Trails & Parks
Hiking & Biking Trails
and Waterway Access
Download these trail guides for your own outdoor adventures!
Maryland State Trails
http://www.traillink.com/state/md-trails.aspx
Trail guides including maps, descriptions, photos, and reviews for trails throughout the State.
Bike Maryland Trails
https://www.bikemaryland.org/resources/riding/trails/
Guides to bike trails in Maryland.
Montgomery Parks Trails
http://www.montgomeryparks.org/activities/park-trails/
Maps for 31 Montgomery Parks’ hiking, biking, and equestrian trails.
Sugarloaf Regional Trails
Sugarloaf Regional Trails has developed 16 hiking, biking, and waterway trail guides to Montgomery County and Sugarloaf Mountain rural areas and their histories. www.SugarloafRegionalTrails.org
Montgomery County Bike Trails
Bethesda Trolley Trail (North Bethesda Trail)
http://www.traillink.com/trail/bethesda-trolley-trail.aspx
A 4-mile trail linking Bethesda and North Bethesda.
Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal Towpath
https://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/hikingandbiking.htm
The C&O Canal runs 184.5 miles from Washington DC to Cumberland MD passing through Montgomery County for 40 miles.
Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT)
http://metbranchtrail.com
An 8-mile trail running from Union Station in Washington DC to Silver Spring.
Rock Creek Trail
http://www.traillink.com/trail/rock-creek-trail-%28md%29.aspx
Runs 14 miles from Beach Drive at the District line through Rock Creek Park to Lake Needwood in Rockville.
Montgomery County Bicycle Routes Map
http://gis3.montgomerycountymd.gov/bikewaymap/
BikeAbout
http://www.bikabout.com/great-allegheny-passage-trail
An extensive resource for bikers along the C&O Canal and many other destinations around the country.
Public Boating Access
All locations have soft-launch access; those with a boat ramp (BR) or wharf/bulkhead (W) are so indicated.
http://dnr.maryland.gov/boating/Pages/water-access/montgomery.aspx
Anglers Inn – Canal & River
Aqueduct Lock 20 – Canal & River
Black Hill Regional Park (BR)
Brown’s Bridge Recreation Area
Dickerson
Dickerson South
Edwards Ferry (BR only)
Monocacy Aqueduct (BR)
Pennyfield Lock (BR)
Pennyfield Lock – Kayak
Rock Creek Regional Park at Lake Needwood (BR) (W)
Seneca Creek Landing (BR)
Seneca Creek State Park, Black Rock Mill
Seneca Creek State Park, Clopper Lake
Seneca Creek State Park, Rifle Ford Road – Creek (BR only)
Seneca Creek State Park, Rt. 28 Parking Lot – Creek
Swains Lock – Canal (W)
Swains Lock – River
Sycamore Landing
Triadelphia Reservoir, Green Bridge (BR)
Triadelphia Reservoir – Lake (BR)
Violettes Lock 23
Whites Ferry (BR)
Boating & Fishing at Little Seneca Lake & Lake Needwood
including boat rentals
Montgomery Parks boating & fishing
Parks
National Parks
C&O Canal National Historical Park
Great Falls Visitor Center
11710 MacArthur Boulevard, Potomac
301-767-3714
Visitor Center Hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 9am to 4:30pm; Park is open daylight hours, year round
http://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/index.htm
This 187-mile-long National Park Service site runs from Washington DC to Cumberland, Maryland. For information on park locations in Montgomery County, see Heritage Sites and C&O Canal Trust.
State & Regional Parks:
Black Hill Regional Park
20930 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds
301-528-3490
Hours: Sunrise to sunset, year round
https://www.montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/black-hill-regional-park/
A 2,000+ acre park with a wide variety of outdoor activities including nature programs and trails; visitor center; rowboat, canoe, and kayak rentals; private boating; fishing; picnic facilities; and a dog park.
