Trail Discovery for Kids: Lake Artemesia

View Larger Map

August 2012 Highlighted Hike

Lake Artemesia Trail

Berwyn Heights, MD

Trail Description

ü  This 1.4 mile circuit hike on a hard surface trail is just across the railroad tracks from the University of Maryland in College Park.

ü  The trail circles the 38 acre Lake Artemesia with no elevation gain or loss.

ü  To find Lake Artemesia, use Interstate 495 and take Kenilworth Avenue south to Greenbelt Rd/Rt. 193. Turn right and drive three quarters of a mile. Turn right onto Branchville Rd. which goes under the railroad tracks and turns left and becomes Ballew Ave. Make a left into the parking lot just after the stop sign with Berwyn Rd. Follow the trail along Ballew Ave. to the gate of Lake Artemesia.

ü  The trail is stroller and bike friendly.

ü  See the trail map image to the right.

Age Appropriateness

This hike is appropriate for children of all ages but especially great for toddlers and preschoolers.

What is fun for kids?

ü  The park has two floating docks for fishing. Children younger than 16 do not have to possess a license.

ü  The park has seven gazebos, one raised above the lake, to seek shade, rest and watch wildlife. Many benches sit along the trail and throughout the park.

ü  Wildlife seen includes: Eastern Painted turtles, Snapping Turtles, Bullfrogs, Green Frogs, Great Blue Heron, Egret, Wood Ducks, and Mallards. The lake is a migratory ground for many birds.

ü  Watch the metro and trains travel by the western side of the lake.

ü  Beautiful water lilies that bloom in July. A few blooms were still alive in August.

ü  There are a few large open green spaces for a picnic or a game of tag.

ü  The Lake Artemesia Trail is part of the Anacostia Tributary Trail System providing miles of trails in Prince Georges and Montgomery counties. From the park, the Paint Branch, Indian Creek and Northeast Branch trails can be accessed.

ü  Lake Artemesia is metro accessible from the College Park station on the green line.

Caution

ü  Swimming, boating and ice skating are not allowed on the lake.

ü  A majority of the trail is exposed to the sun and lacks shade.

Trail Discovery for Kids: Blue Mash Trail, Montgomery Co.

Bio-retention pond

June 2012 Highlighted Hike

Blue Mash Trail

Laytonsville, MD

Trail Description

ü  This 2 mile circuit hike in northern Montgomery County surrounds the long-closed Oaks Landfill and its reservoir system.

ü  The trail is a mowed-field path with no elevation gain or loss.

ü  Surrounding the trail is a meadow ecosystem with succession of immature deciduous trees, such as river birch, sycamore, red oaks and red maples, and conifer trees, mostly cedar, supported by a an understory of witch hazel and viburnum.

ü  The parking lot is on the west side of Zion Rd. in Laytonsville. It is marked by a small, brown sign labeled Blue Mash Trail.

ü  In the parking lot, use the trailhead at the end of the parking lot and hike the circuit counterclockwise. When reaching the reservoir, hike to the right counterclockwise one-third around it and then the trail will enter a tunnel of cedar and deciduous trees. Shortly after exiting this treed tunnel, make the second right at the trail intersection. At the second intersection, turn left with the landfill being on the right side. At the third intersection, turn right with the landfill continuing to be on the right. The trail will dead end and turn to the left on a gravel road. This will lead you back to the parking lot.

ü  To hike a shorter 1.25 mile circuit, turn left at the first trail intersection and continue straight at the third intersection essentially cutting of two sides of a triangle.

Tunnel of trees

ü  The hike is jogging stroller friendly.

ü  Trail map.

Age Appropriateness

This hike is appropriate for all ages due to a flat, wide trail that has no obstacles for feet or jogging strollers.

What is fun for kids?

ü  Kids and parents can fill their tummies with as many raspberries and blackberries as their heart’s desire. The trail is full of berry plants. The best time to go is the end of June into July.

ü  In May, the meadows are full of raspberry and blackberry flowers, buttercups, crown vetch, milkweed and sprouting Joe Pye weed which blooms at the end of the summer.

ü  The meadow invites a lot of butterflies, such as many varieties of swallowtail, monarchs, and skippers, and 32 different species of birds have been identified along the trail making it a great birding destination.

ü  Look for and listen to frogs and turtles along the reservoir.

Caution

ü  Because it is a sunny meadow with few shady spots, it is best to visit this trail on a day with lower temperatures or at the beginning or end of the day.

ü  Bring bug spray and wear long pants to help protect against ticks and gnats. 

ü  There is no bathroom or trash cans; therefore, pack out your garbage.

Trail Discovery for Kids: Hazel Mountain Trail, SNP

Waterfall and swimming hole

May 2012 Highlighted Hike

Hazel Mountain Trail

Shenandoah National Park (SNP)

Trail Description

ü This 5 mile out and back hike gently descends the ridge top with its final destination being a cave and waterfall off the White Rocks Trail.

ü The trail head is just after the 33 mile marker on Skyline Drive.

ü The total elevation loss and gain is 800 feet.

ü At the trail head, turn right onto the Hazel Mountain Trail and descend the ridge line 600 feet for 1.6 miles until you reach the trail intersection with the White Rocks Trail. Turn left on to this trail. Follow it as it stays level with the ridge for three-quarters of a mile. The White Rocks Trail then descends 200 feet the last quarter of a mile before you reach a small sign on the right that point to the waterfall and cave.

ü To access the cave and waterfall, follow a steep and long set of stairs down the ridge (150 feet in .2 miles). Both the waterfall and cave are to the right at the bottom of the stairs. Once there, allocate an hour to discover the natural wonders.

ü You can reach the waterfall and cave from the other direction on the White Rocks and Hazel River Trails from the base of SNP on Rt. 600.  Read August 2010 Discovery for Kids.

ü Park map and trail map.

Age Appropriateness

This hike is best for active children over the age of 6 due to the length, elevation gain and the steepness of the stairs to the waterfall and cave.

What is fun for kids?

ü  Finding and entering the mouth of the cave. The Appalachian Mountains are littered with limestone caves.

ü  Cooling off under the waterfall and in the swimming hole.

ü  Rock scrambling along the Hazel River at the waterfall.

ü  During spring, observe the wildflowers, such as Dutchman's Breeches and Lady Slippers in April and Mountain Laurel in May.

ü  A few unofficial camping sites are across the trail from the cave and waterfall trail head.

Caution

ü  Don't venture too far into the cave. It is best to explore caves with a guide (someone who knows the routes within the cave), a guide line, helmet, head lamp and emergency supplies.

ü  There are no bathrooms at the trail head. The closest ones are 3 miles away at the Thorton Gap entrance station.

ü  There are no trash cans; therefore, trash must be packed out.