Montgomery: Parks, Trails and History

Montgomery Parks’ trail network spans more than 260 miles. Together with historic sites, landscapes and cultural attractions, it offers different ways to explore Montgomery County. For your trip, you can focus on hiking trails, local history or art—depending on what you’d like to experience during your stay.

Trails and Landscapes in Montgomery County

Black Hill Regional Park offers several ways to explore the area on foot or by water: the mostly paved Black Hill Trail is 4.6 miles long, and there are also more than 16 miles of natural-surface trails. The park also offers a water trail on Little Seneca Lake. Information about trail length and surface can help you distinguish these routes from the natural-surface trails in other parks.

Agricultural History Farm Park features a different landscape: its 455 acres include rolling hills, open fields and an apple orchard, as well as various farm animals. Nearly four miles of natural-surface trails invite visitors to hike and horseback ride. On a larger scale, Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve spans 93,000 acres and offers opportunities for biking, hunting, fishing and horseback riding.

Near Brookeville, Rachel Carson Conservation Park preserves 650 acres. More than six miles of natural-surface trails are available for hiking and horseback riding. For a different kind of route, there’s the Capital Crescent Trail: it follows a former railroad corridor for more than 11 miles from Georgetown in the District of Columbia to Silver Spring in Montgomery County. About 5.5 miles of the trail lie within the County.

Shorter and differently routed trails round out the selection. The Underground Railroad Experience Trail is two miles long, with a round trip listed as four miles. Another 4.5-mile trail starts at the intersection of the Rock Creek Hiker-Biker Trail and Winding Creek Local Park and follows Turkey Branch, a tributary of Rock Creek. It is used by hikers, cyclists and horseback riders. The trails differ not only in length, but also in surface, surroundings and designated use.

Explore History and Culture

The Underground Railroad Experience Trail recalls part of the history of Sandy Spring and Montgomery County. This natural-surface trail combines outdoor activity with a historical theme and is part of the National Park Service National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program.

The region’s parks offer further insights into the past. At Little Bennett Regional Park, 14 historic sites and points of interest bring to life rural life in Montgomery County during the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Agricultural History Farm Park explores the County’s agricultural history and farming practices from the 18th through the 20th century. The two attractions offer different perspectives: historic sites and rural life at one, and the development of agriculture at the other.

Josiah Henson Museum and Park explores the life of Reverend Josiah Henson, slavery in Maryland and the ongoing struggle for equality. A self-guided tour takes visitors through interactive exhibits and artifacts. The site includes a visitor center with an orientation film and gift shop, a historic house with an attached 1850 log kitchen, and a landscaped four-acre park. The exhibits, buildings and grounds combine to offer several historical perspectives during a visit.

Great Falls Tavern serves as the visitor center for the C&O Canal National Historical Park. There, you can get information about park programs, trails and the history of the canal. The entrance to the Great Falls Tavern area is in Potomac, at the intersection of MacArthur Boulevard and Falls Road.

Art and Wine Experiences

Art is also part of the cultural scene: the studios and galleries at Glen Echo Park showcase work by local and regional artists, both established and emerging. New exhibitions are presented every four to six weeks. Those interested in art as well as parks and history will find another theme to explore here.

For wine enthusiasts, Rocklands Farm Winery & Market offers guided vineyard tours on weekdays, including a tasting of six wines. Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard offers winery tours, tasting flights and wine education. The offerings differ in their stated focus; check current schedules or availability before your visit.

When choosing a hotel location, you can prioritize the experiences that matter most to your trip and assess specific locations accordingly.

Explore More Destinations

Explore more destinations: Takoma Park, Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Silver Spring, Chevy Chase, Potomac, Brookeville, Wheaton-Glenmont, Olney, Redland, Rockville, Boyds, Ashton-Sandy Spring, Germantown.

For the main travel guide: Maryland.