I'm still new to cycling and have made it my business to note good local trails with scenic views…read more This is one of them. Located in Charles county, but it feels like you're far away from urban chaos. In fact, some of the views remind me of various vacation spots. I arrived at the trail head approximately 11:00am on a Saturday, which helped me avoid the early morning riders. According to my friends, even early morning rides have moderate trail usage, never crowded. They were finishing up as I got started. This is also important because parking at the trail head is limited. If you start at the beginning and go to the end, it's 13 miles of mostly smooth asphalt. Highway crossings are well marked and there are some inclines. There are also benches & a couple porta potties along the way. I'll return soon and see if I can spot a bald eagle.

If you love the great outdoor you would love the Indian Head Rail Trail. Located in southern…read moreMaryland at the end of Indian Head Hwy 210. You will find a small town with a big future. Come enjoy walking or riding the trail. You will see a lot of wildlife. Be prepared to do a lot of speaking and waving because that is what we do here. The trail is 13 miles one way. Indian Head to White Plains Maryland. One of my favorite things to do on a nice day is to grab my bike and my riding partner T'Challa - my dog literally lol and take the trail by storm. Hope to see you they one day.

My wife and I have visited this trail several times in the past month and every time it has been…read morevery enjoyable. The trail is paved and kept clean. Every few miles there are porta potties and picnic tables if you need to use the toilet, rest or have a snack. There are some benches along the trail if you need to sit down or just take in the view of nature. We've started at several locations along the trail and from the trail heads. Often striking up conversations with others that are there to exercise or just enjoy the nature. Every one we have encountered has been friendly. The nature is really something else. The wildlife is really cool, we see something new every time such as Cow, deer, snakes, turtles, various birds species, fish, squirrels, beavers and other little things like dragon flies and butterflies. The trail is a nice break and I highly suggest it to anyone that wants a enjoyable place to ride,walk, run.

Great Bike Trail. It's also a walking and jogging trail. I love that it's secluded and there isn't…read moremuch access to the main roads from the trail. I've been coming here for quite a few years and have never had any problems. The paths are very clean and a lot of trees surrounding. Everyone is friendly and when crossing the main roads the cars will slow down and drivers are very vigilant on keeping an eye out. There are many landmarks and a lot of beautiful animals all over. Deer, Rabbits, many different sized dragon flies, turtles, snakes and we saw an Eagle before. The animals keep their distance and if you leave them alone your safe. Yesterday my watch said I rode for 25.30 miles one way and we didn't even reach the end. Love this area

Please do better with portable toilets. I get that the park does not want to winterize the…read morebathrooms and keep them locked during the winter but they need to have the portable bathrooms serviced regularly. They filled up early in the winter and have remained unusable for months. Now the trail heads are littered with feces and toilet paper.

So this is the park I've been hearing about! When you hear Maryland State Park, I think most people…read morethink about Seneca Creek in Gaithersburg, which is massive and requires entry to get in. On weekdays, it's $3/vehicle, and on weekends is $3/per person inside the vehicle. It's interesting because there's no person accepting cash or payment... it's a self-pay kiosk, something I've never seen at a park, let alone a state park! The sign is visible along 301, but it's not the most noticeable one. I feel like Seneca Creek is way more known. It wasn't much of a surprise, but my gosh was it empty when we drove in! I was there on a Sunday afternoon and saw maybe 5 other people besides my family and myself. We packed some food and ate it at one of the two pavilions where we parked. It was just... so quaint and there wasn't a cloud in the sky! There was also a building with bathrooms and a cool playground. After eating, we decided to walk part of a trail and just take in nature. It was.... so delightful. This park is perfect for a local nature getaway where there won't be a lot of people. There are some days when entry is free, but I'm unsure of the schedule.

Great walking trail for the family, We diverted to the stream side and the water is shallow enough…read moreto stick your feet in for a time with nature :)

As of late I have been playing around with different maps, both analog and digital, and when I find…read morea greenspace I add it to the list. With Rock Creek, Sligo Creek, Malcolm X, Anacostia and Potomac the All Star parks but what about all those other ones that are everywhere. One of those is Henson Creek Park. Is it in Temple Hills or Oxon Hill, who knows? I don't and I've been. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that once upon a time, Oxon Hill, Maryland (Eastover) used Washington, D.C. mailing addresses. I like playing with maps. Henson Creek Park both removed from the city and integrated into its surroundings. Walking along the trail, you may see a deer and 5 minutes later you are walking alongside an apartment complex. One or two times meandering through the park by way of the paved trails, there was the option to continue the trailway or cross the road. Because it was a Sunday morning I didn't see folks from surrounding neighborhoods using the trail to get from point A to point B but I like that it is laid out that way. What I did see was joggers, dog walkers, families and cyclist practicing, all of which was cool in my book. The big drawbacks for me was that the actual creek is off limits. Not that I would chill in it, it is disheartening to know that is receives sewage over flow. I guess it has to go somewhere. (When did they stop selling dyed toilet paper?) The other possible drawback which really didn't affect me was the lack of shade. The trail is paved and between the trail and the trees there is about 20 feet of grass on either side of you. I think this is keep the leaves out of the way during the fall but I could be wrong.

