Located behind the observatory is Glover Archbold Park, a 183-acre park in Northwest Washington, DC. The park stretches from Van Ness Street NW to Canal Road NW. There is a nearly 2.5 miles trail that runs the length of the park, beginning at Van Ness Street and ending at the Foundry Branch Park trail which connects to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal tow path. Glover Archibald Park features a placard to Rachel Carson, a renowned writer and scientist whose writing helped lead to the founding of the US Environmental Protection Agency.
To access this park from Georgetown University, walk behind the observatory, through the park entrance gate, where you will have access to the park's hiking trails.