Montgomery Explorers - Montgomery Parks

All participants must be registered Montgomery Explorers Club Members to walk.
Register in this FREE program by visiting ActiveMONTGOMERY.
Organized in-person walks will be held on Mondays at locations throughout the county.
Our cheery and qualified volunteers lead walks.
Logistics about these walks will be sent after registration is complete.
Walk details will also be online by the Friday prior to the upcoming walk.

The most up-to-date schedule is below. Advanced registration is not required for the weekly walks, but you must be a registered Montgomery Explorers member. Members will receive complete details about meeting locations, distance and trail features the week prior to the scheduled walk.

Summer walks begin at 10am, until June 23rd when we will begin walking at 9am through the summer months.

Starting Location

22201 Zion Rd, Brookeville, MD 20833 – Parking is limited so please consider carpooling!

Route Type & Maximum Miles

Loop; 3.2 miles (including 0.2 miles for an optional side trail)

Surface

Natural with one stream crossing (stepping stones); hiking shoes/boots recommended

Amenities

As a “Conservation Park”, no restrooms or water available

Our route is a loop that we have mapped out using the Park’s trail network. We will follow the Fox Meadow Loop Trail to the Hidden Pond Trail to the Scarlet Tanager Trail to Chestnut Oak Trail to the Fern Valley Trail which turns into the Rachel Carson Greenway trail and eventually rejoin the Fox Meadow Loop to return to the parking area. Our hike will be about a 3.2 mile loop, including 0.2 miles out-and-back on a side trail to an impressive rock formation. It is a gradual up and down route with a total elevation gain of about 305 feet. There will be muddy spots on this route especially closer to the river, at least one small stream crossing with stepping stones, and a few areas with some roots and rocks so hiking shoes/boots are recommended and trekking poles or a walking stick can be helpful. For those that want a shorter walk/hike, we will point out options at the junction of the Chestnut Oak and Fern Valley trails (see below).

From the parking area, we will take the Fox Meadow Loop Trail which runs between an open meadow and the woods for about 0.3 miles before entering the woods at the Hidden Pond Trail on the right (it is the entrance into the woods after the turnoff for the Meadow Walkthrough path). We will then follow Hidden Pond Trail briefly until it meets the Scarlet Tanager Trail where we go left and hike until it ends at the Chestnut Oak Trail. We will turn right on Chestnut Oak and continue about 0.2 miles to the intersection with the Fern Valley Trail, which is about 0.94 miles from the starting point. At this point, those who prefer a shorter hike/walk that avoids any stream crossings can either retrace their steps back to the parking area OR turn right onto Fern Valley and follow the signs for Rachel Carson Greenway and the return to the parking area (which gives you about a 2-mile loop in total). The rest of us will turn left onto the Fern Valley Trail at Chestnut Oak and follow it down through a valley and eventually walk along the scenic Hawlings River. After about 0.90 miles on the Fern Valley Trail including at least one stream crossing, it becomes the Rachel Carson Greenway at the intersection with the bottom of the Hidden Pond Trail. The Greenway at first continues along the Hawlings River before turning right at the intersection with the River Otter Trail – we will take the Greenway back up through the woods to return to the meadow and the parking area. Along the Greenway, there is a short side trail that leads to an unusual rock formation that we will explore.

Starting Location

3928 Greencastle Rd. Burtonsville MD. 20866 – Look for Explorers sign as you approach park entrance off Greencastle and once at end of initial entrance road, turn left to follow sign for “Restrooms/Picnic Area/Play Lot” and park at far end of lot near the restrooms.

Route Type & Maximum Miles

Modified loop including out-and-back sections; 4.2 miles

Surface

Natural/Paved

Amenities

Restrooms at parking lot (open upon request)

NOTE: This walk begins at 9 am – the first at our summer start time!

Our route will make use of both the paved Little Paint Branch Trail (LPBT) and the beautiful natural surface trails in this Park that straddles Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. We will be using the route that provides more variety and shade and has the advantage of avoiding the long open stretch of the LPBT that runs by the Fairland Sports Complex that can get quite hot in the summer. However, Explorers who want to avoid the natural surface trails can opt to walk entirely out and back on the paved Little Paint Branch Trail, understanding that means full sun for about half of your walk.

Our “official” planned route today is a “modified loop” because we will go out and return on different natural surface trails and also use sections of the LPBT out-and-back. The route totals about 4.2 miles. We will point out interim turnaround points for those wanting a shorter hike/walk. Those opting to just do the LPBT entirely will be on your own but it is very straightforward and well-marked. While walking shoes are fine for those opting to just do the LPBT, those doing our planned “mixed” route may be safer with hiking shoes/boots.

From the kiosk in the northwest corner of the parking lot, we begin on the paved Little Paint Branch Trail and bear left to stay on the LPBT as it enters the shaded woods. At 0.32 miles, we turn right onto the natural surface Crows Foot Trail that meanders through the woods for about 1.4 miles, following the blue blazes, and after crossing a small boardwalk, go past the Fairland Bike Park called The Pit. Shortly after the passing the sign for The Pit, we bear left and after walking over a small bridge crossing, we will bear left to stay on the Viper Trail. After a short distance, we will come to pavement again and will turn right to rejoin the paved LPBT and follow it for 0.3 miles across Greencastle Road and then under the ICC to the route turnaround point at a post on your left on the far side of the ICC underpass.

