| "Any man who does not like dogs and want them | | | | the onset of Prohibition in 1919. On a steaming |
| about does not deserve to bein the White House," | | | | Julyday in 1929 Federal agents raided the Blue Blazes |
| President Calvin Coolidge said. Coolidge himself had at | | | | Whiskey Still and confiscatedmore than 25,000 gallons |
| least | | | | of mash. Today the airy, wooded Blue Blazes |
| 12 dogs. Future office holders have taken the 29th | | | | Whiskey |
| American President's words toheart - every single | | | | Trail along Distillery Run leads to a recreated working |
| one since has shared the Oval Office with a canine | | | | still and interprets the historyof whiskey making in |
| friend. | | | | the backwoods of Appalachia. |
| How would you like to hike with your dog where | | | | Down the road in Washington D.C., across the street |
| Presidents hike with theirdogs? When an American | | | | from the White House, onthe National Mall, dogs are |
| President leaves the White House for the | | | | not only welcome but often celebrated. The finals of |
| presidentialretreat of Camp David, there is almost | | | | thecanine frisbee disc championships have traditionally |
| always an eager dog in tow. Franklin | | | | been held on the National Mall. |
| Roosevelt's Scottish Terrier Fala was the first in a | | | | The patchy grass squares make a fun place to play |
| steady procession of Presidentialdogs to romp in the | | | | with your dog or the Mall can bethe setting for a |
| woods of Camp David. President Reagan once | | | | canine hike of almost two miles from the Capitol |
| complained thatwhen he took a break at Camp | | | | Steps to the feetof Abraham Lincoln. |
| David, his dog Rex would beat him to the | | | | The best canine hiking in the nation's capital is in the |
| windowseat in the helicopter. | | | | northwest part of thecity at Rock Creek Park. |
| Everyone has heard of Camp David but where | | | | Although technically a national park, Rock Creek Park |
| exactly it is? Surprisingly it is located deep inside a | | | | ismore like a city park administered by the National |
| public park called Catoctin Mountain Park. When you | | | | Park Service. How many othernational parks boast of |
| take yourdog there, you will never see Camp David | | | | ballfields and 30 picnic sites? It was the Army Corps |
| or any evidence that the presidentialcompound is | | | | of |
| hidden among the trees but the trails you can hike on | | | | Engineers that first proposed the creation of Rock |
| are of | | | | Creek Park when they consideredmoving the White |
| Presidential quality nonetheless. Just don't expect to | | | | House out of the mosquito-infested lowlands of |
| see President George W. Bushand Spotty. | | | | downtown |
| You could fill up a day of canine hiking at Catoctin | | | | Washington after the Civil War. In 1890 Congress |
| Mountain Park just by checking off the many easy | | | | carved 1,754 acres from the Rock |
| self-guiding interpretive trails as you learn about | | | | Creek Valley to establish the park. |
| mountain culture and forest ecology. There is plenty | | | | Two main parallel hiking trails, run the length of the |
| of more challenging fare inthe park as well. Three of | | | | park from north to southon either side of Rock |
| the best vistas - Wolf Rock, Chimney Rock and Cat | | | | Creek. The wiser choice for canine hikers is the |
| Rock -are connected by a rollercoaster trail on the | | | | Valley Trail |
| eastern edge of the mountain. There islittle | | | | (blue blazes) on the east side. In contrast with its |
| understory in the woods and views are long. Many of | | | | twin, the Western RidgeTrail |
| the mountain slope trailsare rocky and footing can be | | | | (green blazes), there are fewer picnic areas and less |
| uncertain under paw on climbs to 1500 feet. | | | | competition for the trail. Each isa rooty and rocky |
| In the western region of Catoctin Mountain, near the | | | | frolic up and down the slopes above Rock Creek, a |
| Owens Creekcampground, are wide horse trails ideal | | | | superb canineswimming hole. Numerous spur trails and |
| for contemplative canine hiking. The gradesare gentler | | | | bridle paths connect the two majorarteries that |
| for long hikes through mixed hardwoods of chestnut | | | | connect at the north and south to create a loop |
| oak, hickory, blackbirch and yellow poplar. Dogs are | | | | about ten miles long. |
| allowed in the campground and on all nationalpark | | | | President Harry Truman once famously philosophized, |
| trails but not across the road in the popular | | | | "If you want a friend in |
| Cunningham Falls area. | | | | Washington, get a dog." Or, if you are just visiting, |
| The forests deep in the rugged Catoctin Mountains | | | | make sure you bring one. |
| provided ideal cover for awhiskey still, made illegal by | | | | |