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Forest Trail
4.6 ★★★★★ 7 Google reviews · Running trail in Laurel, Maryland · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Loop distance
- 20 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Forest Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
What runners say about Forest Trail
Nice smaller loop through an area of the forest on the reserve, easy to get to by parking at the contact station and just walking across the street. You definitely need to pay attention to where you are walking on this trail as there are tree roots growing all over the path, I did this trail after a week of pretty…
Really pleasant, easy hike. Almost completely flat with occasional views of the river and some benches. It starts across from the contact center in the butterfly garden on the boardwalk.
Trail conditions & character
“Nice smaller loop through an area of the forest on the reserve, easy to get to by parking at the contact station and just walking across the street.”
“Almost completely flat with occasional views of the river and some benches.”
“It starts across from the contact center in the butterfly garden on the boardwalk.”
“Nice smaller loop through an area of the forest on the reserve, easy to get to by parking at the contact station and just walking across the street.”
Plan your run at Forest Trail
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- Loop distance20 mi back to where you parked. Long enough for a real long run.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
- Websitefws.gov
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Tuesday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Thursday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Friday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Saturday | 8 AM–8 PM |
| Sunday | 8 AM–8 PM |
Running trails near Laurel
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Pheasant Run Community Park
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WB&A Trail
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Shaded paved trail, used by hikers and cyclists, for exercise and running.