Reviewing the tour of Mallows Bay, I would note that this is offered under the county government's…read morewebsite, that tours are in very finite numbers and tend to fill up well in advance. Obviously, if you have a boat and can get it to this remote location, you don't need the tour. But for me, I've had it on my to-do list for a long time, I traveled a long way to get to the tour, and it was worth it. There was a presentation before getting on the boats, which I thought was detailed and well-handled. The presence of a fleet of shipwrecks requires some explanation. Getting into the water didn't take all that long. The amount of time on the water was as long as or slightly longer than what we booked, and this gave enough time to pretty thoroughly round the bay. The tide was quite high when I visited so the wrecks were mostly underwater, but there were still plenty of sights to be seen. Having seen them from land and memorialized them in photographs, the experience from water is much better. And of course, the shipwrecks now are simply a place for wildlife to live, and the visit an excuse to get out on a part of the river where it turns estuarine. This trip is not a huge distance from DC, but it is a world away.

Four of us went out on the Mallows Bay Ghost Ships tour and had an amazing time! We lucked out with…read morepractically perfect weather and a beautiful sunset as we finished our paddle, which surely helped matters, but our guides were also well-prepared, knowledgeably, and had all the equipment we needed. The location is just so cool and can't be beat; it was an unforgettable experience to see the half-sunken ships. I had been hesitant, due to the high price tag, but I think we all thought it was worth it in the end. If I had any suggestions, it would be to more prominently display on the website that all kayaks are tandem kayaks. Thankfully, we came with an even number of people, but I would have hate to have been surprisingly paired up with a stranger. It also would have been great if one of the instructors could have given us more kayaking tips. We could not stop veering to the side no matter what we did, and they didn't seem to have any advice for us.

This was my first delve into the world of obstacle racing and I have to say it was an absolute…read moreblast. I wasn't really sure what to expect and was terrified of falling off something in front of other people, but in retrospect that was half of the fun. Hubs and I were a part of the 9am wave of runners and were corralled in the holding zone right around 9:15. The hype-man was totally entertaining and the music was good, so waiting to go wasn't that bad. I do wish there had been a better system to indicate which time was up though. Since it's a messy race I didn't have a watch on me, so I had no idea what time it was unless I asked the security guard (which I did, multiple times since they told us to get there an hour early). The obstacles were fun. Some were more challenging than others, but all were doable. You do have the option of walking around though if you aren't feeling them. One thing I wish I had thought of before hand: I would highly recommend bringing a towel and a change of shoes in the bag you check. I wish I had had both at the end. My favorite part was where race finishes with a huge slide and a foam party. So much fun! I also loved the viewing area of the Wrecking Ball obstacle. Very well placed and highly entertaining. The MC in the American flag speedo was also highly entertaining. I look forward to running this race again next year.

This race was a great time!! The obstacles were fun. It's kind of expensive to register, but it…read morewas memorable. We ran the 7:30 time slot so it was great to beat the crowd. We picked up our packet the day before so all me had to do was walk in and get on line. Had a great time, good to start early, we beat the heat!

What an awesome time with Captain Bill and his lovely wife Captain LoriAnn!!!…read more Went out for Snakefish (they are elusive) but failed but did catch catfish with a bow! First time bowfishing and will not be the last! I have a PSE compound bow but this was just slightly different and definitely more exciting than shooting at paper targets. LoriAnn gave us the run through and encouragement and we were off! Both Captain Bill and LoriAnn were awesome hosts! I say hosts because it was like friends letting you into their boat to fish with them. They were both nice (Captain Bill is retired USMC and my cousin is retired Air Force), accommodating, helpful, knowledgeable and can hold a conversation! It was such a good time and we even got to the VA side. Keep in mind we loaded up and left dock at 8PM and did not get done until past 1AM...So wear comfy shoes. We caught fishes and had an awesome time learning what we could from them both. 9 fish was a nice total with one 15lb, 3 over 7/8lbs and the rest between 3/4lbs...The pictures say it. My cousin and I were happy! So if you have never gone bowfishing, Southern Maryland Bowfishing is who you should do it with! I highly recommend Captain Bill and sprain LoriAnn! They are good people who showed us a damn good time!

