PATC Hikes & Events

# Little Bennett Park! Moderate to Easy-Side-of-Strenuous 9 or 12-Mile Hike

This hike is only 20 miles from D.C. and about a 50-minute drive from Baltimore so is most convenient for more than two-thirds of our members!

Just a little northwest of Washington, Little Bennett Regional Park is a superlative hiking venue. It’s Montgomery County’s largest park, covering almost 3,650 acres (a small piece also juts into Frederick County). A park since 1975, it has the county’s largest expanse of continuous woodland, splendid scenery, much wildlife, a trail network, and few human users.

This hike is a challenging 12-mile grand tour, with about 1100 feet of elevation change. Those west of Little Bennett Creek are quite well signposted and in good shape. Most of these trails are off-limits to bikers and horse riders. Those in the more rugged eastern area are twice as hilly.

The 9 mile hike will end around 2:30. The 12 mile hike will end around 4:00.

Time to Meet: Please meet at 9:45 for introductions and sign in. We will start hiking promptly at 10:00

Directions to Trailhead: We meet at the Kingley parking lot in Little Bennett Park. The best address to use in your GPS is 24472 Clarksburg Road, Clarksburg, MD. However, the Kingsley parking lot is a little north of that address. Look for the sign that says Kingsley Parking Lot. The Pin location is correct.
Use the GPS Coordinates if you can: 39.266022, -77.280568

Contact Information: Please use the comments feature for routine comments and questions. The hike Leaders are Tim; 202-744-0289 and Christa; 410-610-6254. Call or text as needed.

Details
Rating: Moderate
Distance: 9 or 12 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,100 feet
Pace: 2.0 to 2.5 miles per hour

Facilities: Toilets can be found about one mile into the hike

Fees: No entrance fees

Cancellation: In the unlikely event that the hike needs to be cancelled, it may be cancelled up to the evening before the hike. Hikers will be notified through comments on this posting.

Savage Park: Wincopin Trail Area! A Moderate 6.5 Mile Hike

The Wincopin area, located between the Little and Middle Patuxent rivers in Howard County, Maryland, has a history that includes Indigenous people, colonial settlement, and a century of industrial quarrying. The name "Wincopin" is likely derived from a Nanticoke dialect of the Algonquin language, with the term meaning "bear." Today, it is primarily a forested area with an extensive trail system.

This hike takes us along the Middle Patuxent River to its merger with the Little Patuxent River. Within minutes of setting off, we will transport from one of the most densely populated suburbs in America to a lovely and peaceful woodland along these two former mill streams turned woodland. Thick woods, beech, oak, and poplar crowd either side of this beautiful trail. Much of our hike plan takes us along trails that are right up next to the stream.

Time to Meet: Please meet at 9:45 for introductions and sign in. We will start hiking promptly at 10:00

Directions to Trailhead:
The GPS Coordinates are 39.150102, -76.834237
The Street address is 9299 Vollmerhausen Road, Jessup, MD 20794

Contact Information: Please use the comments feature for routine comments and questions. The hike Leader is Tim; 202-744-0289. Call or text as needed.

Details
Rating: Moderate
Distance: 6.5 miles
Elevation Gain: Approximately 550 ft
Pace: 2.0 to 2.5 miles per hour
Facilities: A portable toilet can be found near the trailhead
Fees: No entrance fee

Cancellation: In the unlikely event that the hike needs to be cancelled, it may be cancelled up to the evening before the hike. Hikers will be notified through comments on this posting.

ACLT: Prince Frederick to Hance-Chesley Cemetery: 11 miles

The American Chestnut Land Trust (ACLT) offers a remarkable 11-mile hike from Prince Frederick to the historic Hance-Chesley Cemetery. This adventure not only immerses hikers in the scenic beauty of Southern Maryland’s forests and wetlands but also offers a window into the region’s rich cultural and historical heritage.

Highlights of this hike include:
· Start at Double Oak Farm’s North Side Trailhead.
· Traverse woodland and wetland landscapes.
· Cross Parkers Creek by raft, linking North and South Tracts.
· Navigate seven small streams and several steep hills.
· Pass historic sites of African American farmsteads.
· A stop and lunch at the Hance-Chesley Cemetery, a 19th-century family burial ground.

The hike begins at the North Side Trailhead located at Double Oak Farm. From this point, hikers traverse rolling woodlands, skirt the edges of vibrant wetlands, and cross Parkers Creek using a raft—a unique and memorable experience that connects the North and South Tracts of ACLT lands. The hike includes a few short but steep hills

Continuing southward, the trail crosses seven small streams and features several challenging, steep (yet short) hills. The terrain is varied, providing both moments of exertion and opportunities to enjoy peaceful, natural surroundings.

Along the route, hikers pass through areas that were once sites of African American families who, after emancipation, purchased land and established farms here. These families contributed significantly to the local community, cultivating the land well into the 20th century. Today, the woodland preserves their legacy, offering a silent tribute to their resilience and determination.

The hike culminates at the 19th-century Hance-Chesley Cemetery—a historical family cemetery that stands as a testament to the region’s deep-rooted history.

ACLT is a member supported, non-profit natural conservancy working to protect the natural land, waterways, cultural landmarks and wildlife habitats of the Parker Creek and Grosvenor Run watersheds and to encourage conservation and preservation throughout Southern Maryland.

Remember to bring a snack or lunch to enjoy with the group.

Time to Meet:
Please meet at 9:45 for introductions and sign in. We will start hiking promptly at 10:00

Contact Information:
Please use the comments feature for routine comments and questions. The hike Leader is Christa (410-610-6254). Call or text as needed.

Directions to Trailhead:
The GPS Coordinates are 38.54714, -76.53310
The Street address to the park is 676 Double Oak Road
Prince Frederick, MD 20678

Details:
- Rating: Moderate
-Distance: 12 miles
-Elevation Gain: Approximately 1,200 feet
-Pace: 2.0 to 2.5 miles per hour
-Facilities: Portable toilets at the trailhead.
-Fees: no fees

Cancellation:
In the unlikely event that the hike needs to be cancelled, it may be cancelled up to the evening before the hike. Hikers will be notified through comments on this posting.