Cabin John Regional Park
7400 Tuckerman Lane, Bethesda
301-495-2595
Hours: Park is open sunrise to sunset. Check website for hours at individual facilities.
https://www.montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/cabin-john-regional-park/
Among the many recreational options at Cabin John: ball fields including Shirley Povich Field, indoor and outdoor tennis, ice skating rink, nature center and trails, camping, dog park, miniature train rides, Adventure Playground, and picnic areas.
Little Bennett Regional Park
23701 Frederick Road, Clarksburg
301-528-3450
Hours: Sunrise to sunset, year round
https://www.montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/little-bennett-regional-park/
The largest Montgomery County (M-NCPPC) park with 3,700 acres, Little Bennett offers many unique places to visit as well as extensive natural areas to explore including nature trails, 14 historic sites including the Hyattstown Mill, camping, and the Little Bennett 18-hole golf course.
Patuxent River State Park
23222 Georgia Avenue, Gaithersburg (Visitor Center)
301-924-2127
Hours: Sunrise to sunset, year round
https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/pages/central/patuxentriver.aspx
The park consists of 6,700 acres of natural areas and farmlands in Montgomery and Howard Counties. Hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding.
Rock Creek Regional Park
6700 Needwood Road, Derwood
301-948-5053
Hours: Sunrise to sunset, year round
https://www.montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/rock-creek-regional-park/
This 1800-acre park includes Lake Needwood and Lake Frank. Hiking, picnicking, playgrounds, fishing, boating/boat rental, and Meadowside Nature Center.
Seneca Creek State Park
11950 Clopper Road, Gaithersburg
301-924-2127
Hours: 8am to sunset, March-October; 10am to sunset, November-February
http://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/central/seneca.aspx
This 6,300-acre State Park surrounding Clopper Lake offers extensive recreational activities including nature trails, visitor center, historic sites, boat rentals, picnic areas/pavilions, playgrounds & ball fields, disc golf, and fishing.
Wheaton Regional Park
Wheaton
301-905-3045
Hours: Park is open sunrise to sunset. Check website for hours at individual facilities.
https://www.montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/wheaton-regional-park/
This 536-acre park is divided into three areas. Shorefield offers Adventure Playground, train and carousel rides, fishing, picnic areas, and trails. Glenallan includes Brookside Gardens and Nature Center, Harper Cabin, and horseback riding. Orebaugh includes ball fields, indoor and outdoor tennis, ice skating, and a dog park.
Local Parks:
Bohrer Park at Summit Hall Farm
506 S. Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg
301-258-6350
Hours: Vary by activity
http://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/leisure/parks-and-fields/bohrer-park-at-summit-hall-farm
This 57-acre park in the heart of Gaithersburg offers paved-surface walking/biking paths, picnic areas and pavilions, miniature golf, skate park, and water park.
Rockville Civic Center Park
603 Edmonston Drive, Rockville
240-314-8700
Hours: Sunrise to sunset, year round
http://rockvillemd.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/Rockville-Civic-Center-Park-94
Nature trail, picnic tables, playground, tennis courts in this 153-acre park. Also home to Glenview Mansion and F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater.
South Germantown Recreational Park
18041 Central Park Circle, Boyds
301-670-4660
Hours: Vary by activity
https://www.montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/south-germantown-recreational-park/
Located on 695 acres of what was once the James & Macie King Dairy Farm, the park offers hiking, biking, archery, miniature golf, splash playground, ball fields, and more.
Also home to the King Barn Dairy MOOseum, Maryland SoccerPlex, and Discovery Sports Center.
Wheaton Regional Park
2000 Shorefield Road, Wheaton
301-495-2595
Hours: Park is open sunrise to sunset. Check website for hours at individual facilities.
https://www.montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/wheaton-regional-park/
This 536-acre park is divided into three areas. Shorefield offers Adventure Playground, train and carousel rides, fishing, picnic areas, and trails. Glenallan includes Brookside Gardens and Nature Center, Harper Cabin, and horseback riding. Orebaugh includes ball fields, indoor and outdoor tennis, ice skating, and a dog park.