On return on the LPBT, after about 0.4 miles, we will turn left onto another section of the natural surface Viper Trail – this can be a bit confusing but we will use flags to mark the turn to avoid missing it. We will follow the meandering Viper Trail through the woods. Instead of going left at the sign for “Montgomery County”, we continue around on the Viper Trail Loop until we cross a small boardwalk and turn left at the Pine Loop Trail, which also meanders through the woods eventually feeding into the paved LPBT again. We will turn left back onto the LPBT and make the gradual ascent, crossing the LPBT bridge over the Paint Branch, going 0.6 miles back up to the parking lot.

Starting Location

10700 Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20901

(NOTE: There are two parks with the same street address in some navigation apps on either side of Columbia Park – Burnt Mills West Special Park and East Special Park – we are starting at the West Park for this hike. When using Google Maps, enter Burnt Mills West Special Park instead of the street address to be taken to the entrance for the correct parking lot just off Columbia Pike South. If you end up at the East Special Park instead, you can also park there and use the street crossing at the traffic light just past the gas station to come over to the West Park.)

Route Type & Maximum Miles

Out-and-back; 4 miles

Surface

Natural

Amenities

None on site but there is a restroom in the Starbucks in The Shoppes at Burnt Mills across the street

This walk/hike will explore a section of the Northwest Branch Trail, going north for about two miles from the Burnt Mills West Special Park and then return. Some Explorers may recall that you can access both the Rachel Carson Greenway and the Northwest Branch Trail from this Park. We will gather at the kiosk next to the parking lot. From the lot, we will walk briefly south along Columbia Pike to access the entrance bridge to go north on the Northwest Branch Trail, which is a natural surface trail that tracks the beautiful Northwest Branch as it twists and turns through the woods, mostly in the shade. Since there are roots and rocks and possibly some muddy spots to navigate, hiking shoes/boots are recommended and a walking stick may be helpful if you like to use one.

The route is mostly level with some modest undulation except at the very start when we climb up natural steps to get above the dam waterfalls at the start of this walk/hike. (On the return, there is a small switchback trail to get back down to the entrance bridge at Columbia Pike that avoids having to come down the steep natural steps.) We will stay on the Northwest Branch Trail going two miles north up to the sign for the turnoff to Lamberton Road, which is our turnaround point. In addition to the bridge at the entrance, along the route, we cross over four more small bridges and one small stream crossing on well-placed stepping stones. For anyone wanting a shorter walk/hike, the 1-mile turn back point takes place at a sign for a side-path to Loxford Terrace.

Starting Location

15700 Needwood Lake Circle, Derwood MD 20855

(The parking lot for the Rock Creek Hiker/Biker Trail – the second parking lot after the Boat House with a directional sign that says “Hiker/Biker Trail” at entrance to the lot.)

Route Type & Maximum Miles

Loop – about 2.6 miles with option to go down & back Rock Creek Hiker/Biker trail for additional mile for a potential max of 3.6 miles

Surface

Mixed – gravel, dirt, and pavement

Amenities

Port-A-Potties near entrance to Rock Creek Hiker/Biker Trail; restrooms near Picnic Area might be open

Our route today will be a loop on the trails that go around Lake Needwood for a total of about 2.6 miles. It is a mix of gravel and dirt trails with some asphalt stretches so some may feel more secure with hiking shoes/boots. There will also be an option after the loop walk/hike to go out-and-back on the paved Rock Creek Hiker/Biker trail (see below).

From the parking lot, we begin by taking the gravel part of the Westside Trail up the hill and across the dam. We will then enter the forested part of the Trail, which becomes a mixture of gravel and dirt. We will continue on the Westside Trail as it tracks the western banks of the lake. At the intersection with the Blue Heron Trail, we will follow the signs to continue on the Westside Trail, which is mostly dirt with some mulch from this point. At about 1.3 miles, we will come to steps that lead down to Needwood Road. We will walk along the Road, crossing a bridge and then turn onto Beach Drive, where we walk about 0.1 mile to turn right onto the Mudcat Trail. It is a dirt trail that hugs the shoreline of the eastern banks of Needwood Lake, which will lead us to the Needwood Trail that take us eventually to the Boat House (about 1 mile from the entrance to Mudcat Trail). There are lots of nice views of the lake on these trails – they curve around and go and up down ridges and across four bridges which provide a nice variety. When we get to paved area near the Boat House, we will take the short terrace trail around the boat house for another unique view of the lake and then swing around the Bear Statue and make our way back to the Hiker/Biker Trail parking lot. For those wanting additional mileage, we will lead a walk south on the paved Rock Creek Hiker/Biker Trail down to Southlawn Lane and back (about 1.4 miles total) – there is some elevation to negotiate on this addition option.