10 Montgomery County Hiking, Biking Trails To Explore In 2021

ROCKVILLE, MD — Believe it or not, January is almost over.

Three weeks ago, we were waving goodbye to 2020 — a.k.a. "the year of the dumpster fire" — and setting our intentions for the year ahead. But now, some of us are losing steam on our New Year's resolutions.

Let's face it: New Year's resolutions are tough — especially if they center on health and fitness. And if you find yourself slipping back into familiar, bad habits, don't be so hard on yourself.

As OneLife Rockville Fitness Director Will Gudelsky aptly put it: "We're all human."

So what do you do now? For starters, you can check out this article. Patch spoke with Gudelsky, as well as two Maryland dietitians, to learn how to get (and stay) healthy beyond the new year.

But if you're looking for more ways to stay active — beyond the confines of a gym or basement recreation room — why not start in the great outdoors?

Montgomery County is home to a number of breathtaking hiking and biking trails — all catered to varying skill levels. Hiking and biking aren't just great ways to exercise: they offer a chance to take in the idyllic scenery and bond with family and friends.

Patch has rounded up a number of hiking and biking trails to check out in Montgomery County. They are listed below.

Cabin John Regional Park Trails

• Location: Bethesda (located south of Montrose Road and north of Democracy Boulevard between Seven Locks Road and Westlake Drive)
• Trail Characteristics: More than 4 miles of natural surface trails and less than 2 miles of hard surface trails
• Activities: Hiking, biking

Rachel Carson Conservation Park Trails

• Location: Olney
• Trail Characteristics: More than 6 miles of natural surface trails
• Activities: Hiking, horseback riding

Fairland Recreational Park Trails

• Location: Burtonsville
• Trail Characteristics: 1.5 miles hard surface trails, 5 miles natural surface trails
• Activities: Hiking, biking, horseback riding

Muddy Branch Greenway Trail

• Location: North Potomac-Darnestown
• Trail Characteristics: 9 miles one way; gently rolling, but hilly and steep in sections; includes several crossing of steep drainages currently awaiting bridges
• Activities: Hiking, biking, horseback riding

Bucklodge Conservation Park Trails

• Location: Boyds
• Trail Characteristics: More than 2 miles of natural surface trails
• Activities: Hiking, biking, horseback riding

Lois Y. Green Conservation Park Trails

• Location: Gaithersburg
• Trail Characteristics: 3.8 miles of natural surface trails
• Activities: Hiking, biking, horseback riding

Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Park Trails

Underground Railroad Experience Trail Hikes

• Location: Sandy Spring
• Trail Characteristics: 2 miles of natural surface trails; primarily in the woods, but does go around a corn field; part of the National Park Service National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program
• Activities: Hiking, Horseback riding

Matthew Henson Trail

• Location: Wheaton (begins at intersection of Rock Creek Hiker-Biker Trail and Winding Creek Local Park)
• Trail Characteristics: 4.2-mile hard surface trail featuring 0.6 miles of wooden boardwalk; surrounded by parkland, forested area, and Turkey Branch Stream
• Activities: Hiking, biking, rollerblading

Woodstock Equestrian Park Trails

• Location: Beallsville
• Trail Characteristics: More than 15 miles of natural surface trails
• Activities: Hiking, horseback riding