Greenbelt Park

Greenbelt Park

Greenbelt Park is an 1,100 acre woodland maintained by the National Park Service. It is not to be confused with the much smaller Buddy Attic Park and Greenbelt Lake in Old Greenbelt. It is situated between Old Greenbelt and College Park. The Prince Georges Running Club meets there regularly on Saturday mornings at 8:00AM. The park brochure fittingly dubs it “An Urban Oasis.” It’s a straightforward nature park that preserves the kind of woods once prevalent in the area. Not spectacular for any one reason, it is a nice departure from the stream valley and athletic playground regional parks more common to the area. It’s a great place to run or hike through the trees, and the loop portion of the Park Central Road is a regular training and time trail location for area road cyclists. The loop portion of the Park Central Road is 1.4 miles around. Mountain bike cycling is not allowed on the trails. The park is somewhat hilly, though larger hills are to be found in the Washington D.C. area. It’s almost entirely wooded.

Getting There

From the Capital Beltway (I-95), take Kenilworth Avenue (Rte. 201) south and inside the Capital Beltway for 0.5 mile. Turn left on Greenbelt Road (Rte. 193) following it only 0.25 miles. Turn right into the park, then park in the Park Headquarters lot on the left.

Area Routes

Greenbelt Park Perimeter Trail (5.85 or 2.9 miles, VI or III)

Yellow blazed, and categorized as a horse and hiking trail, few horses are actually seen on this loop trail. Except for getting to the trail head from the parking lot and a park road crossing, the route is entirely unpaved. The loop trail is 5.43 miles around. Tree roots must be watched carefully in some places. Relatively few rocks are on the trails except for the downhill on the shorter route after it breaks away from the longer loop. Hills average around 50 feet vertically at a time, but some are over 100 feet. Most are gradual but short portions are steep. Anytime of year is a good time to experience the park. The trees keep the temperatures cool in the summer and block the winds in the winter. In late May you are likely to be impressed with the many mountain laurel blooms.

Blueberries and Azaleas (3.65 or 3.9 miles, III)

For an eclectic loop of modest distance, try this route though the woods. Warm-up with a half mile on the park’s road. At the Dogwood parking area (there are few actual dogwoods here) follow the trail into the woods, going counter-clockwise on the red blazed loop. Not far after starting the loop (the Dogwood Trail loop round-trip from the Dogwood parking area and back is 1.35 miles), take a spur down a short steep hill to the Perimeter Trail, continuing down on it to Still Creek. After crossing the creek begin a half mile stair step-like climb on the Blueberry Trail to the campground. A short stretch on the road brings you back to the Perimeter Trail for a fast winding downhill back across Still Creek, near the Baltimore and Washington Parkway. A climb to the park loop road and the Laurel Picnic area lets you take your choice of ways back. The most direct is the hilliest. It’s going counter-clockwise on the gravel surfaced Azaelea Trail. At the top of the hill, you’ll see large mountain laurel bushes, nice pine trees and holly trees. Going clockwise around the Azalea Trail, descend to the North Branch of Still Creek, then go along it on a flat stretch until a little hill just before reaching the parking lot. The turns on this route are not hard to follow but some previous familiarity with the trails will help you not get lost.

Edmonston Road (5.65 or 5.65 miles, VI)

If you like being in the park but wish to be more on the roads; or perhaps if it’s too wet for the trails, making a loop with Edmonston Road is a good alternative. The route roughly runs the outer perimeter on the western side of Greenbelt Park. Start by leaving out the park entrance on the grassy border of Greenbelt Rd., Rte. 193 for one-quarter a mile. Edmonston Rd. was once the main road through the area. Kenilworth Ave., Rte. 201, now takes the through traffic and Edmonston Rd. is quiet in comparison. After Edmonston Rd, pass through Calvert Community Park, then head up the Paint Branch Parkway. On the other side of Kenilworth Ave. the road changes it’s name to Good Luck Rd. You have the option to skip the big hill in front of you by turning left, into the park on an unpaved trail and passing through the campground road. Otherwise climb the big hill (100 vertical feet over about a half a mile). Going up it makes the route one-hundredth of a mile shorter (about 50ft.). Turning back into the park after the climb, at first, the Park Central Road is closed to auto traffic and serves as a bike trail for a half mile. It’s down and up to the camp road intersection, then the rest is open to traffic. Don’t worry about the traffic. It is usually very light after this point but one of the two hills left isn’t.

