Map of Rock Creek Trail in Montgomery County, MD

Maryland's 14 mile long Rock Creek Trail is a collection of paved multi-use paths through southern Montgomery County. Although this area is mostly urbanized, the trail follows a mainly wooded route along the Rock Creek stream valley. As a result, the trail provides a nice traffic-free route between Rockville and the Bethesda/Silver Spring business districts.

The northern trail head is located in Lake Needwood Regional Park, just a few miles east of downtown Rockville. The trail ends at the Washington DC. border, where Beach Drive enters the District.

Despite the trail's convenient location, it does have a number of problems. Many sections are narrow and winding. Since the terrain is heavily wooded, debris often covers the trails. As a result, the trail is not the most efficient route for commuting. The trail also suffers from an extreme lack of directional signs. In a number of places, it is very difficult to determine the "main" trail route. Expect to take a couple of accidental side trail detours when you first ride this trail.

However, despite its shortcomings, the trail is pretty nice if you are just out for a nice ride.

Connecting Rides: