Tucker Road Community Park/Henson Trail

 

Southern Prince Georges County has few paved trails that people can run or ride on.  The six mile long Henson Trail goes northeast to southwest following Henson Creek from Temple Hills Road to Oxon Hill Road.  It is the only major trail in the area.  At its center, it passes through the Tucker Road Community Park which is maintained by the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC).  The Tucker Road Community Park has a fitness trail, an ice rink, basketball courts, tennis courts, ball fields, a playground and a fishing pond.  Basketball is played very intensely here.  The Henson Creek golf course is just north off Tucker Road.  A small paved trail and a twisting inner extension, loops the fishing pond.  Complete loops around the fishing pond and part of the ball fields are 0.57 and 0.68 miles long respectively. 

 

The Henson Trail has many isolated sections far from intersecting roads.  For this reason, it is worth visiting however extra care for safety should be applied.  Though I saw some women who seemed comfortable traveling alone on the trail, traveling in pairs or groups is recommended. 

 

Getting There

 

From the Capital Beltway (I-95), take Indian Head Highway, Rte. 210, south.  Turn left at the first light onto Livingston Road.  After 1.4 miles bear right onto Saint Barnabas Road as Livingston Road bears left.  Turn right almost immediately onto Tucker Road after getting on Saint Barnabas Road.  Turn left after one mile into the Tucker Road athletic complex parking.  The trail head is on the right, just past the building. 

 

Area Routes

 

Oxon Hill Road (5.55 miles, IV)

After leaving the athletic complex and passing a community center, the trail enters a long wooded section.  It parallels Henson Creek=s downward flow.  Only occasionally are there glimpses of the creek however.   Some places may also have standing water on the trail after big rains.  The trail eventually crosses Henson Creek, then crosses under Indian Head Highway with the creek.  Be careful at the highway bridge because there are blind corners and young kids often play there.  The trail becomes flatter as it passes through a community park, then it turns up for the only real hill, just before ending at Oxon Hill Rd.  From there, turn around and come back the way you came. 

 

Temple Hill Road (6.5 miles, V)

Going northeast along Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission buried pipeline, the Henson Trail passes through several small parks and crosses a few roads.  It is pleasant most of the way.  The trail to Temple Hill Road from the Tucker Road Community Park is more open than the going from Oxon Hill Road to the community center park is, but the uphill grade from Tucker Road Community Park to Temple Hill Road is slightly more noticeable.  Measured mile markers start counting down every quarter mile for two miles once you leave the Tucker Road Community Park area.  The zero mile mark is in the middle of the Henson Trail at Brinkley Road, not the end of the trail at Temple Hill Road.  The trail passes very close to Rosecroft Raceway but the raceway is on the opposite side of Henson Creek and is not visible.  At Brinkley Road, one must briefly use the narrow shoulder of the sometimes busy roadway.  The final segment to Temple Hill road is nice but not exceptional.  Once there, turn around and return the way you came. 

 

Nearby and Connecting Zones

 

Fort Washington Park

Louise F. Cosca Regional Park

 

What to do Afterward

 

Food and Drink

Picnic

 

Entertainment and Edification

Fort Washington Visitor Center - 301 763-4600

Oxon Hill Farm - 301 839-1177

Rosecroft Raceway - horse racing - 301 567-4000

Oxon Hill Road

Distance:          5.55 miles

Rating:  IV; out and back on a paved, wooded stream valley hiker-biker trail

 

       0.0   from the fitness trail head, go toward Tucker Rd

 

CL  0.05 Tucker Rd

 

R     0.2   Ferguson La

       0.25 Tucker Rd Community Center driveway

       0.35 trail head at end of parking lot

       0.75 trail X on R to wooden bridge

       1.5   sharp bend in trail to L

       1.7   wooden bridge over Henson Creek

       1.9   underpass Indian Head Hwy (! blind corners)

       2.3   trail X at community park

 

U    2.8   Oxon Hill Rd

       3.25 trail X at community park

       3.6   underpass Indian Head Hwy (! blind corners)

       3.9   wooden bridge over Henson Creek

       4.05 sharp bend in trail to R

       4.8   trail X on L to wooden bridge

       5.2   Tucker Rd Community Center parking lot

 

L     5.3   Ferguson La

 

L     5.35 Tucker Rd

 

R     5.5   into Tucker Rd Community Park parking lot

       5.55 trail X on R (fitness trail)

Oxon Hill Road


Temple Hill Road

Distance: 6.5 miles

Rating:           V; out and back on a paved, wooded stream valley hiker-biker trail

 

       0.0   from the parking lot, follow the fitness trail

       0.1   trail X on L; go S between ballfields 3 & 4 

 

R     0.4   R on service road

 

BL  0.45 trail head on L leaves service road; Mile Mark 2

 

L/R 0.6   park road before crossing Bock Rd (unmarked)

       0.9   Mile Mark 1.5

       2.1   wooden bridge over Henson Creek

 

CR  2.4   Brinkley Rd (! use sidewalk, then narrow shoulder)

 

L     2.6   WSSC service road

       2.65 trail head

       3.2   trail X on R to parking

 

U    3.25 Temple Hill Rd

       3.3   trail X on L to parking

       3.85 trail ends; use service road

 

R     3.9   Brinkley Rd (! use narrow shoulder, then sidewalk)

 

L     4.1   trail X on L (!)

       4.4   wooden bridge over Henson Creek

       5.1   Mile Mark 1

 

L/R 5.9   cross Bock Rd and turn L on park road; turn R at trail head on R

       6.05 trail merges with service road

 

L     6.1   trail X on L; R is to fishing pond loop

       6.4   trail X on R to wooden bridge

       6.5   parking lot

Temple Hill Road