Explore the Hiker-Biker Trails of Montgomery County, MD

It’s always a good idea to take a break from the hustle and bustle of your daily work grind and explore the surrounding areas of the city.  Now is the perfect time to take advantage of the beautiful weather by heading down to Montgomery County, Maryland and hitting the many scenic hiker-biker trails that line the towns just outside the nation’s capital.  Whether you’re into hiking or biking, there are plenty of hard and natural surfaced trails that cater to any level and age.

Here’s a short guide to just a few of the many trails of Montgomery County to begin your adventure of the great outdoors in Maryland:

• Muddy Branch Greenway Trail is one of the newest multi-use trails that run 9 miles through Gaithersburg, MD to historic Blockhouse Point Conservation Park.   The natural surface trail is accessible to most users, but isn’t entirely flat.  The route traverses varied terrain and ecosystems including rocky upland forest, streambanks and meadows.  A brand new bridge now allows hikers and bikers to cross over to Pennyfield Lock and the C&O Canal.

• Chesapeake & Ohio Canal (C&O Canal) is a U.S. National Historical Park home to 184.5 miles of towpath that runs parallel along the northern banks of the Potomac River with numerous trails ideal for biking and hiking.   Several of the Canal Lockhouses are available for rent for groups up to 20, which has become very popular amongst cyclists looking to hit the trails throughout a weekend.  The park is also popular amongst Washingtonians and other visitors for running, fishing, boating and kayaking.

• The Underground Railroad Experience Trail in Sandy Spring, MD allows hikers a fun way to explore the outdoors while commemorating the involvement of Montgomery County residents in the Underground Railroad. There are free, guided hikes that last 2.5 hours led by talented volunteers, who simulate the Underground Railroad experience. The hikes cover two miles of land from Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park along a wooded, natural surface trail.  Hikers learn about various techniques that “freedom seekers” used to elude trackers, find food, and navigate their way North to freedom.

• Little Bennett Regional Trails can be discovered within a 3,700-acre park that offers over 21 miles of natural surface trails in one of Montgomery County’s best natural areas.  The park is mostly forested and lies among the tributaries of Little Bennett Creek. Within the park, Hawk’s Reach Activity Center offers activities, nature films and other routinely scheduled events. Little Bennett Regional Park includes 91 campsites that are handicapped accessible and an 18-hole golf course.

For more information about these hiker-biker trails and the many others of Montgomery County, Maryland, please visit here.