Parks and Places

Get to know a park through the eyes of a naturalist! This website contains field guides and interactive maps about nature—especially natural communities—in national parks and other places. It currently focuses on National Capital Region parks, which are located in Washington, D.C., or within a two-hour drive.

Featured Parks

Explore a park’s natural communities and their patterns in the landscape—through stories, interactive maps, photos, podcasts and more.

Boulder bridge in Rock Creek Park
Rock Creek Park bridge - Thomas Paradis

Explore Parks

Explore the parks below. More complete nature guides for these parks are on the way!

Antietam bridge and monument
Burnside Bridge and Monument – 2017 summer interns
cannons in Manassas National Battlefield
Cannons – 2017 summer interns
grass field at Monocacy National Battlefield
Grass Field and Tree Line – 2017 summer interns
Laurel Loop Bridge at Prince William Forest Park
Laurel Loop Bridge – National Park Service