For another extension of this loop, see the Old Calvert Rd. route starting from Artemesia. That route shares Edmonston Rd for a stretch. When including the Old Calvert Rd route, it can be followed backwards somewhat to add additional miles and a water stop.

Good Luck, (8.2 miles, VII)

Goodluck Rd. is part of what was once the Telegraph Rd. Telegraph Rd. was a major transportation route between Baltimore and Washington D.C. that followed one of the earliest telegraph lines. In the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and the Patuxent National Wildlife Refuge, Telegraph Road can still be seen as the dirt carriage road it once was. The portion of the road on this route has changed significantly. Though it still has some green space along it, but is mostly house lined now. The terrain is gently rolling and agreeable. In fact, the toughest hills of the route are inside Greenbelt Park. This route passes through and connects to Old Greenbelt. Along the way water and restrooms can be found in Schrom Hills Park.

5.85 Mile Route

0.0 from the parking lot, near the restroom out toward the loop road

R 0.05 Park Central Rd (unmarked)

L 0.15 park entrance/exit road; toward exit

R 0.2 Perimeter Trail (blazed yellow); at notice board; mile marker 0.0

L 1.2 before long downhill to stay on Perimeter Trail; see double blaze

BL 1.8 on the uphill after stone & wood bridge over Still Creek to stay on Perimeter Trail

R 2.15 at T to stay on Perimeter Trail

BL 2.2 at the TR X after crossing Park Central Rd at the vehicle barrier; follow blazes

R 2.75 at T after wooden bridge; follow blazes to stay on Perimeter Trail

R/L 3.4 at gravel road to stay on Perimeter Trail

4.0 Trail X; R goes to camping

4.05 Blueberry Trail on R

4.15 Blueberry Trail on R

4.2 wooden bridge over Still Creek

4.35 shortcut trail to Dogwood Trail on R

BL 4.8 to stay on Perimeter Trail; trail to Dogwood Trail on R

L/R 5.05 trail toward apartment building to stay on Perimeter Trail

R 5.65 park entrance access road

R 5.75 Park Central Rd (unmarked)

L 5.8 to Sweetgum Parking

5.85 parking; near restrooms

*2.85 Mile Route

S 1.2 go straight and down the hill; leave the Perimeter Trail; (!) rocks & erosion gullies ahead on the downhill

1.4 cross Park Central road at Dogwood Nature Trail parking; enter woods on red blazed trail

R 1.45 at T; start Dogwood Trail loop

R 1.85 spur trail to Perimeter Trail

R 1.85 Perimeter Trail; (pickup cues at mile 5.05 on 5.85 mile route; end 2.85 miles)

3.65 Mile Route

0.0 from the parking lot, near the restroom out toward the loop road

L 0.05 Park Central Rd (unmarked) at T

0.55 Park Central Rd X on L

R 0.6 Dogwood Trail (blazed Red)

L 0.65 at T trail X (loop portion)

L 0.9 trail X (short & long Dogwood Trail)

L 1.1 trail X at bench and Nature 13 down hill; to Perimeter Trail (unmarked) (!)

