Foxhill Park, Bowie, Maryland

Foxhill Park, Bowie, Maryland

The approximately 50,000 residents of the city of Bowie, Maryland are proud of the trails that link the city. Many trails exist and many are planned. Bowie is a changing city. With its origins as a town going back to 1870, the original town center was incorporated in 1916 and has changed slowly. It sits on what were tobacco fields that were patented as early as 1683. More recently, the hub of activity has shifted about several times. It=s currently exploding at the intersection of Rte. 50 and highway 301 with new shopping and entertainment opportunities. The Bowie Baysocks play minor league baseball in a stadium built in the late 1990's. Tickets are cheap and the games are fun. For exploring the history, visit the Belair Mansion (circa. 1740), home of three-time provincial governor of Maryland, Sam Ogle (1694-1752). The Belair Stable helped maintain a long tradition of thoroughbred racing. The Bowie Railroad Station and Huntington Museum are on the west end of town.

Foxhill Park is central to most of the Bowie trails. To the north, lies White Marsh Park, a hilly wooded area which was recently saved from becoming a housing development. To the east are trails over Rte. 50 to Allen Pond Park and beyond to City of Glen Allen Park where the beginnings of a system of trails through a subdivision and nature preserve have been built.

Getting There

From the Capital Beltway (I-95) in Maryland, take John Hanson Highway, Rte. 50 east. After 6.5 miles, exit onto Laurel Bowie Rd. (Rte. 197) headed north. After 0.6 miles, turn right into Foxhill Park.

Area Routes

White Marsh Park (6.0 miles, V)

When Collington Rd, Rte. 197 was relocated, the remaining roadbed was later remade into a trail. The result is a wide and smooth trail that connected north and south parts of the city. A trail bridge was added over Rte. 50 when that highway was widened, to keep the trail connected. This route uses the trail to go north past the Woodward Pond in Foxhill Park, then turns east to follow along Rte. 450. The portion of trail along Rte. 450 is now (1/2004) in flux as Rte. 450 is being relocated further north of the original road bed. The trail along it as shown on the accompanying map is mostly gone. Perhaps it will be rebuilt along the new road. As you head further, the old road bed and the new converge and things get progressively more congested as the road/sidewalk passes churches, schools and retail stores. At a few of the retail stores, the trail disappears all together requiring you to pass through parking lots briefly. Finally upon reaching Race Track Road, all the putting-up with the traffic is made worth it by entry into White Marsh Park. The trail in White Marsh drops quickly through heavy woods to a stream. Some extensions are possible by looping left toward the Bowie Playhouse. Skipping that, and climbing more gradually out of the stream valley, the park trail ends at a subdivision. Sidewalks, and a segment through a neighborhood park bring you to a hill at the entrance to Belair Mansion. Pass it, returning to the trail along Rte. 197, an indirect route along Woodward Pond and over the stone bridge in Foxhill Park brings you back to the parking lot.

Allen Pond (8.4 or 10.15 miles, VII or VIII)

Using the trail along Collington Rd., Rte. 197, this route heads south over Rte. 50. Once across, it follows along Old Collington Rd. then passes through neighborhoods to an unnamed pond created in 1998 at what will become the Bowie New Town Center. Going further south across Mitchellville Rd., the route takes one of Bowie=s newest trails along a wooded stream valley and parallels Robert Craine Hwy., Rte. 301. An optional lollipop route extension uses trails through a subdivision. More trails are planned near this subdivision. Coming back on roads, the route finally reaches Allen Pond for a partial loop around the lake. The loop around the attractive lake, is frequently used by families with young children, walkers and runners. It is 0.68 miles around. The trail along Northview Dr. brings you back to the trail at Old Collington Rd. where you can return to Foxhill Park.

Nearby and Connecting Zones

Fran Uhler Natural Area/Race Track Spur

Beltsville Agricultural Research Center

Watkins Regional Park

What to do Afterward

Food and Drink

Beijing Restaurant - (301) 249‑4242

Don Pablo=s - 301 809-6720

International House of Pancakes, Rte. 450 (IHOP)

Einstein=s Bagels, Rte. 450

Entertainment and Edification

Bowie Baysocks - Baseball - 301 805-6000

Belair Mansion - Thursday-Sunday 1-4PM - 301 809-3089

Belair Stable - built in 1907 - 301 809-3089

Prince Georges County Genealogical Library - 301 262-2063 - open 10AM-dusk on Wednesday except the first Wednesday of the month; last Saturday of the month 1-5PM)

R 0.0 from the white posts on the trail at the parking entrance

0.15 gravel road and pond on R

0.25 Faith La

0.7 Long Ridge Rd

BR 0.9 onto bike trail after crossing (old) Annapolis Rd, Rte 450. This area is under construction. You will most likely turn right to parallel the new Rte. 450 road bed on a sidewalk.

1.75 Bowie High School

2.1 Millstream Dr

R 2.7 at Race Track Rd cross Annapolis Rd to the trail head in White Marsh Park

2.8 paved TR X on R

3.2 paved TR X on L

L 3.6 Stoneybrook Dr

R 4.05 trail head to Somerset Neighborhood Park (unmarked)

L 4.25 Stonehaven La

R 4.35 Starlight La at T

CL 4.7 Belair Dr at T

R 4.85 Tulip Grove Dr

5.05 Belair Mansion on L

L 5.15 Foxhill La

R 5.35 Faith La

L 5.5 paved trail along Collington Rd

L 5.6 gravel road before pond

BR 5.8 stone bridge over pond

BR 5.85 at trail split after bridge

R 5.95 R at parking lot toward exit

6.0 white posts at trail

8.4 Mile Route

L 0.0 from the white posts on the trail at the parking entrance

0.6 begin bridge over Rte 50

1.05 Northview Dr & trail X on R

R 1.45 Holiday La (unmarked); at the end of Old Collington Rd

1.55 cross Rte 197 (!)

R 1.6 English Oaks Ave

L 1.75 Evergreen Ave

CL 1.8 Excalibur Dr

R 1.95 trail X on R; to go around lake

R 1.95 lake trail

R 2.45 trail X on R toward Excalibur Dr

R 2.5 Excalibur Dr

2.55 cross Mitchelleville Rd

2.7 City of Glen Allen Park on R

R 3.15 trail X on R after Eagle=s Nest Dr

3.85 Applegreen La (unmarked)

4.05 Atlantis Dr (unmarked)

R 4.15 TR X on L & R (unmarked)

4.4 sharp turn R in trail (possible future trail will go S)

L 4.5 Atlantis Dr (unmarked); S will be bike trail through nature preserve

L 4.9 Mitchelleville Rd

R 5.05 Allen Pond Park; park road

L 5.35 lake trail around Allen Pond

R 5.75 at T for lake loop; Nottingham Dr

5.8 TR X on L to Nottingham Dr

BL 5.95 at brick walk on R; leave lake through parking lot

CL 6.15 Northview Dr

7.05 cross Collington Rd (Rte 197)

L 7.35 trail X at Old Collington Rd

7.65 begin bridge over Rte 50

8.4 second white posts on trail

*10.15 Mile Route

L 4.15 trail X; L & R

4.55 trail X on L (return route)

4.7 Mount Oak Rd

BR 5.15 at fork in trail (unmarked)

5.2 trail X on R

5.25 Mount Oak Rd

L 5.35 trail X on R

L/R 5.45 Arden Forest La; stay on trail

R 5.6 at T

5.9 trail X; L & R (pickup cues at mile 4.4 on 8.4 mile route; end is 10.15 miles)