Oxon Run Parkway

Oxon Run Parkway is a protected natural area of 126 acres along a stream that winds its way toward the Potomac River. The landscape includes upland forest, open water channels with sandbars and islands, and deeper pools scattered throughout the parkland.

The parkway was established in 1926 when the National Capital Park and Planning Commission purchased land strips along Oxon Run. This effort aimed to protect the floodplain from development and preserve the stream's natural ecosystem.

The name Oxon refers to Oxford University, reflecting how an early settler named John Addison connected the landscape to his English education rather than to livestock. This naming practice shows how colonial ties influenced what people called the land around them.

The site is accessible near Southern Avenue with upland forest featuring beech and mountain laurel trees. Wear proper footwear since the terrain varies along the streamside and can become slippery when wet.

The area contains a magnolia bog where the forest floor is covered in ferns, one of the last such ecosystems remaining in Washington, D.C. This rare habitat makes the parkland botanically notable among the city's natural spaces.

Location: Washington, D.C.

GPS coordinates: 38.83820,-76.98490

Latest update: December 12, 2025 14:27