The Riderwood Short Hikes Group goes once a month to nearby locations in Maryland and the District of Columbia. We hike on Mondays — usually on the third Monday of each month. We gather about 8:30 am and carpool to the location, returning between 11-12 am.
Information about where and when to meet is sent out early in each month. You can get on the mailing list by using this link:
RWVhikes+subscribe@groups.io or by contacting Dan Sober. Contact information is available in the Riderwood Resident Directory, available at your front desk, or online at MyErickson.
December Hike–Monday, November 15.
Wheaton Regional Park — Starting at Brookside Gardens and continuing past Pine Lake and the athletic facilities. The drive from Riderwood is only about 15 minutes. The trails are mostly paved, with some moderate hills, and rest rooms are available. After we walk for a little over an hour, we can also visit the seasonal displays at the Conservatory (greenhouse) at Brookside Gardens, which opens at 10:00 AM.
Information on some previous hikes
- Little Paint Branch Trail (December 2025). A short trail in our immediate neighborhood, starting at the Beltsville Community Center, 3900 Sellman Road, following the Little Paint Branch Trail and then making a loop through the adjoining neighborhood. The route is entirely paved, and the walk will take about 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours. There is one moderate hill from the trail up to the neighborhood. The Little Paint Branch Trail is a little over half a mile long and goes along the creek through pleasant woods. It is flat and fully wheelchair accessible. If you know of any
- Agricultural History Farm Park in Derwood, one of the hidden treasures of the Montgomery County Parks system (Oct. 2025). We will walk from the main parking lot northward along the Percheron Trail, continue for a while along the Upper Rock Creek Trail, then turn back and return via the Belgian Loop Trail and the old farm buildings. Total hiking time should be about 1.5 hours. For those not in a hurry, we can also visit the Demonstration Garden and/or the Dahlia Society’s garden before driving home — the latter was spectacular at this time last year. The trail is mostly on grass (which may be damp in the morning), and has a few moderate hills. Restrooms are available at the Visitor Center.
- The trail around Lake Elkhorn, Columbia, MD– 2.2 miles (Sept, 2025). It is fairly flat and unlike many of the trails in this area, it is paved all the way around.
- Patuxent Research Refuge – South Tract (Aug. 2025). The walk around Cash Lake will take approximately 1.5 hrs. The trail is mostly natural surface and in a few places is fairly rough, with roots and rocks to watch out for, and some floating walkways which may be uncomfortable for people who get dizzy easily. There are no major changes in elevation. Toilets are available in the Visitor Center and near the fishing pier. There are sometimes good bird-watching opportunities.
- Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens (July 2025). Mid-July is peak blooming season for the lotus plants — an awe-inspiring sight for those who have never experienced it. We will allow time to browse the ponds and the boardwalk which gives access to the wetlands (we have spotted a flock of egrets there), and then reconvene for a short walk along the River Trail and a bit of the Anacostia River Trail. The trails are paved or well-maintained dirt surfaces, with no elevation change, but there may be some muddy spots — wear water-resistant shoes. Restrooms are available at the Visitor Center. If it is hot, bring water and sun protection. Bug repellent may be helpful.
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Copperhead Run Trail/Northwest Branch Trail (June 2025). A loop hike on two beautiful nearby trails beginning at the Burnt Mills East Park parking lot just south of Trader Joe’s on US Route 29/Colesville Rd. We will start by hiking the newly completed Copperhead Run Trail, which runs parallel to Northwest Branch at the height of the surrounding neighborhood, then drop down to stream level and return via the older Northwest Branch Trail. Our total distance will be a little less than 3 miles, and the loop should take 1.5 to 2 hours. This hike is entirely on natural surfaces, but mostly well groomed, with very few roots and stones. Some hikers may find this hike strenuous. There are some fairly steep sections, and a few easy creek crossings.
- Lake Artemesia Natural Area, adjacent to the Metro tracks in Berwyn Heights, near College Park (May 2025). We made a complete figure-8-ish loop of the lake on paved, level trails totaling between 2.5 and 3 miles — total walking time about 1.5 hours. Those with less energy can find benches where they can sit and wait for the rest of us to pass by on our return. There is very little shade, so think about sun protection, headgear and water if it is sunny. Toilets are available. Also, the trail is fully wheelchair accessible — if you know someone who would like to participate in that way, contact me for more details. For history and description, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake Artemesia or https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/maryland/lake-artemesia-natural-area-trail .
- Underground Railroad Experience Trail at Woodlawn Manor Park in Sandy Spring, MD (April 2025) . The hike will cover 3.5 to 4 miles total, and take 1.5 to 2 hours. Since we will be going out and back on the same trail, you can turn around at any time if you get tired. The trail is partly on grass (may be wet in the morning!) and partly on well-maintained natural surfaces in the woods, with only a few short hills. Restrooms in the Visitor Center are usually not open on weekdays.
- Calverton-Galway Local Park (March 2025). A local, no-drive hike from Riderwood to the park. The route takes us across Calverton Blvd and through quiet, traffic-free local streets to the park, where we take a loop and return by the same route. The total distance is about 4 miles and should take 1.5 – 2 hours. Those wishing a shorter walk can turn back earlier, or could drive to the park and meet the rest of the group there
- Paint Branch Trail (November 2024). A section of the trail well known to Riderwood cyclists starts at Cherry Hill Road near US-1, passes the Paint Branch Golf Course on University Boulevard, and continues toward the University of Maryland campus. You can turn back and take the same route home. The trail is paved and flat, and the walk covers approximately 3 miles and takes 1 to 1.5 hours.
- Sligo Creek Trail (June 2024). A new route that takes us from the Kemp Mill Shopping Center along the Sligo Creek Trail and then through the neighborhood into Wheaton Regional Park where we will do a loop including some woods and a tour of the sports complex, finally returning to Kemp Mill along the Sligo Creek Trail. Total distance is about 3 miles, time should be about 1.5 hours. The route is entirely on pavement, and contains only a few moderate hills. We will be partly in the shade and partly in the open, so think about sun protection.
- National Arboretum (September 2023). Located at 3501 New York Avenue, NE Washington, DC 2000. Several alternative routes on paved trails are possible within the Arboretum
- Anacostia River Watershed (March 2023). Continuing our exploration of the Anacostia River watershed, we will drive to historic Bladensburg Waterfront Park, where we will cross the footbridge to the west bank and continue upstream to the junction of the Northeast and Northwest Branches, where the Anacostia River proper begins. The hike will be all on paved trails, with very little elevation change. Total out-and-back hiking time about 1.5 hours. With roughly 30 minutes driving time each way, we should be back before 11:30.
- Scenic Anacostia River loop (November 2022). The trail is all paved, except for a short (~1/2 mile) optional loop around Heritage Island. Total walking time about 1.5 hours. Start on the east side of the river at River Terrace, parking on Anacostia Ave NE near Dix St. and walk over the Benning Road Bridge, then turn south for a short stretch of the Kingman Island Trail, crossing the island to Heritage Island (if the ground is not too muddy, there is a short loop around Heritage Island), continuing to the trail on the west bank, past the RFK Stadium athletic fields. Proceed to the East Capitol Street Bridge and return to the starting point.