Disappointing, uncomfortable experience and would 100% not return…read more We booked a trip with Southern Maryland Bowfishing as a group of three, excited to try bowfishing for the first time and hopefully catch some snakehead (we're optimistic like that). I had assumed based on our communication that our small group would have the small boat to ourselves, which is typically why I pay for extra spots; to keep things private. Unfortunately, when we arrived, we were surprised to find that two of the captain's "regulars" were added to our trip without any heads-up, which immediately shifted the tone of the experience. Things only got worse from there. Fewer than five minutes into the trip, the captain commented on how "good" my English was and that I didn't have an accent; clearly implying that, as a Hispanic person, I was expected to speak with one. We quietly noted that we didn't even make it five minutes without a tone-deaf comment, and tried to move on and enjoy the trip anyway. Unfortunately, we didn't. There was very little instruction provided, and we mostly had to ask questions to figure out what to do. Meanwhile, the couple of regulars, clearly more experienced, were set up at the front of the boat catching fish, while we were left to figure things out ourselves or ask a million questions. We felt like spectators rather than participants. To add a final insult to injury, when we returned to the dock and I still tipped the captain out of courtesy, I overheard him in conversation with a small group of men joking about how much he charged. One of them turned to me and commented that I should make sure to come back again (It was clearly implied we had overpaid or been taken advantage of). The captain then offered for us to come back in another season since we didn't catch anything which honestly just felt like a weak consolation. This was an overall uncomfortable and disappointing experience. Between the lack of professionalism, the unwelcoming vibe, and the racial microaggressions, I can confidently say we won't be returning. Luckily, there's no shortage of other bowfishing charters in the area, we'll try one of those once the bad taste from this experience fades. Alternatively we recently chartered a boat for blue catfish fishing and had a completely different experience. Look for that review if you're looking for a good time fishing.

I rarely rate a park/trail/nature below five stars. It is Mother Nature so far be it from me to…read morerate it below five. However, this nature/walking/running/biking trail was man made. It follows the high tension electrical wires that run along, fittingly, Electric Avenue. Along the route are small parks, lakes, and a few nature trails. Most of the trail goes through the back yards are well-maintained homes and farms. The entire paved (bituminous...black because it contains bitumen or asphalt) portion of trail is approximately six miles between Glenn Dale Road and and Bowie. The trail used to be a state-of-the-art electric commuter train railway (the eponymous Washington, Baltimore, & Annapolis Railroad...from 1908-1935). Some tracks were incorporated into the trail past Race Track Road in Bowie. Today the trail is used by pedestrians, runners, and bicyclists to burn some calories. The hills are not too steep but will challenge you. The folks are friendly and the trail is well maintained. Would that there were more restrooms. In Glenn Dale there is a community center we're one may use indoor facilities. Parking is available at three major points: 1) Glenn Dale Road, 2) Glenn Dale Splash Park, and 3) Race Track Road. This is my favorite walking spot in Glenn Dale. Not too crowded but the bicyclist sometimes think they are riding in a Tour de France peloton. Some groups use the trail for group rides and on those days just watch out. There are many thrilling tunnels and wooden bridge crossings all of which are solid and sound structures the exact opposite of death traps. The trail is almost a straight line with much signage and many markers. It would be almost impossible to get lost. Wildlife is plentiful too. Birds of all stripes and feathers, even woodpeckers that you can hear jackhammering away on trees. Hares and turtles. Deer and foxes. Amphibians and small rodents. You know, things found in woodlands, forest, and marshlands. There are many horse farms and other farms along the route that account for the sounds of roosters crowing in the morning and the moo of cows. People with dogs usually are good about following leash laws. Overall just an eclectic mix of all manner of flora and fauna. Four stars due to the high tension lines that scare me because I always think one is going to fall or that the magnetic energy may be harmful to health. Great people, well-maintained trail surface, and Mother Nature in her stunning simplicity.

The B&A trail is a wonderful walking/running/biking trail that stretches, obviously, from Annapolis…read moreto Baltimore. I accessed the trail in Annapolis. It was a bit confusing as the Annapolis parking lot was probably a half mile away from the trail. It was easy for me to just ride my bike there but I would be hesitant to bring kids and have them ride on the shoulder of the road where cars were speeding by at 60 mph. Once on the trail, i seriously enjoyed every second of my ride. The trail was wide enough that it was not a problem to pass other exercisers. Everyone seemed to know to stay to the right and pass to the left. It was not overly hilly and the trail was well maintained with no cracks/ potholes. Every few miles there were cute little picnic tables near coffee shops and cafes where riders were meeting up for meals. I didn't stop as I was well fueled during my ride but I will plan to do that next time I ride.