Rock Creek runs approximately 53 km (33 miles) from its source near Laytonsville, Maryland, in Montgomery County. It connects with the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal 0.40 km (0.25 miles) upstream from the Potomac River confluence. The Rock Creek watershed covers approximately 48,960 acres, nearly a quarter of which is located within Washington, D.C. The National Park Service administers 1754 acres of the basin as Rock Creek Park.
Rock Creek Park protects a portion of the upland section of the Piedmont Plateau. This is one of the geologically significant physiographic provinces in the eastern United States. The landscape of the park is comprised of a steep, craggy stream valley and rolling hills. Varied hydrological influences have resulted in a complex environment. These variations and seasonal flooding support a diversity of habitats. Rock Creek cuts through the deformed metamorphic crystalline rocks of the Piedmont Plateau. The park ends at the C&O Canal National Historic Park (NHP) and highlights the link between the Potomac River and American history. The park protects a variety of cultural and natural resources in a heavily developed urban area.
Rock Creek Park lies within the Potomac River watershed. The Potomac River is the second largest contributor to the Chesapeake Bay at 616 km (383 miles) in length. The Potomac watershed stretches across Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, the District of Columbia, and West Virginia. This drainage includes 38,018 square km (14,679 square miles).
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