Arlington, Virginia get high marks for urban parks. But while the capital leads the way in terms of access and acreage, with 99% of residents living within a 10-minute walk of a park, the metric doesn’t delve into some qualitative factors, including the range in quality of parks throughout the city, and the amenities they offer.

photo by alan kotok via flickr (CC BY 2.0)

And then there’s the question of cost. Sure, going for a walk in your neighborhood is free (if you happen to live near a park), but the financial barrier to other types of outdoor recreation can be daunting. Getting to a trailhead, a boathouse, a slope, or a lake is not free. Buying or renting gear and equipment is not free. And these costs add up—even more so if you need or want higher-performance items that can increase physical comfort and make outdoor experiences more accessible and enjoyable.

The pressure to fit in while being outside is real. But if you enjoy spending time outside, you are an outdoorsperson, and you belong!

If you’re wanting to get your nature fix this summer but are not sure where to start, we’ve got you covered. We polled Team Potomac to get the inside scoop on everyone’s most prized pieces of gear and favorite places to get outside in the Potomac River region. Check it out!

What’s the minimum gear I need?

photo by mark doliner via flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

While expensive gear and gadgets may be nice, getting outside truly doesn’t have to involve pricey accessories. That said, there are a few basics that can make spending time outdoors safer and more comfortable—and luckily, most of these items are everyday household staples.

In fact, there was consensus among Team Potomac that the most essential pieces of outdoor gear for anything outdoors are a water bottle (hydration is key), a sun hat and sunglasses (our team takes sun protection seriously!), and snacks (for kids and adults alike).

Team Potomac also agreed on the importance of sturdy shoes (“Nothing ruins an outdoor adventure faster than twisting an ankle, getting blisters, or breaking a toe,” says Hedrick) and dry socks (“I have a hard time not exploring streams, puddles, and mud. This leaves me with some seriously wet shoes and socks. I can tough it out while I'm still on the trail, but when I get back to the car or my tent, I want some dry gear,” says Jeff)!

Beyond these essentials, our team also has favorite pieces of gear that serve as delightful nice-to-haves—the pieces that make time outside just a little more comfortable:

Hiking poles — an asset for navigating uneven terrain, especially for hikers prone to knee or ankle injuries;

A backpack with sufficient pockets (bonus if the bag comes with a built-in hydration reservoir for carrying drinking water);
Finally, a simple seating pad that’s great for rest stops on wet grass or in buggy spots.

Plus, we highly recommend experience-enhancing items that cost nothing and don’t add any weight! You guessed it: we’re fans of free smartphone apps for the budding naturalist!

The result of a collaboration between iNaturalist, National Geographic, and the California Academy of Sciences, Seek can help you correctly identify anything you might spot outside, whether it’s a plant, an animal, or an insect. For the bird nerds, Merlin, the app developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, will help you identify birds based both on their appearance and vocalizations.

How Do I Get Outside?

Now that you have all the basics and are ready to just get out there, consider our team’s tips for great locations in the Potomac River region.

Whether you want a calorie-incinerating morning workout, a way to admire local wildlife, or just need a little digital detox, there are plenty of low-impact ways to enjoy the outdoors that don’t require spending money. And, on weeks you’re really short on time, you can even reap the benefits of the natural world without leaving your neighborhood.

For starters, there are a number of regional trails traversing the capital area—and all of them have multiple access points. The leafy Capital Crescent Trail arches around the western and northern edges of the capital, stretching from Georgetown to Silver Spring. In suburban Northern Virginia, the Washington and Old Dominion Trail (W&OD) extends for 45 miles, running from Arlington to Purcellville, Virginia.

For overnight getaways, the towpath bisecting the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park parallels the eastern bank of the Potomac River for 184.5 miles, running from Georgetown to Cumberland, Maryland. The entire trail is perfect for walkers, runners, and cyclists of all skill levels, and with enough snow, even skiers and snowshoers. And, even better, the National Park Service maintains 31 free campsites for hikers and cyclists along the route.

roosevelt island. photo by jeff vincent via flickr (CC BY 2.0)

Plenty of hikes in the Potomac River region are accessible using public transportation. For a quick getaway in Northwest Washington, DC, the 0.7-mile Klingle Valley Trail parallels Klingle Creek, extending between Woodley Park and Mt. Pleasant. The metro-accessible trail also connects to the Tregaron Conservancy’s trail system.

For a longer hike with plenty of opportunities for birdwatching, there’s Theodore Roosevelt Island—easily accessible from the Rosslyn Metro station in Arlington. The family-friendly Swamp Trail forms a 1.8-mile loop around the 88-acre island, offering spectacular views of the Potomac River.

Theodore Roosevelt Island also serves as the northern terminus of the Mount Vernon Trail, a paved, multi-use path that parallels the Potomac River for 18 miles and ends at George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate.

So what are you waiting for?