L 1.15 Perimeter Trail (yellow blazes)

1.25 wooden bridge over Still Creek

L 1.35 Blueberry Trail (blue blaze) at wooden bridge

BL 1.65 Blueberry Trail merges

L 1.75 campground road

R/L 1.95 at Park Central Road at T, go R through gate & immediate L onto Perimeter Trail (blazed yellow)

BL 2.0 to stay on Perimeter Trail

2.35 trail X on L merges

2.4 stone bride over Still Creek

R 2.95 at trail X at top of hill to stay on Perimeter Trail

L 3.1 gravel road to Park Central Rd loop

R/L 3.15 R at Park Central Loop Road; L into Laurel Picnic area on paved road

R 3.2 Azalea Trail; white blaze and sign

3.35 trail X on R (unmarked)

BL 3.45 to stay on Azalea Trail

L 3.5 sharp L at T to stay on Azalea Trail

BL 3.6 across field to bathroom & parking

3.65 bathroom and Sweetgum Parking

0.0 from the parking lot; near the restroom, toward the loop road

R 0.05 Park Central Rd (unmarked)

L 0.15 park entrance/exit road

L 0.3 Greenbelt Rd (Rte. 193); on the grass

0.55 Kenilworth Ave overpass & X, (!)

L 0.65 Edmonston Rd; after Kenilworth Ave & before gas station

1.1 Pontiac St

1.35 Berwyn Rd

1.55 City of College Park limits

R 2.3 Old Calvert Rd

S 2.5 after disc golf toward stream; leave Old Calvert (portable toilet)

L 2.55 grassy trail toward bridge & paved walkway under Paint Branch Pkwy

S 2.65 merge onto Paint Branch Pkwy sidewalk

2.9 Kenilworth Ave (Rte. 201)

L 3.6 Greenbelt Park; after school on R

3.7 pass through vehicle barrier

4.25 pass through second vehicle barrier; campground road on L

5.1 Park Central Rd, loop X

R 5.6 Sweetgum parking driveway

5.65 parking lot near restrooms

L 2.5 after disc golf toward stream; to stay on Old Calvert (portable toilet is S)

L 2.6 Paint Branch Pkwy

S 2.8 at Kenilworth Rd; stay on L side of road; use sidewalk and grass (!)

L 2.9 trail head (unmarked); just after X

3.3 trail X; yellow blaze

BR 3.3 trail forks; yellow goes to L

R 3.5 campground loop D (unmarked)

3.7 Group Camping on R

R 3.6 road to campground entrance/exit

4.1 Blueberry Trail on L

L 4.25 Park Central Road at T (unmarked); (pick-up cues at mile 5.1 on above route; end 5.65 miles)

Good Luck

Distance: 8.2 miles

Rating: VII; roads and sidewalks, hills on 1^st half

0.0 from parking lot; near the restrooms toward the park loop road

R 0.05 Park Central Rd (unmarked)

0.15 park entrance/exit road on L

L 1.0 Park Central Road; leave loop portion

S 1.9 proceed through vehicle barrier; campground road on R

CL 2.5 Good Luck Rd (unmarked) at T

2.7 B.W. Parkway overpass

4.15 Capitol Beltway underpass (I95)

L 4.55 Hanover Pkwy; at X w/Princess Garden Pkwy & Good Luck Rd

4.85 Schrom Hills Community Park on R (water, restrooms)

5.9 Greenbelt Rd, Rte. 193 (!)

L 6.2 Gladys Noon Spellman Trail (sidewalk, unmarked); top of hill between 7716 and 7718 Hanover Pkwy; B.W. Parkway overpass at 6.25

L 6.5 Ridge Rd

L 7.0 Westway

L 7.2 Lakeside Dr.

CL 7.3 Lakecrest Dr.

BR 7.45 Lakecrest Circle

BR 7.45 American Legion Dr.

BL 7.6 onto sidewalk for Greenbelt Rd; underpass Capital Beltway (I-95)

CL 7.9 Greenbelt Park entrance road (Walker Dr. on R)

R 8.05 Park Central Rd (unmarked)

L 8.1 Sweetgum parking area

8.2 parking lot near restroom